St Issui's Church, Patrishow

The drive to Patrishow takes you down progressively narrower lanes until you're convinced you've taken a wrong turn, then suddenly there it is - a medieval church tucked into a fold of the Black Mountains like something from a different century entirely. St Issui's sits alone in its graveyard, and stepping inside feels like intruding on someone's private moment with history.

What strikes you first is how small it is. The church is genuine 12th-century, with a nave so narrow you could practically touch both walls at once. The real draw is the rood screen - a 15th-century carved timber piece that's utterly extraordinary, all intricate tracery and surviving paint in reds and golds. There's also a holy well outside, though it's more atmospheric than spectacular.

This works best for architecture enthusiasts and anyone obsessed with unpicking medieval churches. It's genuinely remote, which appeals to some and exhausts others. You're looking at 20 minutes to half an hour inside, longer if you're sketching or photographing. Admission appears free, though details are sparse.

It sits well within a broader Black Mountains circuit from Hereford - you could couple it with a walk along Offas Dyke or a night at one of the nearby campsites like Cwmdu or Olchon Valley, both within six miles. The landscape around here is properly dramatic, and Patrishow feels like the sort of place you'd stumble upon by accident and remember for years. Worth the muddy drive, though perhaps not worth planning an entire trip around.