Mawbray Sandpit Tower (Coastal Tower 16b)

The concrete tower standing alone on the Cumbrian coast near Wigton is a relic most visitors drive straight past without a second glance. This is Coastal Tower 16b, part of a defensive chain built during the Second World War to guard against German invasion. The squat, functional structure sits on the mudflats of the Solway Firth, a blunt reminder that this quiet corner of England was once considered strategically vital.

What draws people here isn't the tower itself - it's modest and frankly a bit weathered - but the sheer oddity of finding such a thing in this remote spot. You can walk around it and contemplate the paranoia and engineering effort that went into Britain's coastal defences when invasion felt imminent. The surrounding landscape is flat, windswept, and atmospheric. Bring binoculars if you're interested in birdwatching; the mudflats attract plenty of interest for keen birders.

Historically minded visitors and military enthusiasts will find it worthwhile. Families with young children might feel it's a bit of an anticlimax after the drive. Allow 20-30 minutes unless you're really into wartime archaeology, then perhaps an hour. Access appears to be free and unrestricted, though you'll want to check tide times and ground conditions before heading out.

If you're based at North Lakes Country Park or Stanwix Park Holiday Centre nearby, this works as a quick diversion rather than a destination in itself. Pair it with coastal walks along the Solway or a visit to nearby Wigton for a fuller afternoon.