Askr Grange

Lively Bridport (10 minutes’ drive) is the spot for browsing antique shops, or bric-a-brac at the twice-weekly market (Wednesday and Saturday). If you’re travelling with kids, take them to Weymouth (45 minutes) to tour aquariums full of colourful fish at the SEA LIFE Centre and see ornate sand sculptures in Sandworld Weymouth. You can access the South West Coast Path in West Bay (15 minutes) for long-distance hikes along Dorset’s photogenic coastline, or venture south-east to scrunch along the shingle at Chesil Beach (40 minutes). Other seaside options include Charmouth (half an hour), where you can hunt for dinosaur fossils and climb to the top of Golden Cap cliffs for views along the Jurassic Coast. To get a taste for local Dorset produce, tour the original thatched premises at Palmers Brewery (10 minutes) and sample their cask ales, or try the brews at Dorset Nectar Cider, where you can also have a meander around the orchards. The owners at Furleigh Estate vineyards (both five minutes) produce sparkling wine and run tours from Thursday to Saturday.