Heaning Wood Bone Cave

You'll need proper footwear and a torch to get the most from this one. Heaning Wood Bone Cave sits in the woods near Dalton-in-Furness and is exactly what the name suggests - a cave with a bit of archaeological interest attached. The entrance is modest, almost easy to miss if you're not paying attention, but once you're inside the rock formations are genuinely worth the scramble.

It's a short visit rather than an all-day affair. Most people spend twenty minutes to half an hour poking around and taking photos. The cave itself isn't vast, but there's something satisfying about being in an actual hole in a hillside, especially if you've got kids old enough to handle a bit of adventure without needing hand-holding the whole way. Younger children might find the darkness a touch intimidating, so bring that torch.

The real draw here is the history. Bone Cave earned its name for a reason - finds suggest people have sheltered here for thousands of years. It's the sort of place that makes you think, standing in the cool dark, about who else has stood exactly where you're standing.

If you're based at High Haume Glamping or Old Park Wood Caravan Holiday Park, this makes a good half-morning excursion before heading elsewhere in the area. It's free and accessible, though conditions vary depending on recent weather. Check Northern Caves' website before you go - they'll have the latest information on access and what state the cave's in. Dalton-in-Furness itself has shops and cafes if you need to sort yourself out first.