Fossil Forest, Dorset

The Fossil Forest lies on the Dorset coast near West Lulworth, where 140-million-year-old tree stumps rise from the rocky foreshore like some ancient graveyard. These petrified logs are the real deal - actual Jurassic specimens frozen in time, exposed by the relentless action of the sea on the cliffs above.

What you actually get is a geological treasure hunt along the beach. The stumps sit at the base of the cliffs, and you'll spot them scattered across the rocks at low tide - weathered, fascinating, and genuinely old. It's not a visitor centre or manicured attraction; it's raw geology on display. Most people spend 45 minutes to an hour here, poking about and taking photographs.

History enthusiasts will find this proper rewarding. Walkers tackling the coastal path will pass through anyway. Kids under ten sometimes find it underwhelming - a bunch of rocks, after all - but older children interested in dinosaurs and deep time tend to get hooked. Families staying at Durdle Door Holiday Park, just 1.5 miles away, often combine this with a wider beach walk.

Timing matters. Go at low tide or you'll miss half the stumps. The rocks are slippery when wet, so proper footwear is essential. It's free, naturally. There's no car park right here, so you'll park in West Lulworth and walk down - fifteen minutes on foot, pleasant enough. On a sunny day with time to spare, it's absolutely worth the detour. On a rainy afternoon with restless toddlers? Give it a miss.