Coxhoe Hall

The ruins of Coxhoe Hall sit quietly just outside Durham, a modest reminder of what was once a proper Georgian country house. Built in the 1750s, it's now reduced to stone walls and empty windows - the sort of place that rewards a short detour if you're passing through the area, though it won't keep you occupied for long.

What you get is a walk around the perimeter of a substantial shell. The brickwork gives away its age, and there's enough remaining structure to understand the layout - you can make out where rooms once divided the space. It's the kind of spot that appeals more to history enthusiasts and anyone interested in how these houses have fallen into decay than to families expecting interactive exhibits or elaborate grounds. Allow twenty minutes, perhaps half an hour if you're photographing or sketching.

There's no visitor centre and admission appears to be free, though the site's operational status isn't always clear - worth ringing ahead to confirm access. The surrounding countryside is pleasant enough for a brief ramble, particularly if you're based at Woodside Ridge Caravan Park just two miles away, or one of the other parks within five miles.

If you're holiday-parking near Durham and want to tick off a few local historical sites, this fits the bill. But don't expect grandeur or facilities. It's a fragment, essentially - worth knowing about, but only if you're already in the neighbourhood.