Lulworth Cove Viewpoint

The car park fills up fast, especially on weekends, but once you've walked the fifteen minutes or so down to the viewpoint itself, you'll understand why everyone makes the trek. Lulworth Cove spreads out in front of you like someone's drawn a perfect semicircle with a compass - golden cliffs forming an almost mathematically precise horseshoe around turquoise water that shifts colour depending on the light. It's genuinely striking, even if you've seen photos a hundred times before.

For families, this works well if your kids are reasonably keen walkers. The path is straightforward, not particularly steep, and the payoff is immediate - they'll get why you've dragged them out. Photographers will want to stay for an hour at least, chasing different angles and light. History buffs might find the geology more interesting than the cove itself; the exposed rock faces tell a proper story of the Earth's movements if you know how to read them.

The viewpoint is free, and there's no particular time restriction, though you'll want to go early to bag a parking space. Arrive before 10am in summer or risk a lengthy queue. West Lulworth village sits right nearby with a few cafes if you need a post-walk coffee.

If you're based at Durdle Door Holiday Park just up the road, this is an easy addition to a coastal walk - you could combine it with the Durdle Door arch itself and cover some decent ground. Don't expect solitude, but the view justifies the company.