Deer sculpture

You'll find a striking bronze deer sculpture standing in Essex, just outside Ingatestone, that's caught quite a few people off guard. It's the kind of piece that makes you slow down on a drive through the countryside - something about the scale and the detail stops you dead. The sculpture itself is a proper study in form, capturing movement frozen in metal in a way that's both elegant and slightly unsettling.

It's not a massive detour if you're already in the area, though frankly, you won't want to spend hours here. Twenty minutes feels about right unless you're the type who photographs sculptures from every angle. History and art types will get more from it than kids, who might ask why you've stopped to look at a metal deer when there's a perfectly good field of actual ones nearby.

Ingatestone sits right on the River Pant, a proper little Essex market town with some decent pubs if you fancy stretching your legs properly. If you're basing yourself at The Courts Campsite or Hoe Mill Lock - both solid choices for a week away - this could be a quick stop between longer walks. Neither campsite is more than a few miles off, so it's easy to slot in with a proper day exploring the wider area rather than making a special trip. Check locally for opening times and whether there's any admission charge when you arrive.