Imerys Pool

The abandoned Imerys Pool sits near Poole like something from a post-industrial fever dream. Once a working clay extraction site, it's now a striking body of water surrounded by chalk cliffs and bare earth - the kind of place that makes you stop and stare for longer than you'd expect. The water itself gleams an almost unnatural blue, framed by the raw white walls of the worked-out quarry. It's genuinely unusual for Dorset, where most of your scenery runs to gentle hills and hedgerows.

This isn't a manicured attraction. There's no café, no visitor centre, no one charging you a tenner to look at it. You just turn up and it's there, which is either refreshing or slightly eerie depending on your mood. Photography types will find plenty to work with - the contrast between industrial heritage and unexpected beauty catches the light differently through the day. Walkers appreciate it as a proper detour rather than a destination in itself; plan fifteen minutes to half an hour rather than building your day around it.

It works well alongside the holiday parks clustered around Wareham and Woodyhyde - close enough for a morning's exploration without eating up your whole day. Families with older kids find it interesting; younger ones might get bored quickly once they've clocked the view. Weather matters here. Overcast days flatten the drama; go when the sun's out and you'll understand why people bother making the trip at all.