Earnley Church

The church sits quietly in the village of Earnley, just outside Chichester, and it's one of those places that rewards actually stopping the car rather than driving past. St Peter's is a proper medieval building - thirteenth century, with later additions - and the kind of country church that feels genuinely lived-in rather than frozen in time.

Inside, the whitewashed walls and simple wooden furnishings create an oddly peaceful atmosphere. There's genuine medieval stonework here, and if you're into church architecture, the windows and chancel are worth studying for ten minutes or so. The churchyard itself is pleasant for a wander, full of old headstones and the kind of overgrown corners that birds seem to prefer.

This isn't going to grip children for long, and there's no café or shop attached, so it works best as a quick detour on a larger walk around the area rather than a destination in itself. History enthusiasts will find it worthwhile. Give it twenty minutes maximum unless you're genuinely into medieval ecclesiastical detail.

If you're camping at Stubcroft Farm or any of the other sites within a few miles of Chichester, Earnley makes sense as part of a morning exploring the villages around the harbour area. It's free, obviously, and there's usually a bit of parking near the church. Spring's probably nicest - the churchyard's full of snowdrops and crocuses - but honestly, any time works fine.