Saint Margaret's Church

The flint church dominates Cley's marshland village like a ship in full sail, its tower visible for miles across the Norfolk flatlands. Saint Margaret's is a proper medieval structure - all soaring perpendicular windows and flint work that gleams grey in the coastal light. Inside, the sense of space hits you immediately. High vaulted ceilings, a hammerbeam roof that takes your breath away, and light flooding through those enormous windows. The craftsmanship speaks volumes about what mattered to Norfolk people five centuries ago.

It's worth the detour from Holt if you're serious about church architecture or just fancy a quiet hour away from the holiday park circuit. Architecture enthusiasts will lose themselves here for a while - the roof alone warrants proper study. Families with restless kids might find twenty minutes sufficient, though teenagers interested in medieval England could easily spend longer.

Cley sits roughly four miles from Holt and makes an easy stop if you're exploring the Glaven Valley churches trail. The village itself is worth a potter around - there's the old mill and the quay if you've got time. Several caravan parks sit within a few miles: Kelling Heath and Woodland Holiday Park are closest at around four miles, perfect bases for a Norfolk coast break. The church appears to be free to enter, though specific opening hours weren't listed when I checked.

The walk from the car park is brief but exposed - bring a windproof. March through October is pleasant enough, but December can bite hard out here. Real Norfolk, this.