Predannick Anti-Aircraft Battery

You're standing on a windswept Cornish clifftop where the Second World War suddenly feels rather less distant than it should. Predannick Anti-Aircraft Battery is a restored gun emplacement that tells the story of how locals prepared to repel a German invasion that never came. The site centres on a reconstructed searchlight position and anti-aircraft gun, with the original concrete foundations still visible across the exposed headland. What makes it work is the sheer isolation of the place - you can almost feel the tension that must have gripped the crews stationed here during the dark nights of the Blitz.

Historians will spend a good couple of hours picking through the details, but families with younger children might find it a bit lean after thirty minutes or so. There's not much in the way of interactive bits, and the weather can turn nasty fast on the cliffs. Helston is your nearest town if you need supplies or a proper cup of tea afterwards.

Don't expect a polished visitor centre - this is more archaeology than theatre. That's rather its charm, though. The walk across the battery gives you proper views across the bay, which alone makes the trip worthwhile whether or not you're particularly bothered about the military history. Henry's Camp Site sits just a couple of miles away, making this an easy add-on during a coastal holiday. Go when the wind's not doing its worst.