Shap Abbey

The ruins of Shap Abbey sit just off the M6 near Penrith, a surprisingly atmospheric spot if you're willing to leave the motorway and poke around. What remains are mostly foundations and one rather imposing red sandstone tower - the west tower of the church - which does actually stop you in your tracks when you round the corner. Built by the Premonstratensian canons in the 12th century, the abbey was substantial once, though Henry VIII's lot saw to it that only fragments survived.

There's not masses to do here - you can wander the site in twenty minutes or so, reading the stone and trying to imagine the cloisters and dormitories that once stood. The real draw is the quietness and the tower itself, which photographs well and gives you a proper sense of medieval scale. Families with younger kids might find it a bit sparse after the initial novelty wears off, but walkers and history types will appreciate the melancholy of it all, especially if you've come from the busier tourist spots around the Lakes.

If you're based at Howdy Glamping nearby, it's an easy detour before or after exploring the broader Penrith area. Free to access, no facilities on site, and best visited when the light's decent - the red stone glows rather nicely in late afternoon. Don't expect a manicured experience; this is genuinely left to its own devices, which is precisely why it works.