Site of Denby Grange Mine

The moorland around Wakefield holds more history than most folk realise, and Denby Grange Mine is proof of that. It's not a visitor centre with tea and gift shop - it's an actual archaeological site where you can walk the landscape and spot the physical remnants of coal mining that shaped this part of South Yorkshire. The earthworks and former workings are still visible if you know where to look, making it genuinely interesting for anyone who wants to read the land rather than have it explained to them.

History buffs and industrial archaeologists will get the most from this. You'll need to do a bit of walking and use your imagination - there's no interpretation boards or reconstructions, which is either brilliant or frustrating depending on your tolerance for mystery. Families with older kids who enjoy exploring outdoors can make a morning of it, though younger children might get restless without obvious "attractions". The moorland itself is lovely for a walk, and it's the kind of place that rewards poking about.

You won't find opening hours or admission fees because it's essentially an open archaeological site on the landscape. That means you can visit whenever you fancy, which is rather refreshing. If you're based at Broadlands Farm Touring Caravan Site or Mapplewell Meadows Farm for a park holiday, this makes a solid half-day excursion - the sort of thing that breaks up the usual caravanning routine without demanding much planning.