St Mary and St John, Hardraw

You'll find this little church tucked away in Hardraw, a tiny village about four miles south of Hawes in Wensleydale. St Mary and St John sits quietly in the Yorkshire Dales landscape, the sort of place you stumble upon rather than deliberately seek out. It's a proper stone church with real character - the kind that feels genuinely lived-in rather than museum-locked, which is precisely what makes it worth a visit.

The church itself dates back centuries and holds the sort of architectural details that reward a slow walk-round: there's genuine history embedded in the stonework and fixtures. If you're the type who enjoys reading gravestones and spotting medieval carvings, you'll find plenty to occupy an hour. Not somewhere you'll linger all afternoon, but that's not the point. The real appeal is how it slots into a proper Wensleydale walk. You can reach it easily from Usha Gap Farm & Campsite, which lies a short drive down the valley, making it a logical stop when you're exploring this stretch of the Dales.

Go on a clear day and you'll understand why people have worshipped here for generations - the church sits in genuinely lovely countryside. Family groups won't find much to entertain young children for long, but walkers and anyone interested in small rural churches will get something from it. Drop in free of charge whenever you're passing through Hardraw. It's the sort of place that reminds you why these Dales villages have held their own for so long.