Mow Cop Community Church

Perched on a windswept hilltop between Stoke-on-Trent and the Cheshire border, Mow Cop Church cuts a striking silhouette against the sky. It's a Methodist chapel, built in 1899, and from up here you can see for miles across the Potteries and beyond. The walk to reach it is the real draw - steep paths climb through scrubland, taking about fifteen minutes from the car park, and your legs will know about it. But the effort pays off.

Once you're there, the chapel itself is modest - whitewashed stone, simple interior, nothing fancy. What matters is the vantage point. On a clear day the views stretch to the Welsh hills. It's the kind of place that rewards walkers and anyone who enjoys a proper trek with genuine payoff. Families with older kids will manage fine, but don't expect toddlers to enjoy the steep climb.

The chapel sees occasional services and opens for visitors, though there's no formal visitor centre. Check locally in Stoke for current opening times. Admission is free when it's open. Allow an hour including the walk and a sit-down at the top to catch your breath and take in the landscape.

If you're based at one of the nearby caravan parks - Yellowstone in Sandbach is brilliant and only 4.3 miles away - this makes an excellent morning excursion before exploring the broader moorland. The surrounding hills offer plenty of further walking if you've got the energy.