Maypole

Standing on Ilkley Moor, this ancient stone marker has been guiding travellers across the Yorkshire Dales for centuries. The Maypole isn't your typical village green decoration - it's a weathered limestone pillar that once marked important routes across this wild moorland landscape.

Walkers and history enthusiasts will find it most rewarding, though families might struggle to keep younger children engaged for long. The real draw is the journey rather than the destination itself.

Getting there means a proper walk across the moor from Ilkley, so come prepared with decent boots and waterproofs. The views back towards the town and across Wharfedale make the trek worthwhile, but it's hardly a quick photo stop. Allow at least two hours for the round trip, longer if you fancy exploring more of the moor.

Free to visit whenever you like, though the weather up here changes faster than you'd expect. Spring and early summer offer the best conditions, when the heather isn't yet shoulder-high and the ground's reasonably firm underfoot.

If you're staying at one of the holiday parks around Ilkley like St Helena's Caravan Park or Esholt Holiday Caravan Park, it makes for a decent morning's adventure before heading back for lunch. Just don't expect Instagram-worthy drama - this is Yorkshire moorland at its most honest and unforgiving.