St Egelwin's Church, Scalford

The church sits quietly in Scalford village, a few miles south of Melton Mowbray, and it's one of those places that rewards a casual stop rather than a planned pilgrimage. St Egelwin's is a modest medieval building with the kind of worn stone and unassuming charm you find in rural Leicestershire - no grand tower, no crowds, just a proper working parish church that's been here since Norman times.

Inside, there's genuine medieval work if you know what to look for: carved stonework, a font that's seen centuries of baptisms, and that particular quiet that old churches have. It's the sort of place where you can actually hear yourself think, which is rare these days. The village itself is small and peaceful, the kind of spot where you might see more sheep than people.

This isn't for everyone. If you're after spectacular architecture or visitor facilities, look elsewhere. But if you're staying at The Grange Camping and Caravan Park or Eye Kettleby Lakes nearby and fancy a gentle walk around the countryside, dropping into the church takes ten minutes and costs nothing. It fits well with a rural holiday in this part of Leicestershire - close enough to Melton Mowbray for supplies and proper meals, but far enough out to feel genuinely quiet. Best visited on a sunny afternoon when the light comes through the windows properly, and ideally when you're not in a hurry.