The Goatstones

Three Bronze Age standing stones on a hillside near Hexham, weathered and leaning at angles that make you wonder how they've survived this long. The Goatstones sit in open moorland above the Tyne Valley, and you'll need to walk to reach them - there's no car park, no visitor centre, no signs pointing you in the right direction. That's rather the point.

Walkers and archaeology types will find this compelling. The stones themselves aren't tall or dramatically positioned like some of the better-known sites, but there's something about their isolation that grabs you. You're up there with the wind, the views stretching toward the North Pennines, and the sense that these three rocks have been marking something important for four thousand years.

Allow an hour if you're making a proper day of it with a moorland walk. The approach varies depending on which route you take from the surrounding farmland - it's not a straightforward stroll, and you'll want decent boots. Go midweek if you can; weekends can get busy with local hikers. There's no charge, obviously. No facilities either, so bring water.

If you're staying at Hesleyside Huts nearby, this makes a solid half-day excursion that doesn't demand too much planning. It suits people who like their heritage sites a bit rough around the edges, without the crowds or the car parks.