Clyden's Cross, Prayer Cross (remains)

All that's left of Clyden's Cross is a weathered stone base and fragments scattered across the Somerset landscape near Taunton - but that's precisely what makes it worth seeking out. This prayer cross, which would have stood as a wayside marker for medieval travellers, now exists as a quiet reminder of how much time has taken from us. You won't spend long here. A few minutes to photograph the remains, perhaps trace your fingers over worn stone if you're that way inclined, and you're done. But there's something rather moving about standing where someone centuries ago stopped to pray.

History enthusiasts will find this more rewarding than casual visitors. Children will likely find it underwhelming unless they're already into archaeology or medieval heritage - it requires a bit of imagination to picture what it once was. There's no visitor facility, no interpretation board, just the cross itself in its reduced state.

If you're basing yourself at Warren Bay Holiday Village or Hoburne Blue Anchor - both within easy reach - this works as a modest morning detour rather than a destination in itself. Pair it with a proper walk around the Quantock Hills or a visit to Taunton itself if you want a fuller day out. Admission is free, obviously. Go early or late to avoid crowds, though crowds aren't really a concern here. The real pleasure is in the quiet and the solitude, in standing in a place that mattered to people whose names we'll never know.