St Mary's Church, Ecclesfield

The churchyard at St Mary's sits on a rise overlooking Ecclesfield village, and you can't miss the distinctive spire puncturing the South Yorkshire skyline. It's a proper old place - the building's been standing guard here since medieval times, though it's been modified and rebuilt enough times that you get layers of history stacked on top of each other.

What strikes you first is the scale. For a village church, it's surprisingly substantial, which tells you Ecclesfield was once far more important than it is now. Step inside and you'll find yourself in a cool, quiet space with some decent memorials and a few features worth seeking out if you've got even a passing interest in church architecture. The chancel's the real draw for history types - proper workmanship there.

The churchyard itself is peaceful enough for a wander, especially if you're staying at Greensprings Caravan Park just five miles away near Barnsley. It won't keep you for hours - thirty minutes is probably realistic for a decent look round - but it works as a worthwhile detour if you're exploring the wider area. Not the sort of thing to build a day trip around on its own, mind you, but if you're heading through South Yorkshire and you've got the time, it's worth the twenty-minute stop from Barnsley. The village around it has a proper village feel that's becoming rarer.