Sheerness Promenade

The seafront at Sheerness stretches for a proper mile, and it's the kind of place that rewards a slow meander rather than a quick tick-off. The promenade itself is straightforward - a wide paved path with the shingle beach on one side and Victorian-era amusement arcades, fish and chip shops, and a handful of gift shops on the other. The pier, though no longer the grand affair it once was, still cuts out into the Thames estuary and offers decent views back toward the Kent coast.

What makes it work is the unpretentious, slightly faded character. There are no Instagram moments here, no manicured gardens. Instead you get the real thing: an old seaside town that hasn't been sanitised into submission. Families with young kids will find the amusement arcades keep them entertained for an hour or so, and the beach is fine for paddling. Walkers get a level, easy route that takes about 45 minutes end to end without rushing. History buffs might be disappointed - there's less heritage interpretation than you'd hope for.

If you're staying at Sheerness Holiday Park, which sits right on the seafront, or at Ashcroft Coast Holiday Park just three miles west, the promenade is your obvious evening stroll. Shurland Dale Holiday Park, a bit further afield, makes it worth the drive back into town. Go on a clear day and time it for late afternoon when the light improves. Free to wander, naturally. Allow two hours if you're making an evening of it with chips and an ice cream.