St Cuthbert's Church, Edenhall

The churchyard at Edenhall sits quietly off a minor road between Penrith and the Eden Valley, and it's worth stopping for if you're passing through the area. St Cuthbert's itself is a modest medieval church, but the real reason to visit is the Luck of Edenhall - a 13th-century enamelled glass beaker that's now in the V&A Museum in London. The story goes that if the beaker ever broke, the family's fortune would be lost forever. There's something rather charming about that bit of folklore still hanging over the place, even if the actual artifact is miles away.

The church interior is straightforward Early English, nothing that'll have you reaching for the guidebook, but the setting is genuinely pleasant. The churchyard opens onto proper Cumbrian countryside - rolling fields, distant fells on a clear day. It's the kind of spot where you can understand why a family would want to protect something precious here.

Really, this works best as a short diversion rather than a destination in itself. Twenty minutes maximum, unless you're keen on church architecture. If you're camping at Crossfells Campsite nearby, it's an easy drive over - close enough that you could combine it with a walk in the surrounding lanes. Lowther Holiday Park is a bit further afield but still within striking distance if you're exploring the Penrith area.

Free to visit, open churchyards being what they are. No facilities on site, so come prepared.