Buttrum's Windmill

The white weatherboarded tower stands alone in the Suffolk countryside just outside Woodbridge, a proper working windmill that's been grinding grain since the 1820s. Buttrum's is the real deal - not a museum piece or a folly - and you can still see the machinery inside if you time your visit right. The sails catch the wind differently depending on the season, which locals will tell you about if you stop for a chat.

This is one for people who actually care about how things work, rather than those after a quick Instagram moment. History types will appreciate the engineering, walkers doing the Suffolk trails pass by regularly, and families with kids old enough to understand mechanics get something genuine rather than a dumbed-down experience. You're looking at half an hour maximum to have a proper look around, longer if the miller's about and willing to talk you through the workings.

Access and opening times are bit of a mystery - there's no formal visitor setup, which means you might find it open or you might find it locked. Worth ringing ahead or checking with Woodbridge tourist information before heading out. It's free to admire from the road, at least.

If you're staying at one of the glamping spots nearby - Woodbridge Glamping is barely a mile away - the windmill makes an easy afternoon detour on the bike or a short drive. Pair it with a walk along the Deben valley or a proper nosy around Woodbridge itself, and you've got a proper Suffolk afternoon sorted.