Poole's Cavern

You'll descend 60 metres into the hillside near Buxton and immediately feel the temperature drop. Poole's Cavern is a proper underground network - limestone passages carved out over thousands of years by an underground stream that still flows through the lowest level. The main chamber is vast enough to make you crane your neck, and the rock formations have that otherworldly look you only get in caves, all mineral deposits and strange sculptural shapes.

It's not a white-knuckle adventure. You're walked through on a guided tour along established paths with decent lighting, so families with older children will manage fine. Younger kids might find the dark bits slightly spooky, but most get a real kick out of the geology lesson. History types will appreciate the Bronze Age pottery and Romano-British coins found here - people have known about this place for centuries.

Allow about an hour all in, including the walk down and back up. The entrance is just north of Buxton town centre, making it a straightforward stop on a Peak District caravan holiday. If you're based at Buxton Caravan and Motorhome Club Campsite or Lime Tree Holiday Park, it's practically on your doorstep. Pair it with a walk around Buxton itself or push further into the hills - the caves don't demand a full day, but they're worth the trip if you're keen on geology or fancy something different from the usual park routine.