Finsthwaite Spire

The tower stands alone in the Cumbrian countryside, a peculiar Victorian folly that most visitors drive straight past without noticing. Finsthwaite Spire rises about 50 feet from what was once the grounds of a private estate, built in the 1840s by a local landowner with more money than sense - or so the story goes. You can see it from the A590 near Newby Bridge, though getting close requires a bit of poking about down country lanes.

What you're looking at is essentially a brick tower with pretensions. It's not a church, not a lighthouse, not anything particularly useful - which is precisely what makes it interesting. The spire was apparently constructed just to punctuate the skyline and prove its builder had cash to burn. These days it's privately owned and largely inaccessible to the public, but the exterior is worth a five-minute stop if you're in the area.

This isn't a destination in itself. Rather, it's the sort of thing you tick off during a caravan holiday at Newby Bridge Country Caravan Park or Hill of Oaks when the weather's dodgy and you fancy a gentle drive. History enthusiasts might appreciate the sheer audacity of Victorian eccentricity, though children will find it underwhelming - it's a tower from the road, nothing more. Park yourself nearby for a quick photo, then head to Windermere itself, which is properly worth your time. The spire works best as a curious aside to a Lake District trip, not as the reason for one.