Purton Stoke

The village is more spread out than you'd expect, with several hamlets scattered across the parish, so there's actually quite a lot of ground to cover if you want to explore properly.

The main reason to visit is St Mary's church, which has stood here since the 13th century. What catches your eye immediately is that it has two towers, and one of them is topped with a spire, which is quite rare and creates a striking outline as you approach. If you're interested in medieval architecture and what old buildings reveal about the communities that built them, the church is absolutely worth spending time in.

Once you've explored the church, this becomes excellent walking country. The village sits in a good spot for heading out into the rolling farmland that defines this part of Wiltshire. You'll find yourself moving between fields and hamlets on a network of paths, and it's the sort of place where you can easily spend an afternoon on foot, watching for wildlife and taking in the rural character without bumping into hordes of other visitors.

The closeness to Swindon makes it work well if you're after somewhere quiet to base yourself while keeping town facilities within reach.