Garendon Park

The ruins of Garendon Park's medieval abbey sit quietly among woodland just outside Leicester, a proper find if you're after something with a bit of history attached. What remains are mostly foundations and fragments of stone walls - nothing as dramatic as Tintern or Fountains, but there's something rather lovely about picking your way through overgrown grounds and imagining what the monks got up to here centuries back.

You're looking at a gentle woodland walk rather than a structured visitor experience. Allow an hour or so, longer if you're the type to linger and read every interpretation board. It works well for families with older kids who won't mind a bit of scrambling about, and walkers tackling routes through Leicestershire's quieter countryside will appreciate the detour from Leicester. History enthusiasts should definitely come - the Cistercian connection is solid ground for a good afternoon's exploration.

The real draw here is how it fits into a broader park-based holiday. Midshires Way Campsite just five miles away is excellent if you're bringing the family - the alpacas alone keep kids entertained between walks. High Meadows Farm, also nearby, has a five-star rating for good reason. You could string together a few days mixing abbey exploration with the more developed facilities at these bases, using Leicester as your nearest town for supplies and the bigger attractions.

Bit of a rough diamond, Garendon, but worth seeking out if you've got time and aren't expecting manicured gardens. The woodland's atmospheric, the history's genuine, and it costs nothing.