Stone circle

The weathered stones stand in a loose circle on the Wiltshire downland, worn smooth by centuries of wind and rain. Most people drive straight past on the way to Stonehenge, which is a shame because this has a different sort of pull - quieter, less managed, more genuinely odd in that way old English sites often are.

It's a church stone circle, which is exactly as strange as it sounds. Medieval builders incorporated Bronze Age megaliths into their place of worship, creating something that feels caught between two worlds. You can walk right up to the stones, run your hand along them, sit between them if you like. No barriers, no queues, no gift shop.

Worth allowing thirty minutes to an hour, longer if you're the type to sit and stare at things. It works best out of season when there's nobody else about, though even in summer you won't be fighting crowds. Families with young kids get the most from it - the stones are climbable, the open space is safe, and there's something about standing in a circle that children find genuinely fascinating.

It's a proper detour from Salisbury, but only about four miles from the Salisbury Hillside Caravan and Motorhome Club Campsite, so it slots neatly into a Wiltshire park holiday. Combine it with actual Stonehenge if you must, but honestly, this one rewards you more for the effort put in. Less famous doesn't mean less interesting.