Calcaria Roman Town

The Romans left their mark all over Yorkshire, but Calcaria is one of those sites that rewards the effort of actually getting off the main road. This was a proper fort - built around AD 71 - and what you're walking through now are the remains of stone walls, ditches and ramparts that once housed auxiliary soldiers guarding the river crossing at Tadcaster.

It's not dramatic. There's no amphitheatre ruin or standing columns - just earthworks and the occasional piece of worked stone. But that's partly the appeal. You're essentially reading the landscape like an archaeologist would, following the rectangular fort outline and trying to picture the bustling garrison that once stood here. The site sits beside the River Wharfe, which adds a bit of atmosphere, and on a quiet afternoon you might have the whole thing to yourself.

Walkers and history enthusiasts will get far more from this than casual tourists. If you're after instant visual gratification, look elsewhere. Allow an hour, maybe ninety minutes if you're the type who reads every interpretation board and takes photos from multiple angles. Free to visit, naturally - it's just fields and earthworks.

It pairs well with a base at Wighill Park Glamping or Cawood Park if you're doing a Roman Yorkshire circuit. Tadcaster itself is handy for supplies and a decent pub after poking about the ruins. Come on a dry day when you can actually walk the perimeter without squelching through mud.