St. Botolph's Chapel

You won't find much left of St. Botolph's Chapel now - just the ruined walls of a medieval structure that's been weathered down by eight centuries of Durham wind and rain. It sits on open moorland near Bishop Auckland, a proper atmospheric spot if you know what to expect. The chapel itself is small, barely a shell, but that's rather the point. This is archaeology in the raw, not some polished heritage site.

The walk to reach it gives you the real appeal here. You're out on exposed upland country, the kind of landscape that looks the same now as it probably did when monks or pilgrims made their way past. History types and keen walkers will appreciate the leg work involved; families with young children might find it frustrating - there's not a great deal to do once you're there beyond look at some stones and take photos.

It's free to visit and there's no set opening hours, which tells you what you need to know. Allow maybe 45 minutes total including the walk, depending on your fitness and whether you're inclined to linger. Spring and summer are obvious choices, though the exposed position means wind and weather can turn quickly whatever the season.

If you're based at Kingfisher Holiday Park or Heather View - both within easy driving distance - this makes a decent half-day outing when the weather's decent. Pair it with a proper walk across the moorland or a drive into Bishop Auckland itself for lunch. Don't come expecting grandeur, but if sparse medieval ruins in wild country appeal to you, it's worth the detour.