Ravensworth Castle Gatehouse

All that's left of Ravensworth Castle is its gatehouse, and frankly, that's enough. Perched near Richmond in County Durham, this sturdy Norman structure tells you everything you need to know about medieval power plays - thick walls, narrow windows, the works. It's not the sort of place that'll keep you rooted to the spot for hours, but as a quick detour on a walk around the Dales, it's worth twenty minutes of your time.

The gatehouse stands alone now, the rest of the fortress long gone, which somehow makes it more compelling. You get a real sense of how isolated these defences were, how seriously they took keeping people out. There's no visitor centre, no interpretive panels - just stone and history doing the talking. That appeals to history buffs more than families with small kids, though older children fascinated by castles won't find it boring.

It's free to look at from outside, and you can walk right up to it. Allow half an hour if you're exploring properly, less if you're just snapping a photo. The surrounding landscape is proper lovely - typical Durham moorland with decent views, so it works well as a walking destination rather than a destination in itself.

Stay at Hewn Yorkshire, just 2.6 miles away - a cracking spot with top reviews - and you've got a solid base for exploring Richmond's market square and the broader castle heritage of the area. Pair it with a longer walk, and you've got yourself an afternoon sorted.