St Laurence's Church, Priddy

The church sits on Priddy green like it's always been there - because it has, for about 800 years. St Laurence's is a proper medieval affair, with the kind of solid stone walls and squat tower that makes you understand why these buildings outlasted everything around them. Inside, the font is Norman, the roof timbers are ancient, and there's enough carved detail to keep history buffs occupied for a good half hour.

It's the sort of place that works best if you're already in the area rather than a destination in itself. Priddy village sits high on the Mendips - about 600 metres up - and the church anchors the green nicely. The walk around the village takes maybe twenty minutes, and the views across to Wells and beyond are genuinely worth the climb. Families with young children won't find much to hold attention for long, but anyone interested in medieval Somerset will find it rewarding.

If you're basing yourself at one of the nearby parks - Cheddar Camping is just down the road at 0.4 miles, or there's Bucklegrove Holiday Park at 2.6 miles - it makes a cracking stop on a walk across the Mendips. The church appears to be open during daylight hours, and admission is free. Wells itself is the closest proper town, about four miles south, so you could easily combine a visit with exploring the cathedral and high street there. Allow an hour if you're thorough, less if you're just passing through.