Headon Warren National Trust

The cliffs at Headon Warren rise up dramatic and crumbly, striped with layers of rust and ochre that tell you this bit of the Isle of Wight has been battling the sea for millennia. It's a National Trust nature reserve, which means the walking trails are well-tended but feel genuinely wild - no over-engineered paths here, just proper countryside that happens to be owned and looked after properly.

What you're really coming for is the geology and the birds. The exposed cliffs are a textbook of the Tertiary period, and if you're into that sort of thing, you'll spend hours picking out the different strata. Walkers get a cracking spot with views that stretch across the Solent, and the paths loop round without being taxing. It's not a place to rush through in twenty minutes - allow a good two hours if you want to actually explore the reserve and maybe sit with a flask overlooking the water.

Totland Bay is just over the road, so you're never far from a café or a pub when you're done. The nearby holiday parks - The Bay Colwell is barely a mile away, and Heathfield Farm Camping Park at 1.6 miles - make this an easy morning or afternoon slot alongside beach time or exploring the island's other coastal spots. It's free to wander, which is proper value. Come when it's not hammering with rain, because the paths get muddy fast, and bring binoculars if you're keen on birdwatching. This is the kind of reserve that rewards a slow walk and a bit of attention.