Quebec Monument

The Quebec Monument sits on a quiet hillside just outside Ripon, a sturdy stone obelisk that most drivers heading through North Yorkshire completely miss. It was raised in 1901 to commemorate the British soldiers who died at the Battle of Quebec during the Seven Years' War - a proper piece of Empire-era sentiment carved into the Pennine landscape.

You'll find it's a short walk from the road, and honestly, the journey there matters more than the destination itself. The views across the Yorkshire countryside are what'll stick with you. History types and walkers will appreciate the spot, though it's not the sort of place you'll spend hours at. Twenty minutes, maybe thirty if you're taking photos.

It's free to visit, no gates or keepers, just you and the stone. Families with young kids might find it a bit underwhelming on its own - there's no interpretive centre or visitor facilities - but it works as a good leg-stretcher on a broader loop around Ripon.

If you're basing yourself at Woodhouse Farm Holiday Park or Riverside Meadows just down the road, it's absolutely worth including in a day out. Pair it with a walk around Ripon itself - the cathedral's worth an hour - and you've got a proper half-day. The monument's strength is that it feels genuinely forgotten, not done up for tourists. That's either exactly what you want, or a reason to head elsewhere.