Sandygate Road

You'll find yourself at one of England's oldest football grounds the moment you turn onto Sandygate Road in Sheffield. Hallam Football Club have been playing here since 1860 - that's older than most professional leagues in the country. Walking up to the ground, there's nothing fancy about it: a proper local stadium with a genuine sense of history soaked into the place.

This isn't a destination for match-day thrills unless you happen to catch Hallam playing, but football enthusiasts and history buffs will appreciate standing where one of the world's oldest clubs trains and plays. The ground itself is modest - no corporate hospitality, no designer stands, just football in its straightforward form. It's the sort of place that makes you think about the game before it became all about money and television deals.

If you're camping nearby - Fox Hagg Farm and Wyming Brook Farm are both within easy reach - a pilgrimage here takes maybe an hour including a walk around the exterior. Check ahead for match times if you want to actually watch a game; otherwise, visit when the team's training or between fixtures. Entry depends on whether there's a match on, so ring ahead.

The real appeal here is for sports historians and those curious about Yorkshire's football heritage. Kids might find standing outside a closed ground underwhelming, to be honest. But if you've got a genuine interest in football's roots, Sandygate Road is the real deal - no pretence, no corporate gloss, just heritage.