Wittersham Windmill, Stocks Mill

The red-brick tower rises unexpectedly from the Kent-Sussex border landscape, its four sails still capable of turning when the wind picks up right. Wittersham Windmill - also called Stocks Mill - is a working 18th-century tower mill that actually grinds grain, which puts it several steps ahead of the usual museum piece gathering dust behind velvet ropes.

Once you're inside, the mechanics of milling become properly apparent. The exhibits track flour production from grain to sack, and if you catch it on a windy day, you might see the whole operation in motion - far more interesting than reading about it on a board. The climb up the narrow stairs is tight and not for the genuinely claustrophobic, but the top offers a view back across to Tenterden and the surrounding farmland.

It's a solid stop for anyone interested in agricultural history or 18th-century engineering, though younger children can lose interest once they've wound the main shaft a few times. Allow 45 minutes to an hour, depending on how deeply you want to understand the machinery.

Location-wise, this sits handily between Tenterden and the coast, making it a natural diversion if you're based at Wheatfields Luxury Glamping nearby - only 1.8 miles away - or exploring further out towards Rye Harbour Holiday Park. On a dull afternoon, it beats sitting in the static caravan. The admission cost and current opening hours are worth confirming before you visit, as smaller attractions can be unpredictable about their schedules.