Hunt Pot

The entrance to Hunt Pot sits right on the fell above Settle, which means you'll find it by walking - there's no driving straight to the mouth. It's a proper cave system, the sort that rewards a bit of effort to reach. The walk itself is straightforward enough, taking you up through moorland with views across Ribblesdale that frankly don't need a cave at the end to justify the trip.

Once you're there, Hunt Pot is relatively modest as Yorkshire potholes go. The cave entrance is genuine enough, and depending on conditions and your nerve, you can explore some way inside. It's not a showpiece cavern with electric lighting and guided tours - this is caving country, and Hunt Pot feels like the real thing. Decent waterproof boots are essential; the ground stays damp regardless of the weather.

Walkers and potholing enthusiasts will get the most from it. Families with older kids who don't mind getting muddy could manage it, but younger ones might find it underwhelming once they've scrambled to the entrance. Allow a couple of hours for the walk up, brief exploration, and the return.

If you're staying at Ribblesdale Pods or one of the other Settle-area campsites, Hunt Pot fits nicely into a day's fell walking. Pair it with a look at the limestone landscape itself - the whole area is geological gold. It's the kind of stop that appeals to people who actually enjoy walking rather than those treating it as a box-ticking exercise.