Drop Redoubt

Drop Redoubt sits high on the white cliffs just outside Dover, a squat military fortress that looks every bit its 200-odd years. Built in the 1790s as part of Britain's defences against Napoleon, it's a proper bit of Kentish military archaeology - the sort of place that makes you understand why Dover was so strategically vital.

Walking around the grass-covered ramparts, you get the layout straightaway: a star-shaped fort designed to mount cannons and hold off invaders. The views back across the Channel are excellent, and on clear days you can see France. It's not going to keep anyone occupied for hours - thirty minutes covers it - but as a stop during a cliff-top walk or a quick detour from Dover town centre, it works well.

History enthusiasts will appreciate the engineering; families with younger kids might find it a bit limited without interpretation boards to explain what you're looking at. The ground is uneven in places, so decent footwear matters.

If you're staying at Parkdean Resorts St Margaret's Bay or Kingsdown Camping nearby, it's a straightforward walk across the cliffs. Free to access, which helps. Go early morning or late afternoon to avoid the coaching parties that rumble through Dover. Don't expect ramparts you can climb or a gift shop - it's raw, weathered fortification. That's rather the appeal.