Wind Hill

The walk up Wind Hill from Whitby is steep and genuinely testing if you're not prepared for it. I arrived expecting a gentle moorland stroll and found myself properly breathless within twenty minutes. The payoff, though, is absolutely worth the effort - you get 360-degree views across the North Yorkshire coast and inland towards the moors. On a clear day you can see for miles. The summit sits at about 450 feet and the path winds through rough grassland dotted with heather. It's about forty minutes up from the town itself, less if you're fit.

This is very much for walkers who don't mind a proper climb. Families with young children will struggle, and anyone after a gentle coastal amble should look elsewhere. The views are genuinely spectacular though - Whitby itself sprawls below you, the harbour comes into sharp focus, and the sweep of the coastline is something special. There's an old beacon marker at the top and the wind can be fierce even on days when it's calm in town, so wear layers.

Free to visit, obviously. Go in spring or autumn when the light is good and the crowds thinner than summer. Winter can be bleak and boggy. It fits perfectly into a Whitby-based holiday, especially if you're staying at Northcliffe & Seaview Holiday Parks just down the coast - you can easily tackle this as a morning walk and still have the afternoon for the town's museums and harbour. The climb keeps you honest. Worth doing once, easily.