St Michael's Church, Tollerton

The churchyard sits peacefully on the edge of Tollerton village, just a few miles north of York, and St Michael's Church is one of those quietly impressive medieval buildings you'll stumble across while exploring North Yorkshire's back lanes. The church itself dates back centuries, with the sort of solid stone construction and period details that reward a proper look around - if you can get in. The key situation can be a bit hit and miss with village churches, so don't bank on access unless you've rung ahead.

This is really one for architecture enthusiasts and local history types rather than a standalone destination. The churchyard's atmospheric, especially early morning or late afternoon when the light filters through properly, and it makes a decent leg-stretch if you're cycling between York and the villages further north. The walk from the car is straightforward enough.

Family groups with restless kids might find twenty minutes is enough. Walkers tackling routes across the Vale of York will appreciate it as a landmark and a reason to pause. If you're staying at Ravensdale Glamping Retreats nearby, it's the sort of thing to tick off on a morning wander before heading back for breakfast.

Free to visit the churchyard. Allow thirty minutes if the church is open, less if you're just looking at the exterior. Best visited during daylight, obviously, and worth ringing the York diocese office first to check current access - village churches operate on their own schedule.