Sowerby War Memorial

The war memorial in Sowerby sits quietly in the village churchyard, a modest stone cross that's easy to walk past if you're not paying attention. What makes it worth stopping for is the roll call carved into its base - the names of local men who didn't come home from the First and Second World Wars. It's the sort of place where you feel the weight of things, especially on a grey afternoon.

Sowerby itself is just outside Thirsk, the market town famous for its James Herriot connections, so you could easily combine this with a proper wander around the town centre. The memorial takes five minutes to read properly, ten if you're the reflective type. There's no entry fee, no gift shop, no fuss - just a community's way of remembering.

Histor enthusiasts will get more from it than most, but honestly, anyone passing through the village should take a moment. It's free and open year-round. If you're staying at one of the nearby caravan parks - Hillside is decent enough if you want mid-range comfort, while The Hideaway at Baxby Manor offers something a bit more special - Sowerby makes for a quiet fifteen-minute detour. Come on a clear day when the light's decent and you can actually read the inscriptions without squinting.