Kilnsey Crag

The limestone cliff face rises abruptly from the valley floor like nature's own cathedral, towering 240 feet above the River Wharfe near Skipton. Kilnsey Crag is one of those landscapes that stops you mid-walk - you round the bend and suddenly there it is, dramatic and impossible to ignore. The rock formation is a magnet for climbers, and on any decent day you'll spot people working their way up the overhanging routes, which looks properly daunting from below.

Walkers get the best out of this spot. It's not a destination you drive to and wander round for two hours - it's a landmark on the Dales Way footpath, or a natural turning point if you're exploring Wharfedale. The crag itself is free to view from the path, and you can spend as long as you want photographing it from different angles. The walk to reach it from Skipton is straightforward, following the river through gentle countryside.

If you're based at Wharfedale Caravan and Motorhome Club Campsite or Wood Nook just down the valley, this is a sensible half-morning diversion. Climbers will already know it, but casual walkers often miss it despite passing within yards. The overhanging section is genuinely impressive - the rock seems to defy gravity. Allow 20 minutes to absorb the views properly, longer if you're waiting to watch climbers tackle the harder routes. It's a bit of a shame there's no information board explaining what you're looking at, but the sheer visual impact makes up for that.