Castle Mound

The mound itself is barely twenty feet high, which comes as a shock when you're standing at the base of it near Whitby. You'd expect something grander, something that looks properly fortified. Instead, what you're looking at is the flattened remains of a Norman motte - the kind of earthwork thrown up in the 11th century when William's lot were busy securing Yorkshire against the locals.

There's not much to actually see once you're up there. The summit is grass and a few scattered stones, and the views across the surrounding countryside are pleasant rather than spectacular. What makes it worth the short walk is the archaeology itself. This is one of the earlier castles built in the region, and standing on that worn-down platform you can almost picture the wooden palisade that would have crowned it centuries ago. History buffs will find themselves properly engaged; young children might manage fifteen minutes before asking how much further to the ice cream shop.

It's free to visit and takes roughly half an hour if you include the climb and a poke around the site. The real value comes if you're already in the Whitby area exploring the coast and abbey. Pair it with a stay at Broadings Farm Caravan Site just a few miles south, and you've got a decent afternoon combining seaside exploration with a bit of archaeological theatre. The mound works best as a stop rather than a destination - decent for stretching the legs between more substantial attractions.