St John and St Giles, Great Easton

A squat, sturdy medieval church sits in the middle of Great Easton, about five miles east of Dunmow. St John and St Giles is the kind of place that rewards a proper wander round - it's got the sort of weathered charm that comes from seven centuries of village life happening around it.

Inside, the church is refreshingly unfussy. There's a good Norman font, some decent medieval stained glass, and the usual handful of memorial tablets that tell you more about Essex families than any guidebook could. The tower dates from the 15th century and dominates the tiny High Street. If you're the sort who gets a kick out of old architecture and parish history, it's genuinely worth the detour from Dunmow.

The village itself is proper quiet - which is either brilliant or dull depending on your mood. A walk round the churchyard takes ten minutes, maybe twenty if you stop to read the stones. Most people would slot this in as a leg-stretch during a wider tour of Essex villages rather than make a special trip.

It's free to visit, and there's usually someone around if the door's locked - ask at the nearby houses. Don't expect facilities or lengthy opening hours. If you're staying at Hidden Gem Glamping not far away, it makes for a peaceful morning stroll before breakfast. Families with young children might find it a bit static, but anyone interested in quiet corners of medieval England will find something here worth seeing.