Bigod Castle, Bungay

The ruins of Bigod Castle rise abruptly from the landscape just outside Bungay, a striking reminder that Norfolk once hosted serious medieval power. What you're looking at are the remains of a motte-and-bailey fortress built by the Bigod family in the 12th century - essentially a large earthwork with a keep that's now mostly gone, but the scale is still impressive if you know what you're looking at.

It's not one of those castles with a gift shop and a queue. You can walk around the site freely, clamber up the mound if you fancy it, and get a genuine sense of how these Norman lords organised their defences. The view across the River Waveney from the top is decent enough, though the castle itself won't take more than half an hour unless you're really into medieval fortifications. Kids might find scrambling around the earthworks entertaining for a bit, but they won't spend hours here.

The main appeal is honestly the walk itself - Bungay's a proper market town with actual character, and the castle makes for a sensible leg-stretch if you're staying at Wardley Hill Campsite or one of the nearby glamping spots like Dawn Chorus Holidays. Green Haven Camping is a bit further out but still within easy reach. Free to visit, no formal opening hours as far as I can tell - it's basically always accessible. Worth the detour if you're in the area for a few days, less worth a special trip on its own.