Stone Cross

Stone Cross sits just outside Exeter, a weathered monument that's been marking this Devon crossroads for centuries. It's the sort of place that catches your eye on a country drive - a sturdy medieval cross standing alone in the landscape, worn smooth by rain and time but still unmistakably itself.

What you're looking at is a wayside cross, the kind that once guided travellers and marked parish boundaries across the Southwest. The stone itself tells the story - it's survived better than most, though the intricate carved details have softened with age. You can pull over and walk right up to it, no gates or visitor centres, just the cross and the Devon sky. Allow ten minutes if you're passing through, or longer if you're the type to sit with a coffee and actually think about the hands that carved this.

This works best as part of a wider exploration rather than a destination in itself. Pair it with a stay at one of the nearby parks - Devon Heaven Hideaways and Cofton Holidays are both within a few miles - and use it as a stopping point on walks around the Exeter area. History enthusiasts will find it genuinely interesting; families with young kids might find it a bit abstract unless you're good at spinning yarns about medieval traders.

It's free to visit and accessible year-round, though winter rain does make the stone slippery underfoot. Spring and autumn are best when the light hits the carved surface properly and you can actually make out what's been cut into it.