Norbury Manor

The ruins of Norbury Manor sit quietly on the Derbyshire countryside, a few miles north of Uttoxeter. You're looking at what remains of a Tudor-era house - stone walls, chimneys still standing in places, enough of the structure left to imagine what it once was. The site feels genuinely forgotten, which is part of its appeal.

It's a proper walk to reach it, across fields and country lanes rather than a manicured footpath, so go in decent boots. The manor itself won't take long to explore - twenty minutes, maybe half an hour if you're sketching or photographing - but the journey there and back through the Staffordshire moorlands makes it worthwhile. History types will appreciate the bones of a 16th-century property; families with younger kids might find the walk more rewarding than the destination itself.

Free to visit, as far as I can tell, and no set opening hours - you just turn up. Best in dry weather when the fields aren't boggy. Early autumn works well, when the light's turning and there are fewer midges.

If you're staying at Callow Top Holiday Park or Sandybrook Lodges nearby, both excellent bases, this makes a decent morning's expedition. Pair it with a walk around Ashbourne itself - market town with proper character - or head toward the Peak District proper for the afternoon. Don't expect ruins in the grand sense. Expect quiet, open country and the satisfaction of finding something most visitors skip entirely.