Coronation Pot

You'll need decent fitness and a head torch to get anything from Coronation Pot, a vertical shaft cave near Settle that drops down through limestone like a giant sinkhole. It's not a tourist attraction with visitor facilities - this is proper caving territory. The descent itself is the whole point: abseiling or scrambling down into a flooded chamber where daylight becomes a distant memory and the air turns cold and damp. Water pools at the bottom, so come prepared to get wet. Most people allow two to three hours if they're taking it seriously, though experienced cavers move faster.

This is strictly for the adventurous, not for casual walkers wanting a quick underground look-see. Families with younger kids won't get much from it, and solo visits aren't advisable - you'll want at least one other person and ideally someone who knows what they're doing. If you're already equipped for caving or keen to learn, it's a brilliant introduction to the sport. Settle itself is the jumping-off point, a proper Dales market town with proper shops and pubs to warm up in afterwards.

The area's crawling with better-known limestone features - Malham Cove, Pen-y-ghent - so you could build Coronation Pot into a wider caving trip. Staying at one of the nearby glamping spots like Ribblesdale Pods or Malham Glamping Pods makes sense if you're planning a few days of exploring. Spring through autumn works best, when water levels are more manageable, though even then you're taking on a serious bit of rock and water.