Hurst Castle

Hurst Castle juts out into the Solent like a vast stone finger, and walking the shingle spit to reach it is half the appeal. Built by Henry VIII in the 1540s to guard against French invasion, this squat fortress sits at the western tip of the Isle of Wight, just off Totland Bay. You're looking at proper coastal defence architecture - low, broad, and built to take a battering.

The castle itself rewards a couple of hours of poking about. The gun emplacements tell the story of how seriously the Tudors took the threat from across the Channel, and the views back across the Solent toward the mainland are genuinely impressive on a clear day. It's a bit of a slog across the shingle to get there - wear proper shoes and don't expect a gentle stroll - but that's rather the point. The isolation is what makes it special.

Historically minded visitors will find more to chew on than families with small children, though older kids who like clambering about ruins will have a decent time. Allow three to four hours if you're actually exploring rather than just snapping photos from the entrance. Check opening hours and admission prices before you go - details can be thin on the ground.

It slots well into a week based at one of the nearby parks like The Bay Colwell or Heathfield Farm Camping Park. Combine it with a walk along the western cliffs and you've got a proper half-day sorted.