Boat Knoll

Boat Knoll isn't much to look at on the map, but it's the sort of hill that rewards the modest effort. Near Wareham, this modest Dorset peak gives you proper views across the Isle of Purbeck without requiring the scramble you'd face at higher spots inland. The walk from the nearest car parks takes the better part of an hour there and back, depending on where you start, and the paths are well-trodden rather than technically tricky.

It's genuinely worth doing if you're camping in the area - the local sites like West Holme Glamping and Luckford Wood are close enough that you can knock this out before lunch. Kids will manage the climb without complaint, though it's not a destination that'll keep them entertained for hours once they're up top. The real appeal is the walk itself rather than some grand vista at the summit. You get decent Purbeck countryside, the kind of pastoral sprawl that makes Dorset tick, and on a clear day you can see properly far.

Go early or mid-week if you can. Weekends bring the usual mix of local walkers and families stretching their legs. There's something satisfying about tackling it as part of a broader ramble rather than treating it as the main event. Allow a couple of hours if you're going slowly, grab lunch back in Wareham afterwards. It's the sort of walk that doesn't photograph brilliantly, which means fewer people and more peace.