Heyhouses

The stone circle at Heyhouses sits on moorland above Clitheroe, and frankly, it's a proper scramble to reach it. You'll be picking your way across boggy ground and rough grass for a good twenty minutes, so wear decent boots. What you get for your effort is a Bronze Age monument - a modest ring of stones that's survived thousands of years on this windswept spot. It's not Stonehenge. The circle itself is small, honestly a bit underwhelming if you're expecting drama, but the views across the Lancashire hills make the trudge worthwhile. On a clear day you can see for miles.

This is walkers' territory, not a family day out. The approach is steep enough to deter the casual stroller, and there's nothing there in terms of facilities or interpretation - just stones and sky. History enthusiasts will find it sobering though: someone built this ring of rocks three thousand years ago, and here it still stands. The Clitheroe area has other Neolithic and Bronze Age sites scattered across the moors, so if you're into prehistoric Lancashire, you could string together a proper walking itinerary.

Cross Lane Caravan Park sits five or six miles away, making it a feasible afternoon expedition if you're based there. Allow a couple of hours door to door, including the walk up. Go midweek in autumn when the moors are dry and the crowds are thinner. It's free, naturally - there's no gate, no keeper, just open moorland.