Stoney Down Plantation Camping

History buffs are well served round here: two National Trust sites – a pretty 18th-century cornmill called White Mill, and the palatial Kingston Lacy House and Gardens – are within 15 minutes’ drive, Bovington Tank Museum is about half an hour from base, and Stonehenge is an hour away. Closer at hand, the Saxon church of Wimborne Minster (10 minutes) is well worth a visit: a church has sat on this site for more than 1,300 years, and the present version houses one of the world’s last surviving chained libraries. Stick around Wimborne at weekends to visit the largest undercover market in the south of England, where there are stalls bursting with food, flowers, jewellery, antiques and collectables. Move on then to Poole (15 minutes away), Europe’s largest natural harbour, to nab a berth on boat tours to spy out dolphins or to visit Brownsea Island for more wildlife watching. Fancy seeing some less sea-bound animals instead? Monkey World Ape Rescue Centre is 25 minutes from base.