Eldon Hole

A sinkhole that actually goes somewhere - that's Eldon Hole, a proper limestone cave that drops away into genuine darkness near Hope Valley. It's not a tourist trap with gift shops and guided tours. Instead, you get the real thing: a vertical shaft that plunges roughly 200 feet into the ground, and the locals will tell you it connects to an underground river system somewhere below.

Walking up to it from the Hope Valley side, the hole announces itself suddenly through the moorland. The opening is substantial enough to give you that slight vertigo feeling - this isn't a glorified pothole. You won't be descending into it unless you're properly equipped and experienced; caving groups do tackle it, but casual visitors just peer down and feel the cool air rising up. On a clear day, you can see straight down and make out the lower sections before it gets too dark.

It's a proper destination for walkers tackling the broader moorland routes in the area, rather than a standalone reason to visit. Pair it with the hiking around Castleton or Mam Tor nearby, and you've got a decent half-day outing. The cave itself takes ten minutes to absorb - the walk to reach it is where the time goes.

Free access, no facilities, no hours to speak of. Go in daylight for obvious reasons. If you're staying at Castleton Caravan and Motorhome Club Campsite just down the road, it's a straightforward leg stretcher on a good weather day.