St Mary the Virgin's Church, Week St Mary

The church sits quiet in the village of Week St Mary, about four miles inland from Bude - far enough away that you won't stumble on it by accident. St Mary the Virgin is a proper medieval job, the sort of Cornish parish church that tells you everything about how these communities worked centuries ago.

Inside, there's the usual run of carved pews, a font that's older than you'd think, and windows that let the light do the heavy lifting on a grey afternoon. The stonework shows its age - that lovely rough texture you get when granite's been weathering for five hundred years. If you're into medieval ecclesiastical details, you'll find enough to keep you occupied. If you're not, half an hour's a comfortable stretch.

It's the sort of stop that makes sense if you're already exploring the quieter bits of north Cornwall, rather than a reason to drive out on its own. Couples and history types will get more from it than families with young kids, who'll likely find it a bit austere. Free entry, obviously - it's a working parish church.

If you're based at one of the nearby holiday parks - Bude Camping and Caravanning Club Site is close enough, or Pencuke Farm if you want something with more character - a Sunday morning walk to the church and back gives you a proper sense of the landscape around Bude without the crowds down at the seafront. Spring's when the churchyard looks best.