Great Bardfield Spring

Water bubbling up from the ground in the middle of Essex might not sound like much, but Great Bardfield Spring is genuinely worth a detour if you're camping locally. It's a proper natural spring - the kind of thing that powered villages centuries before the taps went in - and it still runs clear and cold year-round. The spring itself sits in the village of Great Bardfield, just east of Braintree, and you can actually see it flowing, which beats staring at most Essex landmarks.

The appeal here is straightforward. Walkers tend to make a pilgrimage of it, especially if you're combining it with a loop around the village or linking it to nearby footpaths. Kids will spend about ten minutes being mildly impressed before wanting to move on. History buffs find it interesting more for what it represents than what you see - evidence of why settlements grew where they did. Photographers might catch something decent if the light's right and the water's flowing well after rain.

If you're staying at Hill Farm just down the road, or any of the other campsites within a few miles - Gosfield Lake Resort or Stocks Farm - it's an easy addition to a day out. Free to visit, obviously, and you won't need more than half an hour unless you're really determined to sketch it or write poetry. Go in spring or after wet weather when it's actually flowing properly. In drought conditions it's less impressive. Braintree's close enough for supplies and the usual amenities if you need them.