Moreton-in-Marsh and Batsford War Memorial

The war memorial stands in Batsford, just outside Moreton-in-Marsh, a modest stone monument that speaks volumes about the losses this corner of Gloucestershire endured. It's not the sort of place you'd stumble across by accident - you have to know it's there, which is perhaps fitting for something so quietly dignified.

What you're looking at is a traditional First World War memorial, the kind that sits at the heart of almost every English village and market town. The names carved into it tell the story of men who left from these Cotswold villages and never came back. There's no visitor centre, no interpretation boards, just the memorial itself and space for reflection.

For history buffs, this is worth a twenty-minute detour if you're exploring the area. If you've got elderly relatives or anyone interested in genealogy, bring a notebook - you might find family names here. Children under twelve will lose interest in about five minutes, to be honest.

It costs nothing to visit and you can turn up any time. Moreton-in-Marsh itself is a proper market town with decent shops and pubs, so you could combine this with a proper wander through the high street. If you're staying at the Experience Freedom Glamping site just down the road, it's practically on your doorstep. Even from Campden Yurts further out, it's a reasonable drive and worth folding into a wider Cotswolds circuit. Late afternoon light here is particularly good for photographs.