Fort Redoubt

Perched on the clifftops above Freshwater Bay, this Victorian coastal fortress feels more like a giant concrete maze than your typical castle. Built in the 1860s to protect against French invasion (which never came), Fort Redoubt spreads across the headland in a series of interconnected gun emplacements and underground tunnels. The views across the Solent are properly spectacular on a clear day.

Kids will love scrambling through the tunnels and pretending to man the cannon positions, though parents should keep a close eye on the cliff edges. History enthusiasts get a real sense of Victorian military engineering - the fort's design is surprisingly sophisticated for something that never fired a shot in anger. Walking the perimeter takes about an hour, longer if you explore every nook and cranny.

Access can be tricky as there's no formal car park, just roadside spaces near Freshwater. The walk from the village takes twenty minutes uphill. Weather matters here - it's utterly miserable in driving rain but magnificent on a sunny afternoon. Worth combining with a trip to nearby Tapnell Farm or Compton Farm if you're staying at one of the holiday parks around Freshwater, as it's a good way to stretch legs between beach days.