Keble Martin Open Air Church

High on the Devon moorland near South Brent sits one of England's most unusual churches - an open-air altar set among the trees with nothing but sky above your head. There's no roof, no walls, just a simple stone structure where services have been held for decades, making it feel more like a forest shrine than a traditional place of worship.

The Keble Martin Open Air Church was established as a response to the beauty of the natural landscape itself, and walking up to it you understand why instantly. It's peaceful in a way that indoor churches rarely manage - birdsong replaces organ music, and the changing light through the trees becomes part of the experience. The setting is genuinely moving, whether you're religious or not.

Historically-minded visitors will find it fascinating, and it works as a proper detour if you're walking the moorland routes around South Brent. The walk to reach it is gentle rather than strenuous, and most people spend twenty minutes to an hour here, depending on how contemplative you're feeling. There's something about the isolation that makes it linger with you afterwards.

If you're based at Ashbourne Woods - just over five miles away - this makes an excellent morning outing. The nearby walks offer plenty to occupy the rest of your day. Come early on a clear day if you can. Midday sun filtering through the canopy is particularly good, and you'll likely have the place to yourself.