Dalserf Parish Church

You'll find this modest stone church tucked away in the village of Dalserf, a few miles south of Lanark, looking rather more cheerful than most Scottish parish kirks of its age. Dating back to the 12th century, it's survived everything from reformation zealots to centuries of Scottish weather - which is no small feat. The current building is largely 18th century, but the bones are ancient, and there's something genuinely moving about stepping inside and seeing how many generations have worshipped in more or less the same spot.

What strikes you most is the simplicity. No gilt, no fuss, just whitewashed walls and straightforward wooden pews. Local history buffs will appreciate the graveyard, where you can wander among stones dating back centuries and get a real sense of the community that's lived here. It's the sort of place that rewards a quiet half-hour rather than a rushed visit.

Families with older children might find it interesting, though it won't hold a seven-year-old's attention for long. History types and anyone doing a Scottish church crawl will find it properly rewarding. There's no charge to visit - just turn up, and if it's locked, ask locally.

If you're based at Ecosse Glamping nearby, this makes an easy fifteen-minute drive as part of a bigger exploration of Lanark and the Clyde Valley. It's not dramatic, but it's genuinely old, and that counts for something.