299 Squadron Special Operations Service

The RAF's 299 Squadron left its mark on a quiet corner of Staffordshire during World War II, and tracking down the remains of their base near Burton-on-Trent feels like stepping through a door the locals have mostly forgotten about. You won't find much left standing - a few buildings, some hardstanding, the bones of what was once a fully operational airfield. But that's rather the point. This is proper wartime history, not polished and packaged.

299 Squadron flew special operations missions, the kind that don't make it into the easy narratives. Low-level bombing runs, supply drops to resistance fighters, precision work that demanded nerve and skill. Walking the overgrown perimeter, you get a sense of the scale of the operation - the runways still visible beneath the weeds, the control tower location marked out by brick and concrete ghosts.

It's best suited to military history types and anyone interested in the less-celebrated aspects of the Second World War. Kids might find it slow going unless they're already engaged by that period. Allow an hour if you're thorough, half that if you're just driving past. There's no visitor centre or facilities to speak of, so come prepared.

Burton-on-Trent itself is close enough for a base, and Kingfisher Holiday Park sits just three miles away - you could easily visit in a morning before heading back to your caravan. It's not a standalone day out, but it deserves an afternoon when you're exploring the wider area.