If you have walked anywhere to the north-east of town you will have seen Embsay Crag: the promontory dominating the southern edge of Embsay Moor. It is an obvious destination for Skipton walkers and provides spectacular views over the town and the country beyond.

There are various routes to the top, and here we take the 'middling' western route up, then the longest but easiest north-east route back down. The paths are not too rough, but but the uphill route is steep in places.

I chose to walk out from town, up the main Embsay Road, then got an Uber back into town afterwards. Walk both ways if you wish, or there are buses everyday except Sunday.

Walk up the High Street to Holy Trinity Church then right past the Castle and the Bailey. (Or you could opt to walk through Skipton Castle Woods then then join the route at the Bailey exit.)

Take the first turning left towards Embsay. It is here that you will get your first glimpse of the crag. Pass under the railway, then through a gate into the field on the left. Go across the field then the next one. There are often inquisitive goats here.

At Brakenley Lane climb the stile opposite, cross the field, then another stile and walk behind the houses. Go up a couple of steps and another narrow passage, and your briefly in a housing estate. Follow the road round to the left, then take another ginnel to the right of a house. This leads to another stile and a pretty little field leading to a gate. Follow the narrow path downhill then up some steep steps to the little bridge over the mill pond.

Turn left on Pasture Road and head up towards the crag. Carry on all the way up to the reservoir.

The entrance to the moor is beyond the back left corner, so the direct route is to walk up the farm track to the left of the water. (But you can if you wish do three sides instead of one by walking across the dam, then around the far side of the reservoir. It's pretty but there is no shortcut access to the moor - you still have to join the aforementioned farm road to gain access.)

Beyond the reservoir, go a few more yards then through the stile/gate onto the moor. Follow the obvious path behind the reservoir, and be sure to keep right when it splits. Soon you will cross a bridge and go up a short, steep slope.

Now follow the clear path as it heads towards the hill. We are going to take the smaller, diagonal path around the left of the hill, so watch out for when it splits off from the main path. Good views of the water behind. Follow the path up to the 'shoulder' of the hill but do not be tempted by the scramble to the right - instead keep left following the easier route.

Here the climb gets steep. Not so steep you'll need to use you hands but steep nonetheless. Continue slogging upwards, and soon it will level out and you're on top. Obviously the views are great.

The are two obvious routes down. The path east-north-east is OK, but I chose to go the long way round by walking north-east. I reckon this way is the least steep. Follow the path until in meets another north-south path, then turn right and downwards. Eventually you will reach the gate off the moor and back into farm land.

The path now is obvious. Follow the wall down, then through another gate, then down to Boncroft, then back onto tarmac towards Kirk Lane.

Follow the lane down past the Church, then take a shortcut over a stile into a field to the right. Cross the field then a couple more stiles and you arrive near the back of the Elm Tree Inn. You may well be disappointed to learn that both pubs in the village shut in the afternoon!

I leave it to you find your way back to Skipton.