Garrison Point Fort

The walk out to Garrison Point Fort from Sheerness takes you along a proper coastal path with the Thames estuary stretching away to your left. It's a small, squat Victorian fortress built in the 1860s - nothing like the romantic castles you might picture, but rather a practical lump of red brick designed to defend London against French invasion. Inside, the gun emplacements are still visible, and you can wander through the casemates and get a sense of what life was like for soldiers stationed here during the Cold War (yes, it was still in use then). The real draw is the location itself. Standing on the ramparts, you've got views across to the Essex marshes and back towards Sheerness town centre. On a clear day it's rather fine.

This is one for history buffs and coastal walkers more than families expecting a day of entertainment. Kids might manage twenty minutes before restlessness sets in, though climbing around the gun positions will hold their attention briefly. The walk itself is the main event - allow a good hour there and back from Sheerness seafront. If you're staying at one of the holiday parks nearby - Sheerness Holiday Park is barely a mile away - it's a decent low-cost outing. Entry details aren't always clear from a distance, so check locally before heading out. Best visited on a calm day; wind off the estuary can make it feel bleak even in summer. Worth a couple of hours if you're breaking up a holiday week, but don't rearrange your plans to see it.