Hardwick Hall-Durham Country Park

The ruins of Hardwick Hall catch you by surprise - this isn't some manicured heritage site but a proper crumbling Elizabethan manor house emerging from the Durham countryside like something from a gothic novel. What remains are the stone walls and chimneys of what was once a grand statement of wealth, built by the formidable Bess of Hardwick in the 1590s. You can wander the grounds freely, picking your way through the overgrown rooms and trying to imagine the scale of the place in its heyday.

It's worth half an hour if you're into ruins and Tudor history, though don't expect manicured lawns or interpretation boards. The surrounding park is pleasant enough for a gentle walk, and it's close enough to Stockton-on-Tees that you could combine it with a stop in town. History buffs will find it more rewarding than casual visitors - there's no visitor centre, so you're essentially exploring at your own pace.

Staying at one of the nearby caravan parks like Donnewell Farm or Woodside Ridge gives you a proper base for exploring this corner of Durham. The hall itself costs nothing to visit, and you can spend as long as you like poking about. Early morning or late afternoon light works best if you're photographing it. Fair warning though - it's atmospheric rather than spectacular, and the lack of facilities means you need to be self-sufficient.