Plough Point Farm

Proximity to Poole should put it top of the to-do list during stays… It’s 15 minutes’ drive to the Dorset seaside town, where museums open the door to the past (and to pretty walled gardens), luck can be tested at the casino, peaceful afternoons can be had with leisurely floats on the boating lake, and higher-octane days are within reach at Splashdown Waterpark. Less controlled watery days are a cinch too, with a ferry crossing from Poole to Brownsea Island, the National Trust-managed nature reserve in Poole Harbour, where there’s birdwatching and wildlife spotting, lots of trails to follow, and an open-air theatre when something a little more cultural appeals. If Poole’s museums sparked interest in history-filled adventures, there’s plenty else hereabouts to entertain: within 20 minutes, Bovington Tank Museum offers a glimpse into armoured warfare since World War I, the stunning Kingston Lacy is ready for explores, Hardy’s Cottage gives an insight into the early writings of Thomas Hardy, and the medieval falconry and quests of Corfe Castle await. For more urban days, Bournemouth and Dorchester are both about half an hour away. Visit the former for seven miles of sandy beaches and an aquarium, and the latter for the Tutankhamun exhibition and Terracotta Warrior museum, plus loads more.