Covell Cross

You'll find Covell Cross standing alone on the Lancashire moorland near Carnforth, a weathered stone monument that's been marking this spot for centuries. It's the kind of place that stops you mid-walk - a proper cross, solid and enduring, with views that stretch across the fells. The exact age is debated among historians, but what matters is that it's genuinely old and genuinely atmospheric.

The cross itself isn't massive or ornate. What makes it worth seeking out is the walk to reach it and the sense of standing somewhere that matters to the landscape's story. You're looking at medieval or earlier stonework, a marker from when these moors were actively travelled and traded across. It's the sort of spot where you understand why people bothered to carve permanence into rock.

Walkers will get the most from this. It's not a five-minute stop - it's the reason to take a proper route across the moorland, with decent views as your reward. Allow a couple of hours if you're combining it with other walks in the area. There's no visitor centre or facilities, so come prepared. Free to visit, obviously.

If you're basing yourself at Crook O'Lune Holiday Park or Bay View, this makes a genuinely good half-day excursion. It's close enough that families with capable legs will manage it, though younger children might find it a bit niche. The real appeal is for anyone who likes their history unhurried and their moorland walks purposeful.