High Hill Cave

You'll find yourself clambering over limestone rubble to reach this modest cave entrance near Settle, and it's the kind of place that rewards curiosity more than it impresses with grandeur. High Hill Cave is a working cave system - nothing too dramatic, but genuinely interesting if you're into geology and don't mind getting your hands a bit dirty. The passage is tight in places and you'll need a torch; most visitors allow 30 minutes to an hour depending on how far they venture in.

It's free to explore, which is refreshing. The walk up from the surrounding Dales landscape is pleasant enough, though hardly a dramatic trek. Families with older kids who aren't claustrophobic will get something from it; younger children might find the narrow bits unsettling. Serious cavers and geology students tend to get the most out of High Hill - they'll understand what they're looking at in terms of formations and water channels.

The real appeal here is combining it with a proper walking holiday in the Yorkshire Dales. You're only a few miles from Peaks and Pods and The Dalesbridge Campsite, both solid bases if you're planning to do the walking routes in the area. Orcaber Farm is another good option slightly further out. High Hill Cave works as a half-hour diversion rather than a destination in itself, but that's not necessarily a criticism - sometimes the best parts of a Dales break are the unexpected limestone caverns you stumble across between proper walks.