St James the Great Church, Norton Canes

The church sits on a quiet corner of Norton Canes, a proper working village rather than a tourist trap. St James the Great is a Victorian rebuild of an older structure, and what you get is solid, honest church architecture - nothing flashy, nothing trying too hard. The interior's straightforward: decent stained glass, a peaceful nave, the kind of place where you can actually hear yourself think.

It works best for walkers or anyone doing the church trail through Staffordshire rather than as a destination in itself. If you're staying at one of the nearby parks - Pillaton Hall Farm, Chase Camping at Tackeroo, or the glamping pods at Chase - it's within striking distance for a morning stroll from Rugeley. You won't need more than twenty minutes inside, but the surrounding village is pleasant enough for a longer walk.

Entry's almost certainly free, though opening hours aren't listed anywhere obvious, so check locally. Go on a weekday morning when it's quiet and you might catch the light coming through properly. The churchyard's worth a wander too - older gravestones, some decent Victorian work. It's not going to compete with the grander Staffordshire churches, but that's rather the point. Sometimes the reward is in the simplicity.