St John the Baptist, Stokesay

The church sits right next to Stokesay Castle, which means most visitors find themselves here almost by accident while they're exploring the castle grounds. St John the Baptist is a proper medieval church - all rough stone and narrow windows - with the kind of atmosphere that makes you want to whisper even when there's nobody else around.

Inside, there's a decent 14th-century chancel and some original woodwork that's survived remarkably well. The real draw, though, is how intimate it feels. This isn't a grand cathedral experience; it's personal, the sort of place where you can actually imagine parishioners sitting in these very pews five centuries ago. If you're into ecclesiastical architecture or medieval history, it's worth twenty minutes of your time. Families with young children might find it a bit austere - there's not much to do beyond looking - but older kids interested in history will get something from it.

It's free to visit and sits just outside Craven Arms in the South Shropshire landscape. Pop in while you're at the castle; realistically, allow fifteen to twenty minutes. The surrounding area works perfectly for a park holiday - you've got Shropshire Hills Glamping just 1.8 miles away, Greenway Touring and Glamping Park at 1.9 miles, and Wayside Camping at 2.3 miles. All of them put you within easy reach of both the church and castle, plus the wider walking country around here is genuinely lovely if you fancy getting out of the car.