Studford Stone Circle

Three thousand years of weather and wandering sheep have done their best to wear down Studford Stone Circle, but the Bronze Age markers still stand on the Cumbrian hills near Cockermouth, arranged in their ancient pattern. There's no visitor centre, no interpretation board, no gift shop - just you, the stones, and the wind that's been blowing across these fells since before the Romans showed up.

It's a proper walker's find rather than a tourist attraction. The circle itself is small enough that you'll clock the whole thing in ten minutes, but the real appeal is the journey getting there. The surrounding moorland opens up proper views, and on a clear day you can see across to the Lake District fells. Most people camp at Greysouthen, which sits 5 miles or so down the road - a solid family site with pitches for both caravans and tents.

Who'll get something from it? History-minded types and anyone rambling the local footpaths will find it worth a detour. Kids under eight might find it bit underwhelming - it's not dramatic like Stonehenge. You'll need decent boots and an OS map or smartphone navigation; it's not signposted from the road. Go in the morning if possible. Afternoon light here can turn grey quickly, and you want to be off the moor before dusk.

It's free, obviously - there's nobody collecting fees for 4,000-year-old rocks. Allow two hours including the walk in from the nearest car park. Real, understated archaeology.