Fourteen Swallets #9

Deep in the Denbighshire hills near Ruthin, water vanishes into the ground without explanation. That's what a swallet is - a sinkhole where streams simply stop flowing overland and plunge underground into limestone caverns. Fourteen Swallets is a series of these peculiar geological features, and it's the sort of place that rewards a proper ramble across moorland.

You won't find visitor facilities or marked trails here. This is genuinely untamed country. The swallets themselves - those dark gaps where water swallows into the earth - are scattered across rough terrain, and the walk between them is what sells it. Geology enthusiasts and serious walkers will find this absorbing; families with young children might find it a bit underwhelming since there's no dramatic cave entrance or visitor centre to anchor the experience.

The nearest proper base is Ruthin, a solid medieval market town about four miles away. If you're camping or glamping, Clwydian Glamping Pods and Campsite sits just 4.9 miles from here and sits bang on the edge of this walking country.

Allow two to three hours if you're making a proper expedition of it. Go in dry weather - the paths can get boggy and visibility matters when you're navigating open moorland. There's no admission charge because there's nothing formally managed here; it's just geology doing its thing. Best for walkers and cave enthusiasts willing to do the legwork to understand what they're looking at.