Knacker Trapper Hole

The name alone makes you smile - Knacker Trapper Hole is a proper Yorkshire cave with a daft moniker that actually refers to the old knackers (bone boilers) who supposedly used it. Located near Carnforth in North Yorkshire, this modest limestone cave is free to explore and requires no booking or faffing about with opening hours.

What you get is a straightforward cave entrance that leads into a short passage. It's not vast or dramatic - you won't need ropes or special kit - but there's genuine interest for anyone keen on geology or local history. The cave itself tells the story of how limestone erodes, and there's something satisfying about walking into a hole in the hillside that's been here for millennia.

Families with older kids will get a kick out of it as a quick detour, though younger children might find it brief. Serious cavers will want something more substantial, but walkers exploring the Dales will find it a worthwhile 20-minute stop. The free admission is a big plus.

If you're based at one of the nearby campsites - Philpin Farm is just over a mile away, or the Dalesbridge and Orcaber options slightly further out - you could easily combine this with walking in the wider area. It's not a destination in itself, but it's the sort of quirky local spot that makes a park holiday feel less touristy and more genuinely connected to where you actually are.