The village church
Churches serve a very practical purpose for hikers and ramblers.
The towers and spires have always been excellent navigation aids and it’s especially true in the flattest landscapes such as the Somerset Levels, the Vale of York and the famous Fens of Cambridgeshire and Lincolnshire.
As well as being the most obvious local landmark, the church is usually the oldest building in a parish. In Essex there’s an abundance such as St Peteron-the-Wall at Bradwell, St Mary’s at Prittlewell and the world’s oldest wooden church in at Greensted near Chipping Ongar, dating back to 845AD.
Wherever you live, there will be history to be gleaned by looking at your parish church.