St Mary's Parish Church, Ross-on-Wye

The sandstone tower of St Mary's dominates Ross-on-Wye's skyline, rising above the market town like a reminder that this place has been here for centuries. Inside, the church is a proper medieval structure with enough architectural detail to keep history buffs happy for a good hour - the chancel's particularly worth a look if you're into that sort of thing.

It's free to wander in during daylight hours, which makes it an easy stop if you're already in town shopping or grabbing lunch. The interior has that solid, unshowy quality you find in working parish churches up and down England - no gilded nonsense, just good craftsmanship and real patina. Families with older kids will find it interesting enough, though toddlers might get restless unless you're the sort who enjoys explaining architectural features to a two-year-old.

What makes St Mary's worth the trip is its location. The church sits right in the heart of Ross, so you can combine it with a proper explore of the market town, a walk down to the Wye itself, or lunch at one of the decent pubs nearby. If you're staying at Broadmeadow Caravan Park - just a short walk away - you could easily pop in before breakfast. The other parks dotted around the Wye Valley offer good bases too, though they're a bit further out.

Allow 30 minutes if you want a proper look around. Best visited on a weekday morning when it's quiet enough to actually hear yourself think.