The Maunsell Sea Forts

KarlH's picture

Location

Thames estuary 
United Kingdom
51° 27' 51.66" N, 0° 58' 16.7412" E
GB
General info: 

During the WWII, British army built small fortified towers along the Thames and Mersey estuaries in order to protect the United Kingdom from German invasion. These forts were the first line of defence, but after the war they stopped being important for the military. In the mid-fifties the British army decided that they no longer needed the forts and left them behind.

The winds and waves did nothing to the forts as they were built to endure much harder conditions. Today, these over 70-years- old structures are a symbol of defiance to invaders. Many famous artists get their inspiration from the Maunsell forts. For example, the band ‘Prodigy’ featured them in the video for their hit ‘Invadors Must Die’.

Getting there: 

The Maunsell Sea Fortrs are located in the estuaries of the rivers Thames and Mersey. There are companies organizing boat tours to see the fortrs, for example http://x-pilot.co.uk/services.htm.

On a clear day you can also see the forts from Shoeburyness East Beach.

Costs: 

Price info for the tours not available.

Interesting places nearby

The Simmental - Diemtigtal valley contains several ski areas. The first and largest at Wiriehorn has 15 KM of trails and a five kilometre (just over three mile) sledge run.

BASE: 1000ft
SUMMIT: 1900ft
VERTICAL DROP: 0ft

NO. OF. LIFTS: 5
Gondolas: 0
Chairs: 1
Surface: 6

The slopes in the ski area Disentis 3000 are well-groomed and very diverse. Most of the pistes are rather steep but still not too demanding. A 12 km long slope starting at the Péz Ault spans 1700 m of altitude.

Doucy Combelouvière has been carefully designed respecting the village tradition of regrouping chalet-style buildings around a central square making it the focal point of the resort.

Schetteregg is a well-known, snow-secure and family-friendly ski resort, belonging to the village of Egg in the Bregenzerwald. Powerful lifts, prepared trails for amateurs and pros, reduced rates for groups and pupils.

BASE: 4035ft
SUMMIT: 7217ft
VERTICAL DROP: 3182ft

NO. OF. LIFTS: 4
Gondolas: 1
Chairs: 2
Surface: 4