White Wells

The stone bathhouse sits on the moor above Ilkley like someone's forgotten folly, and that's rather the point. Built in 1784, White Wells was one of England's first hydropathic spas - locals would trudge up here believing the cold spring water had miraculous healing powers. Whether it did or not, the Victorian obsession with taking the waters at this spot says something about how desperate people were for a cure-all.

The building itself is small and squat, all weathered millstone grit and moorland views. You can walk round it, peer through windows at the original plunge pools, and imagine the rather grim experience of dunking yourself in freezing water on a Yorkshire afternoon. The real draw is the walk to get there. Starting from Ilkley town centre, it's a decent climb across open moor - proper bracing, especially when the wind picks up. Allow an hour up and back, longer if you're stopping to admire the views across Wharfedale.

History enthusiasts will find it genuinely fascinating - it's a tangible piece of Victorian wellness culture, ridiculous and earnest in equal measure. Walkers use it as a marker on the Ilkley Moor circuit, which is why it works well as part of a broader exploration of the area. If you're based at one of the caravan parks nearby - Olicana Park is closest at just over three miles away - it's a logical half-morning expedition.

Don't expect facilities or crowds. There's no café, no gift shop. Just history, moorland, and the peculiar satisfaction of standing where Victorians once suffered for science.