Clitheroe Castle

The Norman keep rises abruptly from a grassy mound right in the centre of Clitheroe, commanding views across the Ribble Valley. It's compact - you can walk around the whole thing in about twenty minutes - but the views from the top are genuinely excellent, stretching out towards Pendle Hill on a clear day.

What you're looking at is roughly 850 years of history. The castle itself is a proper ruin now, just the keep standing, but there's a small museum in the gatehouse that fills in the gaps about medieval life and the castle's role in the Civil War. Kids tend to enjoy climbing up to the battlements, though the stone spiral stairs are narrow and a bit steep for very small legs.

It's free to wander the grounds, which is generous. Allow an hour if you're taking it slowly and want to read the information boards. The castle sits right next to a pleasant park, so you could easily combine this with a stroll through town without eating up a whole afternoon.

Stay at Cross Lane Caravan Park just outside town and you're perfectly placed for this - it's less than two and a half miles away. Calder Farm, further out near the Pennines, works if you want somewhere quieter, though you're then looking at a short drive back in. Either way, the castle works best as part of a broader exploration of the Ribble Valley rather than a destination in itself. Worth the visit, but don't expect to spend the whole day here.