St Mary's Church - Sticklepath

The church sits quietly on the edge of Sticklepath village, a solid stone structure that's been here since medieval times. It's the sort of place you'd stumble upon by accident while exploring the lanes around Exeter, and that's precisely when it works best.

Inside, there's genuine medieval work - carved roof timbers and windows that speak to several centuries of village worship. The churchyard itself is worth a wander, with old gravestones scattered about and proper mature trees creating that sense of time settling on things. Nothing flashy, nothing overdone.

This isn't the sort of stop that'll eat up your afternoon. Twenty minutes is honest for a visit unless you're genuinely into ecclesiastical architecture, in which case you'll find plenty to study. Walkers exploring the countryside around Exeter should add it to their route - the village sits at the edge of worthwhile walking country, and the church makes a natural waypoint.

Families with young children might find it a bit dull unless they're into gravestones and stonework. But if you're staying at Woodland Springs Touring Park just down the road, it's an easy gentle stroll to break up a day of holiday routine. Free admission as you'd expect, and no fussy opening hours to navigate around - it's simply there, as churches tend to be.

Don't go out of your way for it, but don't skip it either if you're passing through.