Brayton Barff

The walk up Brayton Barff isn't long, but it's steep enough that you'll feel you've earned the view from the top. It's a proper little hill overlooking the Vale of York, and on a clear day you can see across the flat agricultural landscape towards the Pennines in the distance. The summit is bare moorland - not dramatic, but genuinely peaceful, which matters more than you'd think when you're only three and a half miles from Selby.

Walkers will find this worthwhile, particularly those based at one of the nearby holiday parks like York South or Apple Blossom - it's the sort of place you can knock out in an hour or so, making it ideal for an afternoon when the weather's decent but you don't fancy a full-day expedition. Families with older kids will manage it fine; younger ones might grumble about the climb. There's nothing to do up there except stand about and take photos, which sounds minimal until you actually do it and remember why you came.

Free to visit, naturally. The approach is straightforward from the village, though you'll want proper boots if it's been wet - the moorland gets boggy. Worth fitting in if you're staying at Cawood Park or any of the surrounding caravan sites, particularly if you're planning to explore the wider Vale of York. It won't blow your mind, but it's genuine Yorkshire countryside without the crowds.