Dunes

The sand dunes here stretch back from Swanage's beach in proper undulating fashion, a genuine slice of coastal habitat that most visitors completely miss while they're queuing for ice cream. Walking through them feels like stepping into a different landscape entirely - marram grass rattles in the wind, the ground shifts underfoot, and suddenly the busy seafront feels miles away. It's a nature reserve, so things are left fairly wild: you'll spot birds, the occasional lizard if you're lucky, and plenty of evidence that this is working land rather than a manicured attraction.

You're looking at an hour or two of wandering, depending on how much you want to explore. Families with young children might manage thirty minutes before restlessness sets in; older kids and adults who actually like walking will find genuine interest in seeing how the dunes are being managed and what's living in them. There's no visitor centre or facilities to speak of, which means it's free but also means you should bring water and sun cream.

The real value here is that it breaks up a beach holiday properly. You can base yourself at Ulwell Holiday Park - just over two miles away - and use the dunes as a between-activities stop rather than a full day out. It works best out of peak season when there's room to breathe. In summer holidays, it's pleasant enough but loses something when it's rammed with families. Worth the detour from a caravan park, definitely. Worth planning your whole day around it? Probably not.