Castle Folds

Castle Folds sits on a hillside near Appleby-in-Westmorland, and frankly, you need to know what you're looking at or it won't mean much. This is an Iron Age hill fort - earthworks, really. Concentric banks and ditches that once ringed a fortified settlement, now worn soft by two thousand years of weather and farming. The site itself is accessible and relatively easy walking, with good views across the Eden Valley once you're up there. History types will find it genuinely interesting; the defensive layout still reads clearly on the ground if you spend time with it. Kids? They'll probably get bored within twenty minutes unless you've already talked them through what they're seeing. On a clear day it's worth the detour if you're already in the area, but don't plan your holiday around it. There's something satisfying about standing where Iron Age people stood, even if all that remains are bumps in the grass. Free access, naturally - it's an archaeological site, not a theme park. Allow an hour if you're taking it seriously, half that if you're just stretching your legs. If you're staying at Wild Rose Holiday Park, it's a decent five-mile drive to clear your head and get some Pennine air. Check the ground conditions after rain - it can get muddy along the approach paths.