The 2nd Duke's Obelisk

You won't find this one marked on many maps, but the 2nd Duke's Obelisk stands as a proper monument to 18th-century ego in the Buckinghamshire countryside near Buckingham. It's a tall stone column erected to commemorate the Duke of Buckingham, and it's the sort of thing that stops you mid-walk and makes you think - why exactly did someone build this out here?

The obelisk itself isn't massive, but there's something appealing about stumbling across it on the landscape. It's free to visit and requires no particular planning - you can walk up to it, have a look, and be on your way in ten minutes. Historically minded visitors will get more from it than most, though the lack of interpretation on site means you'll need to do your homework beforehand to understand what you're actually looking at.

It's not a destination in itself, but if you're staying at one of the nearby campsites - Hedgehog Retreat is closest at just over a mile away - it makes for a decent short walk break between other activities. The surrounding countryside is pleasant enough for a ramble, and Buckingham town itself has enough going on if you want to combine it with something meatier.

Realistic expectation: this is a fifteen-minute detour, not a morning out. Worth adding to a walking route through the area, but don't travel far specifically to see it. The obelisk sits there quietly doing its job, and that's rather the point.