Saint Edmunds

The church sits quietly in Swanton, a few miles east of Fakenham, and it's one of those Norfolk places that rewards the detour without demanding much in return. Saint Edmunds is a solid medieval parish church - the kind with proper flint walls and a tower that's seen centuries slip past without fuss.

Inside, it's straightforward rather than showy. The nave runs clean and long, with enough of the original medieval character to give you a sense of how people worshipped here generations back. There's nothing here to overwhelm you, but that's rather the point. It's the sort of church that works best on a quiet afternoon when you've got time to sit and think.

This is genuinely for the walk-around-Norfolk type rather than anyone expecting theatrical grandeur. If you're based at North Norfolk Camping Glamping nearby, it makes a decent leg-stretch on foot, though the surrounding lanes are the real draw - flat Norfolk countryside with proper big skies.

Admission appears to be free, though opening hours aren't clearly posted, so you'll want to ring ahead or try your luck on a weekday afternoon. It's the sort of place where being a bit flexible works best. Allow twenty minutes if you're stopping in during a broader Norfolk ramble, longer if you're genuinely interested in medieval church architecture. The village itself is small, so don't expect facilities - bring a packed lunch and make it part of a bigger walk.