Marsh Mill

Standing tall against the Lancashire skyline like a proper beacon, this 18th-century windmill catches your eye long before you reach Fleetwood. The white tower rises from flat farmland, its sails long gone but the structure itself remarkably intact for something built in 1794.

What you get here is essentially a well-preserved piece of industrial heritage that tells the story of when wind power actually meant something practical. The mill ground corn for the local community for over a century, and while you can't go inside these days, the exterior alone is worth the short detour from the coast.

Photography enthusiasts will love the stark contrast between the white tower and whatever mood the Lancashire weather decides to throw at it. Families might find it a decent pit stop rather than a destination - there's not masses to occupy restless kids beyond a quick look and perhaps a picnic on the surrounding grass.

Being just outside Fleetwood, it fits nicely into a coastal holiday based at places like Haven Marton Mere or Newton Hall. The mill sits right off the main road, so you can easily combine it with a trip to Fleetwood's markets or the ferry to the Isle of Man.

Ten minutes is probably enough unless you're particularly keen on mill architecture, but it's free to view from the outside and makes for a pleasant countryside contrast to all that seaside fun.