St. Helen's Chapel

There's a medieval chapel tucked away near Colchester that most visitors to the area completely miss. St. Helen's Chapel is a small but genuine piece of Essex's religious past - the sort of place that rewards a quiet detour if you're already in the region rather than a destination in itself.

The chapel itself is straightforward: a modest stone structure from the medieval period, sitting on farmland with views that stretch out towards the Essex countryside. You're looking at proper countryside here, not suburban fringes. Inside there's nothing elaborate - this isn't a cathedral with soaring arches and stained glass. It's intimate, austere even, the kind of space where you can actually imagine people worshipping centuries ago without the visitor experience getting in the way.

Walkers and history types will get more from it than families with young kids. There's no café, no visitor centre, no interpretation boards - you turn up, you look at an old chapel, you think about the centuries it's stood there. That's the whole experience, which sounds sparse but is actually rather lovely if you're the contemplative sort.

If you're staying at one of the caravan parks around Colchester - Ardleigh or Rushbanks Farm are both within five miles - and you've already done the castle and the Roman sites, this is a quiet morning walk worth your time. Combine it with a wander through the surrounding countryside. But don't expect facilities or operating hours online - this is a proper rural chapel. Check locally with Colchester tourist information before heading out.