Stebden Hill

The walk up Stebden Hill rewards you with proper Yorkshire Dales views, especially once you've climbed past the initial steep section near Skipton. It's not a massive peak - more of a solid moorland walk than an alpine expedition - but on a clear day the vistas across Wharfedale make the leg work worthwhile.

The ascent takes about an hour from the base, and you'll pass through open moorland with sheep scattered across the hillside. Bring good boots; the path gets boggy after rain and the terrain is unforgiving underfoot. The summit itself is straightforward - no scrambling required - so families with older kids manage it fine. Younger children will likely lose interest before reaching the top, though there's nothing stopping you turning back partway.

If you're staying at one of the nearby caravan parks - Coxons Farm Glamping Pods or Wharfedale are closest at under three miles - this makes a solid half-day outing. Bolton Abbey Estate and Wood Nook are equally convenient for a morning or afternoon walk. The beauty of Stebden Hill is that it doesn't require booking ahead or planning around opening hours; it's a proper wild moorland walk, free and open whenever you fancy tackling it.

Go early to avoid the afternoon mist that rolls in, and don't expect facilities at the top - not even a cairn worth photographing. What you get instead is solitude and that satisfying feeling of having earned the view. Well worth the detour if you're based in the Skipton area.