Mupe Bay

The walk down to Mupe Bay from the clifftop car park near West Lulworth takes about twenty minutes and honestly, it's worth every step. You're descending into a proper geological showcase - those golden and grey cliffs tell the story of Jurassic seas in a way no textbook can match. The beach itself is small, hemmed in by dramatic rock formations that jut out at angles that look almost man-made. Low tide reveals a decent stretch of sand and shallow pools that kids can potter about in for hours.

It's free to visit and you can spend as long as you like wandering the foreshore, scrambling over rocks, or just sitting with a flask watching the light change on the cliff face. The walk isn't strenuous but it's steep enough coming back up that you'll want decent footwear and a breather halfway. Allow three hours total if you're bringing a family.

Geology enthusiasts will be in heaven here - the rock formations are textbook stuff and the layers are visible enough that you can actually see what happened millions of years ago. It's less crowded than Durdle Door, which is just along the coast, and suits walkers who prefer a quieter afternoon to jostling for photos at famous spots.

Stay at Durdle Door Holiday Park just 2.3 miles away and you've got this entire section of the Jurassic Coast on your doorstep. Combine Mupe Bay with nearby Lulworth Cove and you've got a solid day sorted. Best visited out of school holidays when you might actually park without circling for twenty minutes.