Fourteen Swallets #12

If you're walking the hills around Ruthin and spot what looks like the earth suddenly swallowing itself, you've found one of the Fourteen Swallets. These sinkholes are where water vanishes underground into limestone caves - properly dramatic geology in action.

They're scattered across the Denbighshire moorland, and honestly, they're more of a walker's curiosity than a standalone attraction. You won't spend hours here, but if you're doing the longer routes through the area, coming across one is that satisfying moment when landscape and geology click into place. The biggest ones are genuinely eerie - dark holes dropping into shadow, with streams disappearing into the blackness. Kids find them brilliant in that slightly unsettling way.

There's no visitor centre, no admission fee, and no formal facilities. You find them yourself on the hills, which is part of the appeal. The walks that connect them are the real draw - you're looking at proper moorland rambling rather than a casual stroll. Best approached as part of a bigger hiking day rather than a quick stop.

If you're based at Clwydian Glamping Pods and Campsite just five miles away, the swallets make excellent walking destinations. The countryside around Ruthin rewards proper exploration, and stumbling onto these geological features beats tarmacked tourist routes. Bring decent boots though - the moorland gets boggy.