Jungle Glade

The moment you spot Jungle Glade near Dorchester, it's clear someone's had a proper laugh creating this place. It's a quirky roadside attraction - part sculpture park, part eccentric garden - that sits somewhere between genuine art project and folk oddity. Think overgrown tropical fantasy meets rural Dorset, where concrete jungle cats prowl among the greenery and larger-than-life characters lurk in unexpected corners.

It works best for families with younger children who'll find the sheer strangeness of it all genuinely entertaining, or for adults who appreciate the slightly bonkers creativity on display. You're not looking at a major heritage site here - more a one-off diversion that raises a smile and makes for decent photos. Allow 30-45 minutes unless you're the type to examine every detail. Opening hours and admission details can be unclear, so ring ahead or check their presence online before making the trip.

If you're basing yourselves at one of the nearby parks - Litton Lakes is closest at just over three miles away, or Bagwell Farm a touch further - Jungle Glade makes a manageable half-hour detour from Dorchester itself. It's not essential, but it's exactly the kind of offbeat stop that breaks up a touring holiday nicely. Dorchester's got enough Roman and Hardy-related attractions to keep you occupied for a full day, so this slots in as a lighter, more daft companion piece to the heavier history nearby.