St Kenelm's Well

You'll find St Kenelm's Well tucked away near Kineton, a proper pilgrimage spot that's been drawing visitors for over a thousand years. It's a small, spring-fed stone well with a medieval shrine structure - nothing grandiose, but the quietness of the place gets under your skin. The water runs clear and cold, and locals still leave coins and wishes, keeping an old tradition very much alive.

The legend attached to it is what makes the journey worthwhile. St Kenelm was a young Saxon prince who met a grim fate in these woods, and pilgrims have been coming to this spot seeking healing and solace ever since. You won't spend hours here - twenty minutes to half an hour is realistic - but it's the kind of place that rewards a slow walk through the surrounding countryside. Worth doing as part of a wider ramble rather than a standalone visit.

History buffs and anyone interested in Anglo-Saxon England will find it compelling. Parents with older kids might enjoy the legend-telling aspect, though there's not much to keep younger children entertained beyond a bit of stone-splashing. Access is free and unrestricted, though you'll need decent shoes for the walk from Kineton.

If you're based at Winchcombe Camping & Caravanning Club or Bourton-on-the-Water Caravan and Motorhome Club Campsite, this makes a solid half-day excursion paired with exploring the Cotswolds' other historic sites. The real appeal is in the pilgrimage experience itself - the sense of continuity with centuries of visitors before you.