Woomber Hill

The walk up Woomber Hill rewards you with a proper view across the Yorkshire Dales - nothing fancy, just clear sightlines that stretch for miles when the weather cooperates. It's a modest peak by Pennine standards, but that's rather the point. You get the walker's satisfaction without needing full kit or a dawn start.

The route itself is straightforward and takes about ninety minutes from Skipton if you pace it sensibly. The ground underfoot can be boggy after rain, so decent boots matter. On a clear day the vista justifies the effort, though I'll be honest - midweek in autumn or early spring you might find yourself alone up there, which some will love and others will find a bit bleak.

This works well as a morning excursion before settling into one of the nearby holiday parks. Thornton Hall Country Park and Deerstone Glamping both sit within five miles, making it easy to combine with other Dales walking. If you're based at Coxons Farm or Draughton Heights, you're similarly positioned. It's the sort of hill that families with confident walkers will manage without complaint, though younger legs might need coaxing at the steeper sections.

Free to access, naturally - it's open moorland. Allow two hours if you're not racing. The real trick is catching it on a decent visibility day. Poor weather and you'll see mostly cloud and your own boots. Plan it for when the forecast looks promising rather than treating it as a fixed itinerary.