King Arthurs Cave

The cave sits high on the limestone cliff above the Wye Valley, and getting there involves a proper scramble up through woodland. Once you've hauled yourself up - it's steep, no two ways about it - you'll find yourself standing at the mouth of a genuinely ancient cave where Stone Age people actually lived. The opening is impressive, the view back over Ross-on-Wye and the surrounding countryside is excellent, and the historical weight of the place is something you genuinely feel.

Inside, it's not vast, but it's enough to explore for twenty minutes or so. The cave's brief - there's not much in the way of interpretation boards - but that's almost refreshing. You're essentially doing what archaeologists have done here, poking about and imagining what life looked like thousands of years ago.

This works best for walkers and anyone with a proper interest in archaeology or prehistory. Young kids might find the climb more exhausting than exciting, and the cave itself won't hold their attention long. But if you're camping at Doward Park Campsite - literally 0.2 miles away - it's an absolute no-brainer. Bracelands Campsite, 1.8 miles down the road, also makes it an easy morning outing before heading into Ross-on-Wye proper.

Allow an hour including the walk up and a proper poke around. It's free, it's genuinely old, and it beats another look at the same old tourist loop. The climb is worth it.