St Mary’s Church, Newick

The church sits quietly at the heart of Newick, a couple of miles north of Lewes, looking exactly as a proper Sussex parish church should. Stone walls, a squat tower, and the kind of churchyard where you'll actually want to sit for ten minutes rather than rush through.

Inside, it's a working medieval church - not a museum piece. The chancel dates back to the 13th century, and you can feel that age in the fabric of the place. Victorian restorations have tidied things up without completely erasing the character, which is more than can be said for some. The windows are decent without being showy. If you're into church architecture, there's enough here to spend half an hour poking around and reading plaques.

This isn't a destination in itself, but it's absolutely worth the detour if you're staying at The Secret Campsite or Wild Boar Wood nearby. Both are excellent bases - five-star rated for good reason - and Newick village is walkable from either. Combine it with a proper walk through the Sussex countryside, perhaps heading towards Lewes for lunch.

Children might get bored after ten minutes unless they're already church-interested types. Most people will spend twenty to thirty minutes here, maybe longer if the churchyard appeals. No admission charge that I'm aware of, though donations are presumably welcome. Go when you're passing through on a country walk rather than planning a special trip, and you'll get far more out of it.