Brendon Hill Methodist Church

The tiny Methodist chapel sitting on Brendon Hill, just inland from Minehead, is one of those places you stumble upon rather than deliberately seek out. It's a proper rural church - whitewashed, modest, the sort of building that feels like it's been holding services for the same two dozen locals for about 150 years. And that's precisely the appeal.

There's not much to 'do' here in the conventional sense. You walk in, you look at the simple interior, you read the brass plaques, and you get a genuine sense of what Methodist worship looked like in a scattered farming community. No gift shop, no visitor centre, no crowds. Just a working church that hasn't been turned into luxury holiday accommodation or a gastropub.

Walkers will appreciate this most - it sits on decent rambling territory, and the detour from the main paths rewards you with something genuinely quiet and a bit melancholic. History buffs might enjoy the period details and the chapel's role in local life. Families with young kids? They'll probably get restless after ten minutes, which is fine - this isn't a 'take the children' sort of stop.

It's free to visit (though there's usually a donations box), and you can pop in whenever you like if the door's unlocked. There's no visitor information online, so ring ahead or just try your luck. If you're staying at one of the nearby parks - Hoburne Blue Anchor or Warren Bay are both close - it makes a worthwhile half-hour detour on a country walk. Doesn't take long, but lingers with you afterwards.