Roman Column

Standing alone in the Yorkshire countryside near York, this Roman column is exactly the sort of historical oddity that makes wandering the region worthwhile. It's a genuine relic from the Roman occupation - a single stone shaft that once formed part of a larger monument, now weathered and dignified in its solitude.

You won't spend hours here. This isn't a visitor centre or a reconstructed site with explanations laid on. What you get is the column itself, a tangible connection to Roman Britain that's somehow more affecting than many grander ruins precisely because it asks nothing of you except a moment's attention. The walk to reach it, depending on which footpath you take from the nearest roads, is pleasant enough through proper countryside.

Historically minded travellers will appreciate standing near something that's survived nearly two millennia. Kids might find it underwhelming unless they're already interested in Roman history - there's no playground, no interactivity, just stone and time. But for walkers exploring the Howardian Hills or making a circuit from York itself, it's a genuine reason to deviate from the main routes.

Based at Nurseries Caravan Park or Wagtail Park, both within a few miles of York, you're well positioned to visit this and explore the city's much larger Roman collection at the railway museum simultaneously. Free admission, naturally. Allow 20 minutes if you're passing through, longer if you've made a deliberate journey and want to sit with the oddness of finding something this old standing alone in a field.