Fotheringhay Earthwork

The earthwork at Fotheringhay is what remains of a Norman motte-and-bailey castle, now just a pronounced grass mound rising from the fields near Peterborough. It's the kind of site where your imagination has to do most of the heavy lifting - there are no walls, no keep, no dramatic ruins. What you're standing on is the actual bailey, the defensive ditch still visible if you know where to look. History buffs and archaeology enthusiasts will find it genuinely compelling; the site's linked to Mary, Queen of Scots, which adds a certain weight to the spot. Casual visitors might spend twenty minutes wandering round, then head off.

This is proper countryside walking territory. The mound itself is accessible year-round and free, sitting in open parkland where you can see for miles across the valley. Allow half an hour if you're just doing the site itself, longer if you fancy a proper ramble through the surrounding fields. Spring and early autumn are best - the grass is manageable, the light's good, and you won't be trudging through mud.

If you're based at Castle Farm Campsite right on the doorstep, this is an obvious morning visit before heading elsewhere. For those staying further afield at Rockingham Forest Park or Ferry Meadows, it's a reasonable detour if you're into earthworks and medieval archaeology. Without interpretation boards or a visitor centre, you'll want to know your history beforehand, or bring a good guidebook. It's the sort of place that rewards preparation.