Little Marton Windmill

You'll spot this brick tower long before you reach it - a proper Victorian windmill standing alone near Blackpool, turning lazy in the Lancashire breeze. Little Marton is one of the few working windmills left in the area, built in the 1830s and still grinding away when the wind cooperates. The octagonal tower dominates the flat landscape around it, and that's rather the point of visiting: it's a statement piece of industrial heritage.

The windmill itself isn't exactly groaning with visitor facilities. There's no grand visitor centre or gift shop, and opening times are sporadic at best, so you'll need to check ahead or ring ahead before making the trip. When it is open, you get inside to see the machinery - cogs, shafts, the works - which feels genuinely interesting if you're into industrial history. Kids under eight might find it a bit abstract, all grinding wheels and no obvious action, but older children do get something from understanding how mills actually worked.

Walking distance from Blackpool but far enough out to feel like proper countryside, it pairs reasonably well with a stay at Mowbreck Park, which is only five miles away. The flat terrain makes it accessible for pushchairs and casual strollers. Allow 30-45 minutes unless you're waiting for the mills to turn - then settle in with a book. It's not dramatic, but it's authentic, and there's something rather calming about standing beside something that's been doing the same job for nearly 200 years.