St Mary the Virgin's Church, Cavendish

The church sits right in the heart of Cavendish village, its flint tower visible long before you reach it. St Mary the Virgin is one of those proper medieval parish churches that tells you everything about a place's history without needing a guide book. The interior is surprisingly spacious, with a clerestory that floods the nave with light - unusual for a Suffolk church, and all the better for it.

The chancel is where things get interesting. There's some genuinely fine work here if you know what to look for: medieval glass fragments, a decent brass or two, and the kind of carved stone that makes you realise this was a prosperous wool village once. The roof timbers are worth a look too, especially if you've got any interest in medieval carpentry. Nothing flashy, but solid, well-maintained craftsmanship.

Historic types will get an hour out of this easily. Families with young children might find it a bit solemn unless they're already into old churches. It's free to wander in during daylight hours, no fuss. The village itself - rolling Suffolk countryside, nice pubs, that sort of thing - makes it worth combining with a walk. If you're staying at Cranfield Retreat or Lake View Lodges nearby, this is the kind of thing to slot in on a quiet morning before heading elsewhere. Close enough to Sudbury for supplies, but far enough to feel properly rural.