Wytch Wood Camping

If you visit Forde Abbey House and Gardens (20 minutes’ drive), be sure to file past the priceless 16th-century Mortlake Tapestries, based on sketches by Raphael and woven in Brussels, before heading outside. The award-winning gardens are dotted with colourful camellia bushes and benches from which to take in the seasonal highlights. Fancy a day at the seaside? The Jurassic Coast (40 minutes) beckons – not only with swimming beaches, watersports and the South West Coast Path, but also with imposing rock formations like Durdle Door, a natural arch jutting out into the sea. And, of course, there is the area’s archaeological heritage: the beaches between Lyme Regis and Charmouth are particularly popular with fossil hunters. From Aston Martins to Williams Formula One cars, there’s plenty to see at Haynes Motor Museum (50 minutes), where displays explore different eras and themes. Are you into brightly coloured vehicles? Head to the Red Room first (though there’s plenty of red in the Ferrari exhibition, too). There’s also a collection of speedway motorcycles.