Black Hole

The Black Hole near Leyburn isn't actually a hole at all - it's a proper cave that cuts into the hillside, and it's one of those unexpected finds that makes wandering around Yorkshire's limestone country so rewarding. You walk into cool darkness, the entrance framed by overhanging rock, and the passage extends further back than you'd expect. It's modest in scale, nothing like the show caves you'd pay good money for elsewhere, but that's partly what makes it appealing - there's a sense of minor discovery rather than orchestrated spectacle.

Walkers and geology enthusiasts will get the most from it. The cave itself doesn't demand much time - twenty minutes of poking about covers it - but it slots nicely into a longer ramble across the Wensleydale fells. Bring a torch if you want to venture properly into the darker sections. The location means it works well as a stop-off rather than a destination in itself, especially if you're based at somewhere like Stablefell Holidays and Campsite just a few miles away.

Access appears to be free and unrestricted, though obviously you're responsible for your own safety - it's a cave, so watch your head and mind your footing. The approach is straightforward from Leyburn. It won't thrill thrill-seekers or keep young children entertained for long, but for anyone with even passing interest in Yorkshire's karst landscape, it's worth the detour. Proper bit of England.