St Edmund's Church, Walesby

The church sits quietly in Walesby village, a modest stone building that reveals itself slowly as you approach down the lane. St Edmund's isn't the sort of place that demands hours of your time, but it rewards a twenty-minute stop with genuine medieval character - the kind of working parish church where you'll find locals actually praying rather than tourists ticking boxes.

Inside, there's a proper Norman nave that feels properly old. The windows are straightforward, the pews worn smooth by centuries of use. It's the sort of church that speaks to its community rather than shouting about itself, which is rather refreshing if you've been doing the grand cathedral circuit.

Worth stopping for if you're in the Newark area exploring Sherwood's edge. The village is quiet enough that you won't feel rushed, and it makes a logical pause if you're staying at one of the nearby parks - The Sherwood Hideaway is just 2.5 miles away, or if you want something slicker, Eastfield Glamping and Greenacres are both within four miles. Don't expect a visitor centre or facilities. It's free to enter during daylight hours, though ringing ahead if you want a proper tour would be sensible. The real appeal is straightforward: a village church doing what it's done for eight hundred years, without fuss or pretension. If that sounds dull, skip it. If you like the authentic stuff, you'll appreciate it.