St Helen's (former leper chapel), Wicken Bonhunt

A small stone chapel sits quietly at the edge of Wicken village, east of Saffron Walden. St Helen's dates back to the 12th century and once served as a leper hospital - a sobering reminder of medieval life when the afflicted were separated from the rest of society. The building is modest, low-ceilinged, and properly atmospheric in that particular way old churches are when you're standing alone in them.

It's not a grand tour - you can take in the essentials in fifteen minutes. What makes it worth stopping for is the historical punch it packs: this was functional, serious medieval healthcare, not decoration. The stone walls have absorbed centuries. There's something moving about standing in a room built specifically to isolate the sick, to contemplate how differently we handle such things now.

Walkers heading through the Saffron Walden area will find this a worthwhile small detour rather than a main event. The chapel sits within walking distance of the village itself, and the Essex countryside around here is proper rolling and green. It works well as a quiet pause during a longer ramble. History enthusiasts will appreciate the rarity - functioning leper chapels of this age aren't thick on the ground.

Check ahead for access details before you go, as opening arrangements aren't always straightforward for small historic buildings. If you're staying at Hidden Gem Glamping nearby, this makes a thoughtful morning walk, combining fresh air with a dose of real medieval England.