Obelisk

Standing on a rise near Henley-on-Thames, this 18th-century obelisk cuts a striking silhouette against the Thames Valley skyline. It's a proper focal point - the sort of thing that makes you stop and wonder what Victorian or Georgian entrepreneur decided this particular spot needed a monument.

You're looking at a piece of local history that's largely under the radar. Not mobbed with tourists, which is refreshing. The walk up to it takes minutes from the nearby caravan parks - Swiss Farm and Henley Four Oaks are barely a mile away - making it an easy leg-stretcher if you're camped in the area. The obelisk itself doesn't require hours; ten minutes to admire it, read any plaque if one exists, and take in the views is realistic.

History buffs will appreciate the structure's age and whatever story it tells about the region's past. Walkers find it a natural waypoint on a longer Thames Valley ramble. Kids might find it a bit underwhelming if you oversell it - it's an obelisk, not a climbing frame - but it works as a quick diversion between riverside walks and other attractions.

The real value is its position within a week's caravan stay. Camp at Hurley Riverside Park or Embers if you want to be deeper into the Chilterns, then use the obelisk as a morning walk from base. Free to visit, no complications. It's the sort of detail that gives a holiday its character rather than the main event.