Falcon Cave

You'll find yourself scrambling up a limestone hillside near Skipton before you even catch sight of Falcon Cave's mouth. It's not a massive cavern - more of a modest opening in the rock face that rewards a proper bit of legwork to reach. Inside, the cave runs back only a short distance, but the views back across the Yorkshire Dales as you emerge make the climb worthwhile.

This is walker territory, not a tourist attraction with gift shops and cafes. The cave itself won't keep you occupied for hours - perhaps twenty minutes of poking about, ducking through passages, and letting your eyes adjust to the gloom. What matters is the journey: the scramble up, the moorland air, the stone walls that frame your approach.

Families with older kids who don't mind a bit of rough ground will manage fine. Younger children or anyone after an easy stroll should look elsewhere. The real appeal is combining this with a wider walk through the Dales landscape - it makes a decent waypoint rather than a destination in itself.

Best visited outside peak summer weekends when the parking areas get rammed. Spring and autumn offer clearer visibility across the valleys, though winter scrambles can be muddy and treacherous. No facilities at the site itself, so bring water.

Stay at Malham Glamping Pods or Wood Nook Caravan Park nearby, both within easy reach. The cave works brilliantly as part of a wider Dales walking holiday, but don't expect it to be a headline attraction on its own.