South Elmham Minster

You'll find yourself standing in front of a seriously impressive ruin - what's left of South Elmham Minster is basically a massive stone skeleton rising out of the Suffolk countryside east of Halesworth. The walls are still standing, which is remarkable given this place has been abandoned since the 1500s. What you're looking at are the remains of a Norman church that once served as a minster, and the scale of it tells you exactly how important this spot was.

Walking around the exterior is free and takes maybe twenty minutes unless you're the type who reads every bit of information and photographs every angle. The stonework is genuinely impressive - proper medieval craftsmanship - and there's something oddly moving about seeing how much of the structure survives. History buffs will spend longer here, turning over in their heads what services must have sounded like echoing through these walls. Families with young kids might find it a bit underwhelming if they're expecting something interactive; it's essentially a shell, so unless your children are into actual ruins, an hour might be stretching it.

If you're camping at Green Haven or Sunnyside, this makes a decent afternoon detour from Halesworth, though it's not the sort of place that justifies a special trip on its own. Combine it with a walk around the village and you've got a proper outing. Go early morning if you can - the light's better and you'll avoid any tour groups that might show up.