Whalton St Mary Magdalen

The church sits in the village of Whalton, a few miles south of Morpeth, and it's worth stopping for if you're in the area - though don't expect to spend more than thirty minutes here. St Mary Magdalen is a proper medieval church with some genuine character, all honey-coloured stone and steep pitched roof. Inside, the real draw is the early 13th-century font, which has some lovely carved detail if you look closely. The chancel is reasonably intact for a rural Northumberland church, and there's that quiet, slightly dusty atmosphere you get in places that have been ticking along for eight centuries without fuss.

It's not the kind of attraction that will grip young children for long, if I'm honest. But if you're walking country lanes or doing a slow circuit of Northumberland's medieval architecture, it absolutely merits the diversion. The churchyard is peaceful and overgrown in that English way - good for a wander and a sit-down. Access appears straightforward, though you'll want to check locally whether it's locked, as many rural churches are these days.

If you're based at Tranwell Farm Holidays nearby, this makes a gentle walk or short drive to break up a day. Pair it with a stroll around Morpeth itself or other local churches if you're properly into that sort of thing. It's the kind of place that rewards turning up with low expectations and leaving pleasantly surprised.