Machine Gun Emplacements

Concrete pillboxes and gun positions dot the Somerset coastline near Burnham-on-Sea, remnants from when this stretch of beach was Britain's front line against invasion. These Second World War defences form part of what historians call the GHQ Line - a network of fortifications designed to halt German forces if they'd made it across the Channel.

You'll spot them scattered along the shore and in the dunes, some half-buried by decades of sand drift, others standing proud against the skyline. The emplacements vary in size and design, from small observation posts to larger gun positions that once bristled with anti-aircraft weaponry. Kids find them fascinating - proper concrete bunkers they can clamber around, though parents should watch for uneven surfaces and exposed rebar.

History enthusiasts get the most from these sites, especially those with an interest in coastal defence or wartime archaeology. The positions offer a sobering reminder of how close invasion felt in 1940, when Somerset's beaches were lined with barbed wire and tank traps.

Access is free and unrestricted - they're simply there on the beach and clifftops, weathering away slowly. Allow an hour to explore properly, combining a visit with a walk along Burnham's seafront. The site works well as part of a seaside break, with Channel View Touring Park and Warren Farm Holiday Centre both within easy reach of these coastal fortifications.