St Andrew's Church, Winston

The churchyard at Winston sits beside the River Wear, and if you time it right - early morning light works best - you'll understand why this 12th-century church has been standing here for nearly 900 years. St Andrew's is small, honestly. You won't need more than 20 minutes inside unless you're the type who reads every brass plaque.

What makes it worth the detour from Bishop Auckland is the setting itself. The church commands a proper riverside position with views across open countryside, the kind of spot medieval builders chose for reasons that still make sense today. The interior has that quiet, slightly austere quality of rural Yorkshire churches - stone walls, modest furnishings, a handful of interesting monuments if you bother to look properly.

Historically minded visitors will get the most from a visit here. There's nothing flashy, no grand fan vaulting or ornate carvings, just honest medieval craftsmanship in an isolated village. It's free to visit, though access is weather-dependent and you'll want to check locally before making the journey.

If you're based at Hewn Yorkshire - the area's top-rated caravan park just four miles away - Winston makes a gentle afternoon walk rather than a destination in itself. Combine it with a riverside ramble and you've got something pleasant. Families with young children might find it a bit of a non-event unless they're already keen on old churches. The surrounding lanes are lovely for walking though, so don't dismiss the area entirely.