If you go into the woods - big surprise

If you venture into the woods near Ilton & Masham, you're sure of a big surprise... a Stonehenge-like structure known as Druids' Temple. It's a curious folly in a somewhat hidden location, much loved by children in search of an adventure.

The stones aren't as huge as those at Stonehenge but they are more accessible and intact. The 'main ring' has an impressive entrance which leads to a double circle of large stones, many over 8 feet tall, and at the back there's a dark gloomy 'Tomb of Transformation' with a long flat stone table. Druids Temple was built much more recently than Stonehenge - at some time between 1700 and 1800. The landowner of the time, William Danby is said to have paid locals to build it as a work-creation project during a recession. This was at a time when many young men travelled around Europe, fascinated by the Romantic movement and nostalgic for ancient customs. There was something of a 'fashion' for druidism.

There are stories that William Danby hired a hermit to live there, ‘speaking to no one and allowing his beard and hair to grow’. Some say say he stayed for 7 years, others only for a few days.

Children love to play hide and seek in and around Druids Temple. (Don't try to walk on the top of the stones: a local girl broke her leg trying it). Pathways stretch off into the woods (great for dog walking when it's lambing season as there are no sheep here and dogs can run around in search of plentiful sticks) in different directions so you can easily enjoy a circular walk. Within the woods you'll also find random piles of stones and dens others have made. Follow the path downhill and you'll eventually come to a gate and open moorland where you can see plentiful pheasants and grouse, and look down on Leighton Reservoir. There's also a bird hide where you can watch curlews, lapwings, golden plover and various birds of prey if you visit at the right time.

After exploring Druids Temple, you might like to pop down the hill a little way to the quirky Bivouac cafe, also part of the Swinton Estate. Druids Temple can be found by following the signs around Masham to Bivouac or to Swinton Park and then Bivouac from there.