Telescope

Standing on the cliffs just outside Bridlington, there's a proper telescope that gives you a proper look at what's actually out there on the North Sea and along the Yorkshire coast. On a clear day - and you need to pick your weather carefully here - you can spot shipping lanes, spot lighthouses, and if you're lucky, catch sight of the chalk cliffs stretching away towards Flamborough Head. The instruction plaques tell you what you're looking at, which saves the guesswork.

It's the sort of thing that appeals mainly to walkers and geography types rather than families with restless kids, though younger ones might enjoy scanning the horizon for ships. Most people spend ten minutes here maximum, combining it with a clifftop stroll rather than making a special trip. The real value comes if you're staying at one of the nearby caravan parks - South Shore Holiday Park is barely half a mile away, and Haven Thornwick Bay is just over three miles down the coast. From those bases, a morning walk along the cliff path with a stop at the telescope gives you purpose without effort.

It's free to use and accessible whenever you're passing, which means no hassle with opening times or admission fees. Works best in autumn and winter when the air tends to be clearer and the light sits lower. Summer can feel a bit hazy, and weekends bring the coastal crowds. If you're in the area for a week's holiday, it's worth twenty minutes of your time. Don't detour specially for it though.