Finchale Priory is at a wonderful location north east of Durham on a bend of the river Wear and full of history. It takes 45 minutes by car from Edmundbyers. I parked at a small layby at the opposite side of the river from where you can walk down to the river and cross a footbridge to visit the priory.

Finchale Priory (pronounced ‘finkle’) was founded as a hermitage by St Godric, a colourful figure born about 1070 who, after years of travel as a sailor, merchant and pilgrim, felt called to the solitary life. He eventually settled at Finchale, where he lived to the ripe old age of about 100. Some 25 years after his death, his hermitage became a priory. By the mid 14th century this was serving as a holiday home for monks from Finchale’s parent monastery, Durham. 

You can read more about the history on the English Heritage Web Page:

History of Finchale Priory | English Heritage (english-heritage.org.uk)

It is a huge complex of ruins and very difficult to imagine what it might have looked like. A great help are the reconstructions I found on the Heritage website. 

I had a meal in the small cafe which was very good.