Sandy Hole

Free caves are rare creatures these days, which makes this modest opening in the Mendip Hills all the more appealing. Sandy Hole sits quietly in the limestone landscape near Cheddar, offering a proper spelunking experience without the gift shop markup.

The entrance is deceptively small - you'll need to scramble down through a narrow opening that opens into a series of chambers. It's not Wookey Hole's grand cathedral spaces, but there's something satisfying about exploring a cave where you're not following rope barriers and listening to guided commentary.

Bring a decent torch and wear clothes you don't mind getting muddy. The sandy floor gives the cave its name, though limestone dust will coat your gear regardless. Families with adventurous children over eight will find it manageable, but toddlers and anyone uncomfortable with tight spaces should give it a miss.

Allow an hour for a thorough explore, though keen cavers could easily spend longer poking into side passages. The cave stays a constant cool temperature year-round, making it a welcome retreat on scorching summer days when Cheddar Gorge feels like a furnace.

If you're staying at one of the nearby holiday parks like Cheddar Woods Resort or Mendip Basecamp, it makes a cracking free adventure that's genuinely different from the usual tourist trail. Just remember - what goes down into a cave, comes back up considerably muddier.