Adrian Lane

Adrian Lane sits just outside Sheffield, a pocket of Derbyshire history that most visitors rush past on the main roads. It's a modest historic site - the kind of place where you get a real sense of what life looked like centuries back, without the crowds you'd find at the big heritage attractions.

What draws people here is the chance to walk around actual period buildings and get a tangible feel for the area's past. It's not flashy, but that's rather the point. The setting has that genuine worn-in quality that comes from real use rather than heritage-site polish. You'll need a good hour to do it justice, maybe longer if you're the type to read every panel.

Walkers and history buffs will get more from a visit than families with restless toddlers - there's not a great deal of interactive stuff. If you're staying nearby at Riverside Valley Camping, just five miles away, it's worth adding to your itinerary on a drizzly afternoon rather than banking the whole day on it.

The proximity to Sheffield means you can easily combine it with exploring the city itself, or use it as a breather between other Derbyshire attractions. Check ahead for opening hours and admission fees before you head out - details can be sparse for smaller historic sites like this one. Worth a visit if you're in the area, but don't go out of your way specially.