St Mary's Church, Studley Royal

The ruins of St Mary's Church stand in the grounds of Studley Royal, near Ripon, and they're genuinely striking - all Gothic arches and crumbling stone against the Yorkshire landscape. Built in the 1870s as part of John Aislabie's grand vision for the estate, it never actually functioned as a working parish church, which gives the whole place a rather melancholic, theatrical quality.

What makes it worth visiting is the setting itself. The church sits within the water gardens and ornamental grounds of Studley Royal, which the National Trust manages beautifully. You're not just looking at ecclesiastical ruins - you're wandering through carefully planned vistas, past geometric pools and tree-lined avenues that speak to Georgian sensibilities about landscape design. The walk between the church and the nearby Fountains Abbey ruins is particularly rewarding, especially if you time it for late afternoon when the light gets low and dramatic.

Historically minded visitors will get the most from this, particularly those interested in how the Romantic era viewed medieval ruins as fashionable garden ornaments. Families with younger children might find it a bit thin on its own, but combined with exploring the wider Studley Royal grounds and Fountains Abbey, you've got a proper day out. Allow two to three hours minimum if you're doing the full circuit.

If you're staying at Woodhouse Farm or Riverside Meadows - both excellent caravan parks just a couple of miles away - this makes an easy morning excursion. Free to wander the grounds, though the full Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal site requires admission through the National Trust.