Winnats Head

The walk up to Winnats Head cave feels steeper than it probably is, especially if you've already done a couple of miles exploring the Hope Valley. You're rewarded, though, with a proper dramatic limestone cavern that opens out into the hillside like something from a Victorian adventure novel. Inside, the cave extends back into darkness, and even on a crowded day it feels genuinely wild.

It's a free site, which is excellent. Allow an hour if you're just popping in and taking photos, longer if you want to poke around properly and maybe venture further into the passages if you've brought a torch. The entrance is the impressive bit for most visitors - families with younger kids will get a kick out of it without needing to go deep.

Historically minded types and keen geologists will find more to chew on, but you don't need special knowledge to appreciate why this spot mattered. The cave sits right on the edge of the limestone plateau, so the views down the valley are frankly better than you'd expect.

If you're based at Castleton Caravan and Motorhome Club Campsite just 1.6 miles away, Winnats Head makes a brilliant half-day outing that won't exhaust you before exploring the other caves and walks nearby. Laneside Caravan Park is equally well-placed. The site gets busy in summer weekends, so aim for a weekday or early morning if you can. Bring decent shoes - it's muddy in places.