Butter Hill

The walk up Butter Hill from Leyburn is a proper Yorkshire intro to the Wensleydale hills - nothing dramatic, but it does the job. The summit sits at 430 metres and takes about forty minutes from the town centre if you're moving at a decent pace. Once you're up there, you get decent views across the dale towards Middleham and the surrounding fell country.

It's the sort of hill that works well for families who don't fancy anything too serious, or as a warm-up walk if you're camping locally. The path is straightforward enough, though it can be boggy after rain so proper boots are sensible. You won't spend more than an hour and a half up there total, which means it fits neatly into a morning before lunch.

Leyburn itself is a neat market town with cafes and pubs, so you can base yourself there easily. If you're staying at one of the nearby campsites - Stablefell or Hawes are within striking distance - this is a logical first ramble to get your legs under you. The views aren't going to blow your mind if you're used to the higher peaks, but they're pleasant enough and the accessibility counts for a lot. Good for clearing your head before settling into a week in Wensleydale.