Gaunt Tower

The crumbling red sandstone keeps watch over Kenilworth like a stubborn old guard who refuses to leave. Gaunt Tower is what remains of a castle that once mattered - built in the 12th century, it's basically a four-storey Norman keep standing alone in fields on the edge of town. You can't get inside (it's fenced off for safety reasons), but the exterior tells its own story if you're the sort who enjoys reading stone like others read books.

Walkers will appreciate the short detour from Kenilworth town centre - maybe twenty minutes on foot through countryside that's pleasant enough without being spectacular. The tower itself is impressively solid and quite tall when you're standing beneath it, which is precisely why you need to keep your distance. History types will know this connects to larger castle complexes that dominated medieval Warwickshire, so it's worth five minutes to place it in context.

The real value here is as a stop alongside Kenilworth Castle itself, which sits just a couple of miles away and is actually open to visitors with proper facilities. Base yourself at one of the nearby parks - Mousley House Farm or Gate Farm are both within easy reach - and you can tick both off in a day without much bother. Gaunt Tower works as a quick legs-stretch, nothing more. Don't expect anything substantial or interactive, but do expect decent views across the landscape and a genuine piece of medieval architecture that's survived remarkably well.