Fort on Blyth Links

The remains of this 19th-century coastal fort sit on Blyth Links, a windswept stretch of Northumberland shoreline where the North Sea has a proper go at you. Built during the Napoleonic Wars, it's little more than grassy ramparts and earthworks now, but stand on the mounds and you get why someone thought this tactical. Views sweep down the coast towards Whitley Bay, and on a clear day it's genuinely commanding.

Walkers will find it worthwhile - there's enough history soaked into the ground to keep your mind occupied, and the coastal path connectivity makes it easy to loop this into a longer stride. Families with younger kids might find it underwhelming unless they're keen on clambering over banks and imagining cannon fire. The fort itself demands maybe thirty minutes, but the Links themselves are worth an hour if you've got the legs for it.

It's free to visit, as most of these coastal fortifications are. No facilities on site - bring what you need. Go at low tide if you want to explore the shoreline properly, and avoid the greyest days when the whole thing turns moody and a bit bleak.

Stay at Old Hartley Caravan and Motorhome Club Campsite just 2.6 miles away and you're positioned perfectly for coastal rambling. Parkdean Resorts Sandy Bay and Church Point are within easy driving, so you could string together a proper fort tour - Blyth Links, then Tynemouth Priory, then further afield. It slots neatly into a broader Northumberland coastal week.