Lynkirk Cave

The cave mouth opens suddenly as you round the bend in Weardale - a proper dark slash in the limestone hillside that makes you want to check your torch works before you venture in. Lynkirk Cave isn't vast or showy, but it's got a quiet appeal that rewards the short walk from the road. You'll need to duck and scramble a bit depending on how far you want to go, and the passage narrows quickly, so it's not for anyone who breaks out in a cold sweat in tight spaces.

History types will appreciate that this was a hermitage once - monks or solitary folk lived here, which adds a strange intimacy to the damp stone walls. The light filtering in from the entrance creates decent photo opportunities if you're into that sort of thing. Twenty minutes to half an hour covers it properly, unless you fancy exploring the deeper sections if they're accessible.

It's free, which takes the edge off if you're disappointed by the size. Families with older kids who aren't spooked by caves and murky passages will get something from it. Younger ones might find it underwhelming after the initial thrill wears off. Given Weardale's cluster of holiday parks - Heather View is barely a mile away, Greenfoot just over that - it's a decent addition to a morning's wandering before lunch. Worth the detour if you're already exploring the dale, less so if you're making a special trip.