Milldale Chapel

You'll find this tiny 17th-century chapel wedged into the Milldale valley like something from another century - whitewashed walls, a modest bell turne, and barely room for forty worshippers inside. It's genuinely one of those places where time feels stuck, the sort of spot where you half expect a horse and cart to round the corner instead of a modern car.

The chapel sits in proper walking country, surrounded by limestone hills and the River Dove threading through the valley below. Most visitors stumble upon it mid-hike rather than making it their destination - which is probably for the best. Spend twenty minutes looking round if you're passing, take a photo or two of the exterior, then crack on with your walk. It's the kind of place that rewards curiosity but doesn't demand an hour of your time.

Historically inclined types will appreciate the age and isolation of it - a working chapel serving this remote dale when few other options existed. Families with younger kids might find it underwhelming after the novelty of spotting it wears off, though if you're already rambling in the area, it's worth the detour.

Based near Ashbourne, it sits perfectly within reach of several quality campsites. Hartington Hills and Bank House Farm Campsite are both under four miles away and highly rated, making this a natural stop on a Staffordshire walking holiday. Go in good weather when the surrounding valley is at its best - rainy afternoons here feel rather bleak.