Norton Tower Hill

The walk up Norton Tower Hill from Skipton takes you properly into Yorkshire Dales terrain, and the views across the surrounding moorland are genuinely worth the effort. It's a straightforward climb - nothing technically difficult, but steep enough in places that you'll feel you've earned the vista at the top. On a clear day, you can see right across the valley, with the moorland rolling away in every direction. The summit itself is modest, but that's rather the point. You're not climbing to a visitor centre or a car park full of tour coaches.

This is walker's territory. Families with reasonably fit kids will manage it fine, though the under-tens might need carrying on the steeper sections. History buffs will appreciate the remnants of the old tower that give the hill its name - though there's not much left to see, which is either charming or disappointing depending on your mood. Allow a couple of hours for the round trip from town.

Stay at one of the caravan parks nearby - Coxons Farm Glamping Pods is barely two miles away and works well if you want a base for a few days' walking. The hill slots nicely into a longer ramble through the Dales, and it's close enough to Bolton Abbey or the higher peaks if you fancy varying your routes. Free to visit, as it should be. Go on a weekday if you can - weekend crowds can spoil the solitude.