Snare Pot

You'll find Snare Pot tucked into the limestone hills near Skipton, a proper sinkhole cave that drops straight down into the Yorkshire moorland. It's not the sort of place that announces itself with gift shops or rangers in uniform - you walk out to it, find the opening, and peer down into a natural shaft that's genuinely impressive once your eyes adjust to the gloom.

This is cave exploring for people who like a bit of solitude and don't need everything explaining to them. The walk itself is the draw, really - moorland paths with views across Wharfedale, and the cave makes a decent half-day venture from Skipton. You're looking at maybe an hour's walk each way depending on fitness, so it's not an afterthought. Cavers sometimes rope down further, but the sinkhole itself is worth seeing even if you stay at ground level.

It's best visited in drier months - limestone drains well but the surrounding ground can be boggy. Spring and autumn are ideal, though September and October give you better light and fewer midges. Kids aged ten and up who don't mind a bit of mud and exposure to open sky will get something out of it; younger ones might find the walk tedious and the cave underwhelming.

If you're based at Howgill Lodge or Bolton Abbey Estate just down the road, Snare Pot slots in nicely as a morning excursion before heading elsewhere. It's free, unmanaged, and entirely your own experience - no crowds, no queues, just you and a hole in the ground.