Bolton Priory

The ruins of Bolton Priory stand on a bend of the River Wharfe just outside Skipton, and they're properly worth the short drive from town. What you're looking at is a 12th-century Augustinian monastery that's been left to crumble in the most photogenic way possible - the nave's still standing, the arches are intact enough to make out the original architecture, and the whole thing sits in green parkland that slopes down to the river. The viewpoint itself gives you the full drama: the priory framed against the wooded valley, the Wharfe threading through below, and on a clear day, views across to the surrounding fells.

This is absolutely one for history types and walkers. Families will get an hour out of it if the kids are into climbing on old stones and paddling in the river shallows. The setting matters as much as the building - you can loop a proper walk around here, heading upstream to the stepping stones or downstream to where the Wharfe narrows. Allow two hours if you're taking it seriously, half an hour if you're just grabbing the view and photos.

It's free to wander the grounds, which helps when you're based at one of the nearby campsites - Catgill Farm and Bolton Abbey Estate Caravan and Motorhome Club are practically on the doorstep. The ruins don't demand much planning; go midweek or early morning to avoid the coach parties, and don't expect much in the way of facilities or interpretation boards. It's just you, the stones, and the river. Proper Yorkshire.