Ayot Kimpton Road

The road itself is the main event here - a stretch of tarmac that connects two villages and happens to contain some genuinely absorbing heritage sites. You'll find yourself stopping at various points along Ayot Kimpton Road, east of Welwyn Garden City, to poke around what amounts to an open-air history lesson without the school trip atmosphere.

The standout is the ruins of St Lawrence Church, a medieval structure that's been left to the elements in a rather romantic way. What remains tells you plenty about local life centuries back, and there's something oddly peaceful about wandering around it. The road also connects you to other archaeological spots in the area - Roman remains crop up regularly, which says something about how long people have found this corner of Hertfordshire worth settling in.

This isn't a formal museum with opening hours or admission fees. It's more a self-guided wander at your own pace, which suits walkers and history enthusiasts far better than families with restless kids. Allow a couple of hours if you're the type to read plaques and take photographs. The best time is late spring or early autumn when the weather's decent and you won't be trudging through mud.

If you're based at Commons Wood Caravan and Motorhome Club Campsite or the rather swankier Almshoe Glamping nearby, this makes a solid morning outing before heading elsewhere in Hertfordshire. It's low-key enough that it won't disappoint, but substantial enough to justify the detour.