Ankerwycke Yew

The Ankerwycke Yew is ancient beyond reckoning. This gnarled tree, sprawling beside the Thames near Chertsey, is thought to be over a thousand years old - possibly two thousand. You'll find it growing from the grounds of the ruined Ankerwycke Priory, a 12th-century convent that's now little more than crumbling walls and ivy.

What draws people here is partly the tree itself. It's massive, twisted, hollow in places, and frankly looks like it shouldn't still be standing. Legend ties it to Henry VIII's affair with Anne Boleyn - they supposedly met beneath its branches, though historians generally roll their eyes at that one. What matters more is that you're standing beside something that witnessed centuries of English life unfold.

The walk to reach it from Chertsey is pleasant enough, following the Thames Path. Allow an hour or so to get there, wander the priory ruins, and sit with the tree for a bit. It's free, and there's something humbling about touching bark that's been growing since before the Norman conquest. Families with primary-age kids will find it interesting for about thirty minutes; older children or history enthusiasts could easily spend longer picking through the priory remains.

It's well worth the detour if you're based at one of the caravan parks around Chertsey or Laleham. The River Walk itself is the real draw - the tree is the excuse to get out there and properly stretch your legs along the water.