Kitchen Bridge

The foundations of a medieval stone bridge lie in the riverbed near Markethill, their purpose and age still wrapped up in local mystery. Kitchen Bridge, as locals call it, sits alongside the Bann River - what remains are a few stubborn stone courses that archaeologists reckon date back several centuries, though exactly which ones depends on who you ask.

It's not a destination that'll take up your afternoon. You're looking at twenty minutes to walk down and examine the masonry, maybe another twenty if you're genuinely interested in medieval architecture and want to sketch what's left or photograph it from different angles. The real draw is the walk itself - the riverside path is decent, and in summer the tree cover keeps things cool. Historians and archaeology enthusiasts will find it worthwhile; casual day-trippers might feel a bit underwhelmed by what's essentially a pile of old stones.

Getting here from Markethill is straightforward, and there's no entry fee to worry about. The site sits in open countryside, so go when the weather's decent - a rainy day turns this into a muddy trudge with limited payoff. If you're camping at Tepee Valley, it's only four or five miles away, making it an easy morning excursion before heading elsewhere in the area. Combine it with a walk along the Bann itself, which is the real star of the show. The bridge stones are just a bonus.