Scott's Grotto

An 18th-century folly carved into chalk near Hertford, Scott's Grotto is one of those peculiar British obsessions that somehow feels entirely fitting. What you're looking at is a series of underground chambers and passages - the work of John Scott, a local poet who spent years tunnelling into the hillside because, well, that's what eccentric gentry did back then.

The grotto itself is modest but genuinely atmospheric. You descend into cool, damp passages lined with flint and shell decorations, moving through interconnected rooms that feel properly otherworldly on a grey afternoon. It's not vast - allow 30 minutes to an hour - but the sense of stepping into someone's obsessive Victorian hobby is rather compelling. Kids tend to find it either brilliant or slightly claustrophobic, so know your lot before you go.

Historically minded visitors will get the most from it, particularly those interested in 18th-century eccentricity and follies. It's the sort of thing that sits nicely between serious heritage and outright oddity, which is exactly what makes it worth the detour from Hertford itself.

Both Hertford Camping and Caravanning Club Site and Toad Abode offer decent bases nearby - Toad Abode has particularly strong reviews if you're after something a touch more refined than standard caravan park fare. The grotto works well as a half-morning activity before lunch in town, or a slightly spooky interlude between other local walks.