Neighbour Moor House

This 17th-century farmhouse sits quietly on the edge of Teesdale, a few miles outside Barnard Castle, and it's the sort of place that rewards a detour if you're into period buildings and rural heritage. Neighbour Moor House is a working example of the traditional long-house style - livestock at one end, living quarters at the other - which tells you something proper about how people actually lived back then, rather than the grand estates you usually hear about.

The house itself is modest but solid, with the thick stone walls and small windows you'd expect from the era. Walking around it, you get a real sense of how cramped and practical life was. There's no faffing about with ornament here - everything serves a purpose. It's the kind of place that speaks to anyone interested in vernacular architecture or how ordinary folk made do in harsh moorland country.

Walkers will find it fits naturally into a Teesdale ramble, and if you're staying at one of the caravan parks dotted around - Hill Top Huts is nearest at just over three miles - it makes sense as a half-hour stop between longer walks. Families with older kids who can appreciate old buildings will get more from it than toddlers, frankly.

Access and opening details aren't widely advertised, so it's worth checking locally in Barnard Castle before you go. The moorland setting means it can be exposed in poor weather, so pick a decent day. It's a quiet spot - you won't find crowds or facilities, but that's rather the point.