Colmers Coppice

The woods around Colmers Coppice offer proper woodland walking without the crowds you'd find at some of Dorset's more famous spots. It's dense, quiet forest with decent paths that'll take you through a mix of evergreens and deciduous trees - the sort of place where you actually hear birds rather than just spot the occasional walker.

This is woodland walking at its most straightforward. There's no visitor centre, no café, no facilities to speak of. You turn up, you walk, you leave. Some people will find that refreshing. Others might want a bit more structure. The coppice works well if you're camped nearby - it's only a few miles from Weymouth and close enough to Chesil Beach Lodge Park and Haven Littlesea if you fancy breaking up a beach holiday with some forest time.

Allow between one and two hours depending on how far you fancy going. The paths are manageable for families with older kids, though buggies would be a real struggle. It's free, which helps. Winter's actually the better time to walk here - fewer flies, less mud, and you can see further through the trees.

If you're staying at one of the coastal parks and want to escape the beach for a morning, it does the job. It won't be the highlight of your trip, but it's a solid option when you need a change of scenery without driving far from Weymouth.