Old Wardour Castle

The ruins of Old Wardour Castle rise out of the Wiltshire countryside like something from a Gothic novel - all crumbling stone and dramatic angles. It's a hexagonal fortress that dates back to the 14th century, and what you get is a proper atmospheric walk around the remains with enough intact walls to make out the original layout. You can't get inside the main structure (the stairs are long gone), but circling the exterior tells the story well enough. A moat runs around it, still holding water in places, which adds to the oddness of the whole thing.

Historically minded visitors will find plenty to sink their teeth into. The castle saw action during the English Civil War - there's real drama in those scarred stonework marks if you know where to look. Families with restless kids might find twenty minutes adequate; serious history types easily spend an hour photographing angles and imagining how things stood when the place was lived in.

Admission is free (managed by English Heritage), and there's no set opening hours - you just arrive when you fancy and wander round. The site feels slightly melancholic rather than grand, which is actually its appeal. Near Salisbury, it sits perfectly as a half-hour detour between the town and the excellent camping spots at Chalke Valley or Marshwood Farm. Worth combining with a walk in the valley itself. Spring's best for light photography; autumn for that moody, abandoned-estate feeling.