Big Wood

Big Wood is a proper woodland walk just outside Wareham, the sort of place where you can actually breathe properly after spending time in the town itself. The forest is dense enough to feel like you've escaped into something genuinely wild, with towering trees that block out most of the sky and woodland paths that fork off in all directions. It's free to explore, which means you can spend as long as you like wandering the trails without worrying about entry fees.

For families with kids aged five and up, this works well - there's enough space to let them run about without losing sight of them, and the uneven ground keeps everyone engaged. Dog walkers absolutely love it here, and it's the sort of place where you'll bump into locals doing their regular circuits. The canopy provides decent shelter when the Dorset drizzle arrives, which it often does.

Allow a couple of hours minimum if you want to explore properly, longer if you're the dawdling type. There's no café or facilities inside, so bring what you need. The nearby holiday parks - Litton Lakes is closest at under four miles - make Big Wood a genuinely useful half-day stop when you're based in the area. It breaks up the park routine nicely without requiring much planning. Go on a quieter weekday morning if you can, when you might have the place almost to yourself.