Christ Church

The church sits solid and unassuming in Coleford, one of those proper stone buildings that seems to have grown out of the landscape rather than been plonked on it. Christ Church is worth a stop if you're passing through - the kind of place where you can spend twenty minutes having a quiet look around without feeling rushed.

Inside, there's the usual mix of Victorian fittings and older bones, depending on when it was last done up. Local history types will find it interesting enough, though it's not the sort of place that demands hours of your time. Families with restless kids probably won't linger long, which is fair - it's a church, not a theme park.

The real draw is fitting it into a broader wander around the area. You're minutes from Greenacres Campsite and Doward Park, both excellent bases if you're doing the Forest of Dean thing. After Christ Church, the Wye Valley walks start practically on your doorstep, and the river itself is worth the detour. If you're camping locally and fancy breaking up the day with something cultural that doesn't require a car journey, it does the job. Just don't expect to find queues or visitor facilities - this is the real thing, not a visitor attraction dressed up as a church.