Hutton’s Monument

You'll spot this stone obelisk rising unexpectedly from the moorland near Leyburn - a rather grand memorial to James Hutton, the Scottish geologist who fundamentally changed how we understand rock formations and the age of the Earth. He's the kind of scientist most people have never heard of, but he basically invented modern geology, which makes this solitary monument oddly fitting.

The walk out to it across the North Yorkshire hills is proper lovely, and that's arguably the real draw here. The monument itself is modest - you're not talking about an elaborate structure, just a tall stone tower with commemorative plaques - but standing there, you get a genuine sense of how important this spot was to geological thinking. Hutton spent time studying the rock formations around here, and the monument marks where his observations literally shaped our understanding of planetary time.

It's best suited to walkers and geology enthusiasts rather than families after a quick visit - you'll need a decent pair of boots and shouldn't expect to linger long at the monument itself. There's no visitor centre or facilities, and it's free to visit. Allow a couple of hours for the round walk depending on your fitness level and how far you start from.

If you're based at Yorkshire Dales Holiday Park just down the road, this makes a cracking day's outing. Pair it with exploring the surrounding moorland, and you've got a proper immersive Yorkshire afternoon. Best in clearer weather when the views actually reward the effort.