Giant Bee

A 12-metre concrete bee stands guard over the Staffordshire moorlands like some cheerful colossus, visible from the A53 near Leek. It's the sort of thing you'd drive past dozens of times before actually stopping, and then you'd wonder why it took you so long. Built in the 1960s as a roadside attraction, it's remained largely unchanged - a bit weathered now, honestly, but that's rather part of its charm.

You can pull over and have a proper look at it, snap a photo, and be on your way in five minutes flat. No visitor centre, no gift shop, no faffing about. It's free, obviously, and there's enough room to park safely without causing chaos on the main road. The structure itself isn't going to keep you occupied for hours - this is the sort of landmark you stop at between other activities, not a destination in itself.

Families with young children get a kick out of spotting it, and there's something genuinely odd about it that appeals to people who enjoy quirky roadside Britain. If you're staying at Camping at The Hollies or Leek Camping and Caravanning Club Site, both within walking distance, it makes a daft little detour on a morning walk across Blackshaw Moor. The moorlands around here are the real draw - rolling hills, decent views, proper walking country - but this bee serves as a good excuse to stretch your legs and take in the landscape. It's one of those small-town oddities that makes Britain what it is.