The Church of St Kentigern, Castle Sowerby

The Church of St Kentigern sits in Castle Sowerby, a quiet corner of Cumbria just outside Wigton, and it's the sort of place that rewards a gentle detour rather than a rushed visit. This is proper old-school Cumbrian church architecture - solid, unpretentious, and with enough history layered into its stones to keep a history buff occupied for a good hour.

What you're looking at is medieval work, though the church has been tweaked and modified over centuries, as these places tend to be. The interior is straightforward and honest, with none of the showiness you'd find in grander cathedrals. That's rather the appeal. You get a real sense of how communities actually worshipped, away from the Instagram-friendly cathedral tours.

It's free to wander in, and the village setting is pleasant enough for a short walk about the churchyard. Not a place to build a whole day around, but if you're camping at Riverside Tourer Park or Carrock Glamping Pods nearby, it's well worth the fifteen-minute drive. Families with older children who don't mind a bit of church history will find it interesting; younger kids might get restless quickly. The real value is in combining it with other village walks or church-spotting in the wider Wigton area.

Go early morning or late afternoon when there's fewer people about, and you'll get the best light and the quietest atmosphere. Bring a camera if you're into photography of rural churches - the setting is genuinely appealing.