Parish Church of St Peter & St Paul

The Parish Church of St Peter and St Paul sits in Longhoughton, a few miles south of Alnwick, looking rather more impressive than you'd expect for a village church. The building itself is what draws you in - late medieval stonework mixed with earlier Norman bits, the kind of thing that rewards a proper look around if you're into that sort of thing.

Inside, there's decent stained glass and the usual ecclesiastical fixtures, but what really matters here is the sheer age of the place. It's been standing through centuries of Northumbrian weather and regional upheaval, which lends it real gravitas. You're not going to spend hours wandering around - thirty minutes tops if you're thorough - but it's exactly the kind of stop that breaks up a countryside drive nicely.

Historically minded visitors will get the most from it. Families with small children might find it a bit quiet and confined, though older kids interested in medieval architecture will appreciate the details. It's free to visit as far as most village churches are, though it's worth checking ahead as some are locked outside service times.

If you're based at Dunstan Hill Camping and Caravanning Club Site nearby, this makes for a straightforward ramble - combine it with a walk around Alnwick itself or explore the quieter corners of the Northumbrian coast. It won't be the highlight of your trip, but it's worth twenty minutes if you're in the area.