St Mary's old church (Brignall)

The churchyard at Brignall sits tucked away in one of County Durham's quieter corners, a proper slice of rural England that most visitors to Barnard Castle completely miss. St Mary's is ancient - we're talking Norman origins here - and the building itself is worth a look, but honestly, the setting is what gets you. Graveyard walls, soft light filtering through mature trees, the sense that time moves differently here.

It's the kind of place walkers stumble upon rather than deliberately seek out, which is rather the point. There's no visitor centre, no gift shop, no faffing about - just a church that's been doing its job for nearly a thousand years. Free to wander around the churchyard whenever you fancy, though the church itself may be locked depending on the day.

Realistically, you'll spend twenty minutes here maximum, unless you're genuinely into church architecture or have an afternoon to kill and want somewhere peaceful to sit. It's excellent if you're based at one of the nearby caravan parks - Thorpe Farm Centre is barely over a mile away - and need a gentle walk to stretch your legs. From Barnard Castle itself, it's a short drive or a decent walk if you're into that sort of thing.

Solo travellers and photographers will appreciate it more than families with restless kids. The graveyard is atmospheric rather than thrilling. But if you're staying in the area and enjoy the quieter side of the Dales, it's absolutely worth the detour.