Queen Victoria (and Lions)

There's a rather grand statue of Queen Victoria tucked away near Newbury, flanked by a pair of stone lions that have stood guard for well over a century. It's the sort of Victorian monument you stumble upon and think, 'Right, someone really wanted to make a point here.' The lions are properly impressive - all muscular paws and commanding stares - and the whole thing speaks to an era when towns weren't shy about celebrating the monarchy.

Histor enthusiasts will get the most out of a visit, particularly anyone interested in Victorian commemoration and how 19th-century Berkshire wanted to present itself. It won't take long though - half an hour at most if you're just paying respects and taking photographs. The real value is in pairing it with a walk around Newbury itself, which has far more to offer in terms of riverside strolls and market town character.

If you're based at one of the nearby caravan parks - Cherry Bird Country Park or Bishops Green Farm Campsite are both within easy reach - this makes a quick morning excursion before heading out properly for the day. It's the sort of thing you'd do on the way to somewhere else rather than a destination in itself, but that doesn't diminish its worth. There's something quite satisfying about these Victorian monuments, a reminder that people three generations ago were equally concerned with leaving their mark on the landscape. Worth a quick detour if you're in the area.