Barningham St Michael & All Angels Church

St Michael & All Angels sits on a quiet rise above Barningham, just a short drive south of Barnard Castle. It's a proper old stone church, the sort you stumble upon by accident when you're exploring the Teesdale lanes - all medieval character with some genuinely interesting interior details if you can get inside. The churchyard itself is worth a wander, especially if you're into old gravestones and local history.

This isn't the sort of place to spend hours at. Twenty minutes to half an hour of poking about, reading the inscriptions, maybe sketching if you're that way inclined. History buffs will find it rewarding - there's real medieval work in here worth studying - but families with young kids might find it a bit quiet and static. It works best as a stop-off during a broader walk around the area rather than a destination in itself.

I'd suggest dropping in on the way between Barnard Castle and somewhere else in Teesdale. Check the door isn't locked before you get your hopes up - these rural churches can be temperamental about opening times. If you're camped at one of the nearby sites like Thorpe Farm Centre or Teesdale's Barnard Castle location, it's easily walkable or a five-minute drive away. Free to visit, naturally, and no time limits. Go midweek if you want proper quiet.