Eskdale Chapel

A crumbling stone chapel sits alone in the Yorkshire moorland above Whitby, and honestly, it's the kind of place that rewards a bit of effort to find. Eskdale Chapel is what remains of a medieval religious settlement - just rough stone walls now, exposed to the wind that rolls across these hills relentlessly. You won't find gift shops or interpretation boards here. What you get instead is the genuine article: a walk through working countryside to reach something genuinely old, with views that stretch for miles once you get your breath back.

The chapel itself isn't much to look at if you're expecting something intact. The structure's been picked apart by centuries and weather, but that's rather the point. Walkers and history types will find it worthwhile - there's something about standing where people gathered for worship 800 years ago that hits differently than a pristine museum display. Allow a couple of hours for the walk from nearby Whitby and time to sit quietly and take it in.

Families with younger kids might find the hike a bit much for the modest remains on offer, though older children who enjoy a proper moorland ramble will remember it. Free to visit, obviously. Time your trip for clear weather - the moors can be miserable in low cloud, and you won't see anything of those views. If you're staying at Broadings Farm or Whitby Holiday Park, it's a proper day out rather than a quick stop-off, but worth the detour if you're into walking the North York Moors properly.