Stile Pot

Stile Pot is a proper Yorkshire cave system near Settle, tucked into the limestone landscape that defines this part of the Dales. You'll find it's not one of those vast show caverns with electric lighting and a gift shop - it's more intimate, a working cave where water still flows through, shaping it year on year. The entrance is modest, almost easy to miss if you're not looking, but once inside the passages open up into chambers that feel genuinely remote even though you're only walking distance from Settle.

This is walker's territory, really. You need a decent sense of adventure and proper footwear because it gets muddy and the passage narrows in places. Kids who are caving-mad will love it; those after an easy stroll won't. Most people allow a couple of hours, though you can be quicker if you're just poking about the entrance chamber. The cave is free to explore, though I'd strongly recommend going with someone who knows it or picking up local knowledge in Settle first.

If you're basing yourself at Orcaber Farm or The Dalesbridge Campsite - both just three miles away - Stile Pot makes an excellent half-day addition to a walking holiday. It ties in well with the broader caving scene around Settle and the Dales' limestone geology. Go in winter or after rain and the water levels change the whole experience, which adds variety if you're returning.