Temple of Mithras

This Roman temple sits a few miles outside Hexham, tucked into Northumberland countryside where you can almost feel the legionaries' footsteps beneath your feet. It's genuinely small - a modest stone structure that once served soldiers stationed along Hadrian's Wall, dedicated to the Persian god Mithras. What you're looking at is essentially the bones of it: a altar, some sculptured fragments, and the physical layout that archaeologists have pieced together from centuries of burial.

Walking around takes maybe 30 minutes unless you're the type to sit and really absorb the atmosphere - which, frankly, you should. The site has that particular British archaeological charm where there's not much interpretation, so you need to bring your own imagination. Kids under ten will probably find it underwhelming; older children and adults interested in Roman Britain will get something genuine from standing where worshippers actually stood. History buffs especially should make the trip.

The real draw is context. Visit here as part of a Hadrian's Wall circuit - Hexham itself has the abbey and Roman stonework worth your time - and it slots perfectly. If you're based at Stonehaugh Campsite or Sycamore Glamping Pods nearby, this is a proper half-day outing that won't feel like wasted petrol. Admission's free and unrestricted access, though there's minimal facilities. Go on a clear day; the moorland setting transforms it from a pile of old stones into something altogether more evocative.