Barrie Hockney

The ruins of Barrie Hockney sit quietly on the Leicestershire landscape, a remnant of medieval life that doesn't shout for attention but rewards those who track it down. It's not a grand castle or a showpiece ruin - more a collection of stone foundations and earthworks that tell the story of how people lived centuries ago in this corner of the East Midlands.

What you're looking at are the remains of a fortified house or manor, the kind of place that would have housed a reasonably well-off family during the medieval period. The site itself is fairly sparse - don't expect reconstructed buildings or interactive displays. Instead, you get the chance to walk around original ground plans and imagine the domestic life that once happened here. It's the sort of place that appeals most to history enthusiasts and archaeology buffs who enjoy piecing together the past from what's left behind.

The practical reality is that there's little infrastructure here. It's a free site, so no entry fees to worry about, and you can visit whenever you like - though checking with Leicester's tourism office beforehand wouldn't go amiss for any updates. Allow 30 minutes to an hour, depending on how deep you want to dig into the history.

If you're based at Green Acres Caravan Park, just four miles away, it makes a reasonable half-hour detour during a wider exploration of the area. Pair it with other local sites and you've got a decent afternoon. On its own, though, it's more of a specialist interest than a destination in itself.