Rough Pot

You'll need to do a bit of scrambling and crawling to get anywhere near Rough Pot, and that's rather the point. This cave system near Carnforth demands proper kit - head torch essential - and a willingness to get muddy. It's not a tourist attraction with handrails and gift shops; it's a genuine caving experience tucked into the Yorkshire landscape.

The cave itself is modest in scale but genuinely interesting if you know what you're looking at. There's a small stream running through, and the formations reward closer inspection. Most people allow an hour or so, though you could spend longer if you're thorough. It's free to access, which is refreshing.

This isn't for casual wanderers or young children expecting an easy stroll. Proper cavers and adventure types will find it satisfying; families wanting a quick look at a cave should probably skip it and find something less demanding. The nearest settlement is Carnforth, which gives you a sense of scale - it's proper rural Yorkshire.

If you're staying at Primrose Glamping Pods just up the road, Rough Pot makes a decent half-day activity to break up your park holiday. You'll get the satisfaction of doing something a bit off the beaten track without needing expedition-level experience. Check the weather first though - rain turns this into a waterlogged crawl rather than a cave trip.