Glaramara Stone Axe Factory

High up on the Cumbrian fells above Ambleside sits one of Britain's most important Neolithic archaeological sites - though you'll need proper fell-walking legs to reach it. Glaramara Stone Axe Factory is exactly what it sounds like: a 4,000-year-old quarry where our ancestors extracted volcanic rock and shaped it into tools that were traded across the country. What you actually see is a scattering of stone across moorland, along with the worked flakes and debris that archaeologists have been studying for decades. It's not dramatic in the way, say, a castle ruin is. There are no reconstructions or interpretive boards up here - just weathered stone, fell views, and the knowledge that this spot mattered.

This is strictly for walkers with a genuine interest in prehistory. Casual tourists expecting a visitor centre will be disappointed. Families with young children should think twice - the walk is strenuous and the site itself offers little to hold kids' attention for long. But if you're staying at Great Langdale Campsite or Great Langdale Glamping and you're the sort who likes connecting with ancient landscapes, it's worth the effort.

Allow a full morning or afternoon for the walk and time on site. Bring an OS map and check the weather - these fells don't forgive carelessness. Access is free, naturally, and there are no facilities at the site itself. Winter often makes the route inaccessible. It's the kind of place that sticks with you precisely because it demands something of you to get there.