Coleshill Memorial Park

The memorial sits on a gentle rise just outside Coventry, easy to miss if you're not looking for it. Coleshill Memorial Park marks the spot where the village of Coleshill stood before it was demolished in the 1960s - a decision that still rankles locally. Walk through and you'll find yourself among rolling grassland with a few stone markers and information boards that tell the story of what was lost.

It's worth stopping if you're passing through Warwickshire and have an interest in post-war planning decisions, or if you're the type who likes to contemplate local history. The walk is short and straightforward, taking perhaps twenty minutes to do properly. History buffs will spend longer reading the markers and thinking about the compulsory purchase orders that displaced residents here.

Families with young kids might find it a bit quiet and contemplative for their liking - there's not much to do beyond looking and walking - but it makes a thoughtful break during a wider trip. Walkers heading through Coventry's hinterland will appreciate the open views.

If you're based at Nightingales Rustic Camping nearby, this is an easy detour that adds some depth to understanding the region's modern history. It's free and accessible year-round, though wet weather can make the ground a bit muddy. Go when you've got time to reflect rather than as a quick tick-box stop.