St. Stephen, Willington

The church itself is modest, but that's partly what makes it worth stopping for. St. Stephen in Willington, just outside Bishop Auckland, is a proper old stone parish church with the kind of solid, no-nonsense architecture you find all over County Durham. The interior won't take you long to walk round - maybe twenty minutes if you linger - but there's genuine medieval work here, which counts for something if you're into that sort of thing.

It's the sort of place that appeals to local history types and anyone doing a church crawl through the region. Families with young kids might find it a quick diversion rather than a destination in itself. The churchyard is peaceful enough for a wander if the weather's decent.

Admission details aren't entirely clear, but most rural churches like this operate on an open-door basis or ask for a small donation. Worth ringing ahead via the local parish website if you're planning a special visit. Bishop Auckland's close enough that you could easily combine this with a proper day out - the castle there is worth your time if you've got the afternoon free.

If you're camping at one of the nearby parks - The Gables Pod Camping or High Farm Holiday Park are both within easy reach - this makes a decent rainy-day option or a quiet morning stroll before heading somewhere with more going on. Don't expect queues or visitor facilities. Just a village church doing what it's done for centuries.