The Wraxall Cross Tree

The Wraxall Cross Tree is essentially what the name promises - a venerable old cross planted in the middle of a Somerset village, marking centuries of local history without making any fuss about it. It's the kind of thing you'd stumble upon while wandering the lanes around Bristol's fringe rather than plan a special trip for, but if you're staying at Somerset Glamping nearby, it's absolutely worth a fifteen-minute detour.

The cross itself is a proper slice of medieval England, standing where villagers would have gathered for centuries. There's no visitor centre, no roped-off area, no gift shop - just the thing itself, rooted in the ground, doing what it's done for ages. You can walk right up to it, run your hand along the stone if the mood takes you. The real appeal is less about the structure and more about what it represents - a tangible link to parish life going back who knows how far.

It works best for people interested in local history or anyone after a gentle rural walk rather than a main attraction. Twenty minutes and you're done, camera in hand. Wraxall village itself is quiet, the kind of place where you hear birds properly. If you're based at Somerset Glamping, combine it with a proper walk around the surrounding farmland and villages - there's more character in these lanes than in any tourist trail.

Free to visit, obviously. Go whenever suits you - it's not going anywhere.