Pillar of Salt

The Pillar of Salt sits beside the River Lark near Bury Saint Edmunds, a solitary stone column rising from the Suffolk landscape like something left behind by a forgotten civilization. It's actually a 19th-century folly, built as a caprice by a local landowner - the sort of eccentric monument that peppers the English countryside if you know where to look.

There's not much to do here beyond turning up, taking a photo, and puzzling over why anyone bothered. The pillar itself is modest, really - about 30 feet tall, nothing that will stop your heart. But that's precisely the charm. It's the kind of detour that makes sense if you're already walking the Lark Valley Way or exploring the villages around Bury Saint Edmunds, not something to plan an afternoon around.

Walkers will appreciate this more than most. The location has a certain melancholy appeal, especially on grey days when the light flattens across the fields. It's a 10-minute stop, maximum. Take the kids if they're old enough to appreciate quirk without needing facilities - there's nothing here, no café, no toilets, no interpretation board telling you what to think.

If you're staying at one of the nearby parks - West Stow Pods, Bright Meadow, or Kings Forest - it's worth including in a morning walk. Park near Bury Saint Edmunds and make it part of a longer riverside route. Free to visit, no admission, no faffing about. Just a strange old pillar in the middle of nowhere, which is rather lovely.