All Saints' Church, Sawley

The churchyard sits quiet and contemplative just off the main road through Sawley, a village that most people drive through without noticing. All Saints' Church is a proper medieval building, the sort of place where you can feel centuries pressing down from the roof timbers. The church itself dates back to the 12th century, though it's been fiddled with and rebuilt over the centuries like most parish churches in this part of Nottinghamshire.

You'll find it a straightforward visit - the interior is typical of East Midlands village churches, with stone walls, stained glass that's more honest than showy, and that particular quiet that only old churches seem to manage. The graveyard around it is peaceful, the kind of spot where you can actually hear birdsong properly. It's worth a stop if you're in the area, particularly if you've got an interest in medieval architecture or simply need somewhere genuinely calm to sit for ten minutes.

This works well as part of a broader ramble around Sawley and the surrounding villages - you're only about five miles from Midshires Way Campsite and Alpaca Farm if you're based there for a longer stay. The walk into the village itself from the campsite is pleasant enough, though there's not a great deal else in Sawley to detain you beyond a quick poke around the church. Allow maybe thirty minutes here if you're thorough, less if you're just dipping in. Entry appears to be free, though do check ahead as opening times aren't reliably published online.