William's Hill (ringwork and bailey)

You'll find yourself standing on a modest rise just outside Leyburn, looking at what amounts to a very old earthwork - two distinct humps in the ground that were once a proper medieval fortification. William's Hill is a ringwork and bailey, which means a circular defensive ditch with an inner mound, the sort of thing Norman landowners threw up across England in the 11th and 12th centuries. It's not dramatic. There are no ruins, no stones, just grass and the ghost of a structure.

That said, if you're into archaeology or medieval military architecture, this is genuinely interesting. You can trace the defensive ditch, spot where the palisade would have stood, and get a real sense of how these early castles worked before anyone started building in stone. It's the kind of place that rewards a bit of reading beforehand - come unprepared and you'll spend ten minutes looking at bumps, then leave.

Walkers will appreciate the location. It's accessible, easy to reach from Leyburn, and makes a decent stop on a longer ramble through the Dales. Families with older kids keen on history might find it worthwhile; younger children will get bored quickly. Allow 20 minutes unless you're genuinely fascinated by medieval fortifications, then you could happily spend an hour.

It fits well with a park stay at Yorkshire Dales or Eastfield Glamping Farm nearby. Neither is a huge detour, and the site itself costs nothing. Go on a clear day - the views across the Dales from up there are proper nice, and that's half the appeal anyway.