Idol Stone

Standing alone on the moorland above Shipley, this weathered gritstone monolith has puzzled locals for centuries. The Idol Stone - despite its rather grand name - is actually a modest prehistoric standing stone that rises about eight feet from the heather-covered ground. Getting here involves a proper walk across Baildon Moor, which can be boggy underfoot after rain.

History buffs will appreciate the mystery surrounding its origins. Some reckon it's Bronze Age, others suggest it marked ancient boundaries or trade routes. Truth is, nobody really knows for certain what our ancestors intended when they hauled this lump of stone into position thousands of years ago.

Families with older children who don't mind a bit of rough walking will find it makes for a decent objective on a clear day. The views back towards the Aire Valley and across to the Yorkshire Dales are well worth the trek, though the stone itself won't occupy you for more than ten minutes. Allow a couple of hours for the round trip from the nearest parking.

It slots in nicely with a holiday at one of the nearby parks like Olicana Park or Brown Bank Caravan Park, especially if you're after a free day out that gets the legs moving. Just don't expect Stonehenge - this is Yorkshire's altogether more modest answer to ancient monuments.