St Andrew's Church : Great Fencote

The churchyard sits quietly off the lane near Northallerton, and St Andrew's is one of those places that rewards curiosity more than it announces itself. Built in the 12th century, the church is all solid Norman work - thick stone walls, a proper chancel, the sort of building that's been doing its job for nine hundred years without making a fuss about it.

Inside, the real draw is the medieval glass and some decent carved stone if you're into that sort of detail. The chancel has that lovely sense of age that you only get when you're standing in a space that's been used continuously since the Middle Ages. It's not grand or showy - no soaring vault, no gilded tombs - which is partly why it feels genuine.

This works best for anyone with a genuine interest in church architecture or local history. Families with restless kids might find twenty minutes is plenty. What makes it worth a stop is its setting near Kiplin Country Park and Pembroke Caravan Park - if you're based at either for a park break, it's a decent short walk and beats sitting in the caravan on a dull afternoon.

The village itself is proper rural North Yorkshire, so come prepared for wind and the real possibility that you'll be alone there. Free to visit, no facilities on site. Best to arrive with daylight on your side, and don't expect the church to be open every hour - this is a working parish church, not a museum.