Fauld Crater Memorial

The ground here collapsed on 27 July 1944 when a German bomb hit an underground explosives factory. What you're standing in now is the crater left behind - a 300-foot-wide depression that's become something of a nature reserve, quietly reclaiming itself over the decades. It's not dramatic in the Instagram sense, but there's something genuinely moving about walking the perimeter and taking in what happened.

This is a proper history site rather than a tourist attraction with benches and interpretation boards. The crater itself is accessible, though you'll need decent footwear because it gets muddy. The surrounding woodland has colonised naturally, so you get views across to Burton-on-Trent on clearer days. Walkers will find it worthwhile as part of a longer route through Staffordshire's industrial heritage landscape. History enthusiasts especially should make the trip - it's a tangible reminder of wartime bombing campaigns that's rare to see so clearly marked.

Family groups with younger kids might find it a bit abstract - there's not much to do once you've walked round it - but teenagers studying the Second World War would get genuine value here. Allow 45 minutes to an hour. If you're staying at Peake's Retreats or Lane Tree Hideaways nearby, it's an easy detour that adds real substance to a park holiday. Worth combining with visits to other local industrial sites. No facilities on-site, so sort your provisions in Burton first.