St Mary's Church, Bolton-on-Swale

Bolton-on-Swale is a quiet village about three miles south of Richmond, and St Mary's Church sits at its heart - a proper medieval parish church that's been here since the 12th century. The churchyard is peaceful, with views across the Swale Valley that make you understand why someone built it here in the first place.

Inside, you'll find the usual stone pillars and arched windows, but the real draw is the sheer age of the place. The chancel dates back to the early 1300s, and there's decent medieval stonework if you're into that sort of thing. It's the kind of church that rewards spending twenty minutes rather than five - details reveal themselves if you slow down.

This works best for history walkers and anyone doing the Richmond loop rather than as a destination in itself. Getting there's straightforward from Kiplin Country Park, just 1.6 miles away, which makes it an easy morning walk if you're staying caravan-side. Free entry, naturally, and you can turn it into a longer circuit along the Swale Valley.

The village itself is tiny - don't expect a café or much else - but that's rather the point. It's the sort of place you visit because you're interested in church architecture or because you're already walking the area. Spring and autumn are loveliest for the churchyard light. Summer gets warm with little shade, and winter can be muddy underfoot.