Cross Pot

Cross Pot is a limestone cave system tucked into the Yorkshire Dales near Settle, and it's genuinely worth seeking out if you're prepared for a proper underground adventure. You're looking at a show cave with accessible passages that wind through dramatic natural chambers - the kind of place where your headtorch beam disappears into blackness and you suddenly remember why caves fascinated you as a kid.

The walk in takes about twenty minutes from the car park, following a beck through moorland before you reach the entrance. Once inside, the passages open up nicely without being claustrophobic - plenty of room to move, good light at certain points where sunlight filters through natural shafts. The formations aren't as showy as some commercial caves, but there's something more genuine about that. It feels less polished, more like actual exploration.

Caving families will love it. Older kids especially - under-tens might find the walk back tiring, and anyone nervous about tight spaces should probably give it a miss. Allow a solid two hours including the approach and time to dawdle about inside. Wear proper walking boots and bring a torch even if there's some ambient light.

It's free to access, which is brilliant. Based around Settle, you're well-positioned for the wider Dales - Ribblesdale Pods sits just 1.7 miles away if you fancy glamping, or Philpin Farm Campsite further out for something more conventional. Combine Cross Pot with a walk along the Settle-Carlisle Railway line and you've got a proper day out.