Stroat Church

Stroat Church sits quietly in the countryside between Lydney and the Welsh border - a small parish church that rewards a proper detour if you're camping in the Forest of Dean area. The building itself is modest, mainly 13th-century stone with the sort of weathered character that comes from centuries of Sunday services and local weddings. Nothing flashy, but there's something rather moving about standing inside a space where generations of villagers have done the same.

The churchyard is genuinely lovely. Mature yews line the boundary, and the views across the surrounding farmland are the kind that remind you why people bothered to build churches in these spots in the first place. You can have a good look round in 20 to 30 minutes without feeling rushed. The interior is simple - decent windows, proper wooden pews, the sort of thing that appeals to folk interested in rural ecclesiastical architecture rather than grand cathedrals.

It's ideal for walkers based at Forest and Wye Valley or Hawthorne Cottage. The church makes a worthwhile stop on a ramble through the Lydney area, particularly if you're exploring on foot and want something beyond the usual tourist trail. Not a destination in itself, but a proper gem if you're already in the neighbourhood. Go on a clear afternoon when the light comes through those old windows properly. Admission is free as far as we can tell, which is how it should be.