The best walks and hikes around Danby

Stump Cross is likely an iron or bronze age standing stone, sometimes described as a menhir and consistent with other ancient monuments in the area. These were variously used as boundary markers, waymarkers or served as ceremonial sites. One of several stump crosses on the moors and the name is thought to derive from a later Christian reinterpretation, where prehistoric stones were sometimes rebranded as “crosses” to try and eradicate pagan associations.

Danby Beacon is one of the highest points on the North York Moors, a historic signal station and landmark with sweeping views over the Esk Valley and surrounding moorland. It has been used for centuries as a warning beacon, a radar site in WWII. Plenty of off-road parking available, although it is quite rutted and very bumpy.

Useful landmark village with numerous routeing options and a useful supermarket for resupplying if you need to, but generally not quite as inspiring as Danby and Lealholm to the east, the latter of which is very picturesque.

The monument includes a standing cross, Listed Grade II, used as a boundary marker and known as Fat Betty or the White Cross. It stands on Danby Moor at the junction of three parishes whose boundaries were fixed during the medieval period. It is on the north side of a minor road to Rosedale 510m to the east of the cross known as Young Ralph. On the north side of the base is the date 1919 cut in the stone. On the west side is an inscription BS IB 1953. Neither inscription bears on a date for this monument. There is also an OS benchmark on the west face. The cross has been repeatedly whitewashed over the years in accordance with the practice of the Downe Estate on which it stands. The cross has been set up on Danby Moor to mark the meeting of the old parishes of Danby, Westerdale and Rosedale. It also marks the side of an old road down to Rosedale from the cross called Young Ralph. The road is mentioned in a 13th century charter from Guisborough.

don't eat the bananas

There has been a beacon here since the 17th century - part of a signal system to warn against a French invasion. In case the French fleet was seen, the fire was lit here first. Later, in the 1930s, a radar station was built here to spot enemy aircraft. The current beacon was built in 2008 and is 16.4 feet (5 m) tall. No longer a spot to watch out for a French invasion but instead a perfect vantage point to admire spectacular sunsets!

Great views of the Esk Valley, accessible via the Moors railway, definitely rewarding.

Castleton is a lovely village with great views of the surrounding moorland right from its Main Street. It's a great place to stop for some food (the village has both a supermarket and a number of cafés and tearooms) and, just outside the village, there is a train station, too, so getting here without a car is perfectly possible as well.