Mayburgh Henge

A single massive earthwork rings this Bronze Age monument just outside Penrith - a raised circular bank about 100 metres across with a stone in the centre. That's it, really, which sounds sparse until you actually stand there and realise how much effort someone went to thousands of years ago to pile up all that earth. The site sits in open parkland, completely free to visit and accessible any time you fancy a walk over.

Historians reckon it's around 4,000 years old, one of the few remaining henges in the north of England. The stone in the middle isn't original - it's a replacement - but the earthwork itself is the genuine article. Walkers get the most from this one. It's a short, undemanding stop (20 minutes tops unless you're really into Bronze Age archaeology), perfectly timed between Penrith town centre and walks around the Lakes. The open setting means it works whatever the weather, though wind can be properly fierce across that exposed field.

It pairs well with a park-based holiday near Penrith - Lowther Holiday Park and Crossfells Campsite sit right on its doorstep, less than 2 miles away. Neither is a draw in itself, but the location gives you easy access to Penrith's market town amenities and quick runs up to Ullswater. Families with young kids might find the walk to the henge itself underwhelming; older children interested in archaeology will appreciate the genuine age of it, even if there's no visitor centre or interactive stuff to hold attention. Allow time to walk round the bank itself - that's where the real sense of scale hits.