Top Corner Camping

Animal-mad kids will probably go potty for the cute alpacas at neighbouring Petlake Alpaca Farm (five minutes’ walk), where you can accompany the beasts on their daily exercise. Elsewhere, there are rare snow leopards and Amur tigers to encounter at Marwell Zoo (25 minutes), and otters, badgers and deer at New Forest Wildlife Park (10 minutes). You’ll find an altogether different sort of animal at Paultons Park Home of Peppa Pig World (10 minutes), with kids’ rides themed around the pink cartoon pig. Longing to feel sand beneath your feet? Head for Lymington beaches (half an hour) or the sandy stretch and amusements on the pier in Bournemouth (35 minutes). Poole’s beaches include the manicured Sandbanks (50 minutes) and dunes at Studland (an hour). Mix in a bit of history with a visit to the Tudor-era Mary Rose flagship at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard (35 minutes), or learn about the story of Southampton and ‘The Titanic’ at the innovative Sea City Museum (35 minutes). For transport on dry land, head to the National Motor Museum, Beaulieu (20 minutes) and its superb collection of vehicles from across the ages.