Clogwyn Pot

You'll need a torch and decent boots for this one. Clogwyn Pot is a proper cave system tucked into the hills above Talsarnau in Gwynedd - the kind of place that doesn't announce itself with visitor centres or gift shops, which is part of its appeal.

It's a short walk from the road to reach the entrance, where the cave mouth opens into the hillside. Inside, you've got passages to explore and some straightforward scrambling if you're comfortable with tight spaces and damp limestone. The cave itself is modest in scale - this isn't Wookey Hole - but it feels genuinely wild. Bring a proper torch (your phone won't cut it) and wear something you don't mind getting filthy.

This is squarely for people who like a bit of adventure and aren't bothered about hand rails or interpretation boards. Families with older children who've done a bit of caving will get a kick out of it. Casual strollers expecting a slick attraction will find it underwhelming and possibly uncomfortable.

The nearest bases are the caravan parks dotted around the area - Woodlands, Min-y-don, and Castle View are all within five kilometres. It's brilliant if you're using the region as a walking holiday base and fancy breaking up the days with something different. Rhaeadr Nantcol Waterfalls is nearby too if you want to combine it with river walks.

No admission charge that we know of, and you can do it in an hour or so depending on how far you fancy pushing into the system. Go when it's not been raining hard - standing water and slippery rocks are less fun than they sound.