Kirkby Cross

You'll find this modest stone cross standing in the landscape near Sutton-in-Ashfield, a genuine survivor from centuries past. It's the sort of thing you walk past without really seeing it at first - easy to miss if you're not looking, which is precisely what makes it interesting. Medieval crosses like this one marked boundaries, served as waypoints for travellers, and anchored communities long before signposts existed.

What you actually get is a glimpse into how people moved through the landscape hundreds of years ago. There's no visitor centre, no café, no interpretation boards - just the cross itself and whatever you bring to understanding it. That's either brilliant or maddening depending on your mood. History enthusiasts will appreciate standing in the presence of something genuinely old. Casual visitors might find themselves wondering why they've stopped here for five minutes.

The cross works best as part of a wider ramble rather than a destination in itself. Combine it with walking routes through the surrounding countryside, which is proper nice for this part of Derbyshire. If you're based at one of the nearby holiday parks - Silverhill Woodland Retreats or Riddings Wood are closest at under five miles away - it's a decent spot to incorporate into a morning walk without eating into your day.

Allow ten minutes maximum for the actual visit. Go when the light's decent so you can actually see what you're looking at. It costs nothing and demands nothing except a bit of curiosity.