Remains of St Michael's Church

What's left of St Michael's Church is basically a pile of medieval stonework and earthworks scattered across a field near Barnard Castle - the sort of place that rewards a bit of detective work on foot. You won't find much standing, but what remains tells you plenty about how people worshipped and lived here centuries ago. The foundations are still visible, and if you know what to look for, you can pick out where the nave and chancel would have been.

History buffs will get the most from a visit here. It's not a showy attraction - there's no visitor centre, no interpretation boards spelling everything out. That's actually part of its appeal if you like using your imagination. Families with young children might find it a bit thin on entertainment; there's walking involved and not much to physically interact with. But teenage history students or anyone interested in medieval archaeology will find it genuinely interesting.

Getting there from Barnard Castle takes less than twenty minutes by car, making it an easy half-hour detour while you're exploring the wider Teesdale area. If you're based at one of the caravan parks nearby - Thorpe Farm Centre is only a mile or so away - it's close enough for a morning walk. Spring and early summer are probably your best bet weatherwise, though the site is accessible year-round. Admission appears to be free, which is just as well given how minimal the facilities are. Don't expect to spend more than an hour here unless you're really into the archaeology side of things.