My interest in forts, bunkers and castles is well-documented, and recently I managed to squeeze in a visit to another place of interest that falls into this category. Somehow, it is both fort and castle, as Hurst Castle on the south coast was initially a Tudor dwelling, converted into a sea defending fort during the war. The castle is at the end of long shingle walkway that takes it out of you if you try and walk it. Well, so I’m told. Naturally, I took a boat.

What I love most about forts is there are just so many nooks and crannies. There are so many places to hide, and thus so many to investigate. I was dashing down the paths, up and down stairs, in and out of rooms, some of which were dark and quite intimidating. Never has my iPhone torchlight come in handy quite so much.

Some of the rooms have been converted to displays about the local lighthouse heritage association, but I was more interested in those that had been left mostly alone. The underground theatre, the shower block, particularly the gunpowder room – a huge dark circular room at the bottom of a dank staircase.

Then of course, at the top, you’ve got the lookout towers and some pretty impressive views. Looking across the fort, you get a really clear idea of the juxtaposition of old and new (or old and not quite so old), where the stone castle meets the brick fort. So many great lines and corners, just truly a joy to behold.