Birnbeck Pier, Weston-super-Mare

Walk out to the end of Birnbeck Pier and you're standing on the only pier in England that juts out into the Bristol Channel. It's a proper Victorian relic - cast iron, peeling paint, creaking boards - and it looks like it's been weathered by a century of Atlantic gales, which it has. Built in 1867, the thing is genuinely atmospheric in a way that feels more end-of-the-world than seaside fun.

You can walk the full length, roughly half a mile out, and the views back towards Weston-super-Mare and across to the Welsh coast are solid on a clear day. Low tide reveals the mud flats - less postcard-worthy but strangely compelling. The pier's had a rougher ride than most; it's been closed and reopened more times than a temperamental restaurant, and renovation work is ongoing, so check locally before heading out as access can be patchy.

This works best for walkers and photography types rather than families expecting arcade games and candyfloss. There's not much to do once you're out there except soak in the isolation and take pictures. Allow 45 minutes if you're strolling both directions. It's free to access, though that depends on current restoration work.

From the holiday parks clustered around Weston - Channel View, Warren Farm, Golden Sands - it's easily reachable for an hour's outing. Pair it with a proper beach walk along the main seafront if the pier's inaccessible that day. It's worth the trip if you like your seaside rough around the edges.