Saint Bertelin's Church

The Church of Saint Bertelin sits quietly on the edge of Stafford, a rather lovely medieval building that doesn't announce itself loudly but rewards anyone who bothers to find it. This is a proper working parish church - the kind where you might encounter a wedding or a funeral service rather than a tour group, which is refreshing.

What you're looking at is a mix of Norman and later medieval architecture, with some decent stonework and a tower that marks the skyline for miles around. Inside, there's nothing garish or overdone - just solid craftsmanship and the sort of light that only comes through old stained glass. The churchyard itself is peaceful, with gravestones dating back centuries.

This isn't the sort of place that demands half a day. You'll take twenty minutes to have a proper look around, another ten to sit on a bench outside if the weather's decent. Families with young children will get restless quickly, unless they're the type who enjoy graveyards - which some absolutely do.

It works well as a stop-off if you're based at one of the nearby parks - Ladybirch Motorhome Park or Canalside Camping are both within a few miles - and you fancy a quiet walk into town. Stafford itself has enough going on that you could make an afternoon of it, wandering the town centre before heading back to your pitch. Worth a visit if you're in the area, though don't plan a trip solely around it. Go because you're passing through, not because it's the main event.