Finchale Priory

The ruins of Finchale Priory sit in a quiet bend of the River Wear, just south of Durham city centre. What you're looking at is the remains of a medieval monastery founded in the 12th century - enough stonework survives to give you a proper sense of what the place once was. The church walls still stand to a decent height, and you can pick out the layout of the cloister and domestic buildings around it. It's the kind of spot where you can actually picture the monks going about their day.

Walkers will appreciate the riverside setting most. The approach from the car park takes you down through woodland and across fields - it's gentle going, nothing strenuous, and the final descent to the priory itself is lovely. History enthusiasts will spend a good hour examining the stonework and trying to work out which bits are original. Families with young children might find it a bit underwhelming after twenty minutes unless they're genuinely interested in ruins - there's no visitor centre or interpretation boards to speak of, just the stones themselves.

Admission appears to be free, though the site can be muddy after rain. Allow an hour to explore the priory and the riverside paths if you're not rushing. It sits right next to Finchale Abbey Residential & Touring Park, making it perfectly convenient if you're camping nearby. The location works well as a half-day stop during a wider park holiday in County Durham - combine it with a visit to Durham city itself or the other historic sites scattered across the region.