Little Skirtful of Stones

Stone circles don't get much more intimate than this Bronze Age ring above Shipley. Just twelve stones arranged in a rough circle, Little Skirtful of Stones sits quietly on moorland near Baildon Moor, easily missed if you don't know where to look. The stones themselves are modest - knee-high at best - but there's something rather moving about finding this 4,000-year-old monument still standing after all these millennia.

History buffs will appreciate the site's authenticity. Unlike some restored circles, these stones feel genuinely ancient and untouched. The views across Airedale are lovely on a clear day, though the traffic noise from the A650 below does puncture the prehistoric atmosphere somewhat.

Getting there requires a decent walk across the moor from Shipley Glen, so come prepared with proper footwear. The path can be boggy after rain. Allow an hour for the round trip, though you could easily combine it with a longer ramble across Baildon Moor if the weather's cooperating.

Families staying at nearby parks like Esholt Holiday Caravan Park or Crook Farm Park will find this makes a good morning excursion, especially with older children who won't mind the walk. Younger ones might find it all a bit anticlimactic - it's not Stonehenge, after all. But for anyone with an interest in Yorkshire's ancient past, it's well worth the detour.