Sandhills Holiday Park

Stroll along the beach to the Victorian Highcliffe Castle a mile and a half along the sand for sightseeing and scones, or along the promenade to Mudeford Quay at the mouth of Christchurch Harbour to book a mackerel fishing trip or speedboat cruise; the Quay is well known for its sailing, windsurfing and dinghy championships and is the home of Highcliffe Sailing Club. The east side of Christchurch Harbour, Stanpit Marsh, is a Local Nature Reserve and the surrounding area will have ornithologists a-flutter: there have been over 320 bird species spotted in these parts, including sand martins nesting in the cliffs at nearby Hengistbury Head, part of a Site of Special Scientific Interest. In town, there’s a heady mixture of listed buildings, tasty restaurants and ye olde pubs to explore as well as regular music and food fairs and festivals throughout the year. There are other day – or two-day – trips to be had in nearby Bournemouth, the happiest town in the UK according to a 2007 survey: the Bournemouth Aviation Museum has plenty of exhibits to goggle at and there’s a four-day air show in the town each summer. Elsewhere there’s the Grade I listed St Peter’s Church – with the grave of Frankenstein writer Mary Shelley, the award-winning public park Central Gardens, and the chance to spot harried-looking politicians at their annual conferences at the Bournemouth International Centre. Not your thing? The BIC has plays and concerts throughout the year too. Ten miles inland from Bournemouth is the Moors Valley Country Park and Forest with a steam railway, walks, bike rides, and swinging through the trees at Go Ape! – although you’ll probably pass the theme park Adventure Wonderland en route for a several-hour delay. Or pootle coastwards to Poole for sparkling clean beaches and ferry services to France; the National Trust Corfe Castle is easily reached inland from here, or if you still want buckets and spades the resort of Swanage Beach is just along the coast.