Far Rams Close

You'll find the scattered remains of a Romano-British settlement here on the moorland above Skipton, though don't expect a visitor centre or reconstructed buildings. What you get instead is a proper archaeological site - the kind where you actually have to use your imagination and read the landscape itself.

Far Rams Close is an Iron Age and Roman settlement, exposed on the hillside with its field systems and enclosures still visible if you know what you're looking at. The site sits at around 300 metres, so the walk up gives you sweeping views across Wharfedale. It's the sort of place that appeals to archaeology enthusiasts and keen walkers far more than casual visitors - you'll need to be comfortable with rough moorland and ideally carry an OS map or good guidebook to make sense of what you're seeing.

There's no admission charge or facilities on site. Allow an hour if you're walking from Skipton town centre, though the actual site visit depends entirely on how deep you want to dig into the history. Winter's actually the best time to visit - the vegetation dies back and the earthworks become clearer.

If you're based at one of the caravan parks dotted around - Wharfedale or Bolton Abbey Estate are closest at around 4-5 miles away - this works well as a morning walk that ties in with exploring the broader Wharfe Valley. The site itself won't occupy you all day, but combined with a stroll through Bolton Abbey Estate or up into the surrounding dales, it makes for a solid half-day's outing.