St. Ninian's Church

The ruins of St. Ninian's Church sit quietly on the banks of the River Clyde, a short walk south of Lanark. What remains is mostly stonework and atmosphere - the shell of a medieval kirk that's been left to the elements for centuries. You get the sense of something genuinely old here, not a reconstruction or a visitor centre with interpretive panels, just crumbling walls and the sound of the river.

It's the sort of place that appeals to history types and walkers more than families looking for a day out. The setting is what makes it work - the river gorge, the woodland, the quiet. Allow half an hour if you're just passing through, longer if you're combining it with a ramble along the Clyde Valley Way, which runs nearby.

The walk down isn't taxing but it's muddy in wet weather and the ground's uneven, so not ideal for buggies. If you're staying at Ecosse Glamping just up the road - one of the nicer spots in the area - this is a decent afternoon excursion. The church itself is free to visit and there's no set opening hours; you just turn up. Early morning or late afternoon suits it best, when you've got the place to yourself and the light's doing something interesting off the stone.