West Bay Holiday Park

Dorset apple cake with clotted cream, spankingly fresh seafood, organic cheeses, sumptuous ice cream, lipsmacking local ales - no wonder so many people flock to Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall’s old stamping ground. The first River Cottage TV shows were filmed at his smallholding near West Bay Holiday Park, where guests are perfectly placed to make the most of the farmers’ markets, restaurants and brewery tours in the pretty neighbouring town of Bridport on Dorset's Jurassic Coast.

Don’t forget your bucket and spade: you can walk straight through the gates of the holiday park into West Bay’s scenic harbour and onto the stunning beach which goes on for miles. There’s no shortage of things to do on site either: wallowing about in the indoor pool, which has a separate toddlers’ pool with a slide, as well as a full-sized flume; bike hire; nature trails; eclectic activities for preschoolers to teens in the well-organised kids’ clubs; a great adventure playground with a climbing wall; amusements, and free evening entertainment for the whole family in the Riverside Club.

Most of the pitches for tents and tourers come with electric hook-up, and there are good basic amenities (launderette, shop and off licence, cash machine) as well as an onsite bar and café with harbour views if you tire of the washing up.