Roman Milestone

A weathered chunk of Roman stone standing in the Staffordshire landscape - that's the Roman Milestone, and it's one of those attractions that either fascinates you or leaves you scratching your head within five minutes. Near Burton-on-Trent, this lonely marker once guided legions along Rykneld Street, the old Roman road that cut through the Midlands. What you're looking at is genuinely ancient - carved stone that's survived nearly two thousand years of English weather.

The thing is, you need to manage expectations. It's not a grand museum piece in a climate-controlled gallery; it's a solitary artifact in its original setting, which is either brilliant or underwhelming depending on your appetite for Roman Britain. History buffs and archaeology types will get genuine value from standing where traders and soldiers actually stood. Kids under ten will probably lose interest fast unless you spin a decent story about Roman armies. Walkers using the Rykneld Street trail will find it a worthwhile detour.

Bring your own transport - there's no grand visitor infrastructure here, and the nearest proper amenities are back in Burton-on-Trent. If you're based at Cannock Chase Camping & Caravanning Club Site six miles away, you could reasonably combine this with walks across Cannock Chase itself, making a proper half-day out of local Roman heritage and moorland rambling. Allow half an hour maximum for the milestone itself, longer if you're keen on photography or want to wander the wider landscape.