Milborne Port Library

The library in Milborne Port is a proper local affair - the kind of place where you pop in to browse the shelves rather than make a pilgrimage. Located between Sturminster Newton and the surrounding Dorset villages, it's a functioning community hub that won't blow your mind but does the job well enough if you're staying nearby.

Inside you'll find the usual array of fiction, non-fiction and reference materials, along with computers if you need internet access. There's a small local history section that occasionally throws up something interesting about the area - worth a quick dig if you're into that sort of thing. The staff know what they're doing and aren't the type to make you feel rushed.

Really, this works best as a rainy-day stop rather than a standalone destination. If you're camped at Starlight Glamping or based in Sturminster Newton, and the weather's turned grim, it's a sensible place to kill an hour. Readers will appreciate it more than most. Kids might get restless unless they're genuinely keen on books.

Admission is free, naturally. No need to book ahead - just turn up. Allow half an hour to an hour depending on whether you're browsing properly or just ducking out of the rain. It's the sort of place that rounds out a day rather than defines one, but that's no bad thing when you're on holiday and the clouds are heavy.