Green Howe

The walk up Green Howe demands proper leg work, but the payoff from the summit catches most visitors off guard. You're looking across the Vale of Mowbray from a viewpoint that feels genuinely high despite sitting at just over 300 metres - the surrounding flatness does the heavy lifting. On a clear day the panorama stretches far enough to make the climb feel justified, though dull weather can render it a bit of a damp squib.

It's a natural pull for walkers tackling the longer routes around Northallerton, and the hill itself won't take more than an hour to summit and descend if you're moving at a decent pace. Families with older kids will manage fine, though the younger ones might grumble about the final push. The views are genuinely worth the effort though - proper Yorkshire moorland country, the kind that reminds you why people bother with this corner of the world.

Being only a few miles from both Whorlton Pods and Cote Ghyll means you can base yourself at either and explore the area methodically. Green Howe works well as part of a wider walking day rather than a standalone trip, but if you're already in the neighbourhood it's absolutely the sort of detour that pays for itself. Free, obviously, and open whenever the weather permits.