St Mary's Church, West Somerton

The church sits alone in the Norfolk marshland east of Great Yarmouth, which immediately tells you something about West Somerton's story. St Mary's is a 14th-century structure that has weathered centuries of coastal erosion and changing fortunes with the kind of quiet resilience you find scattered across East Anglia. The building itself is modest but proper - flint and stone work, a tower that's survived far better than the surrounding village has, and enough architectural detail inside to keep history enthusiasts occupied for a solid hour.

What makes it worth the drive isn't dramatic views or grand decoration. It's the sense of place. Walking around the church, you get a real feel for how differently Norfolk's coastal communities have fared over the centuries. Some villages vanished entirely; St Mary's endured. The interior has typical medieval church character - decent windows, decent proportions - without the overcrowding of more famous Norfolk churches.

You'll want to allow 45 minutes here, maybe longer if you're into brass rubbings or taking photographs. It's free to visit, though check opening hours before you head out - rural churches can be temperamental about access. The flat surrounding landscape is pure Broads country, so this works well as a stop between visiting Hickling Campsite or Clippesby Hall if you're staying in one of the holiday parks dotted around the area. It's not a destination in itself, but it's exactly the sort of local discovery that makes a holiday different from a week doing the obvious tourist rounds.