Naked Man

Standing prominently on a hillside near Cerne Abbas, this ancient figure carved into the chalk downs has been raising eyebrows for centuries. The Cerne Abbas Giant, more colloquially known as the Naked Man, measures 180 feet tall and leaves absolutely nothing to the imagination - his anatomical completeness is the stuff of legend and tourist snapshots.

Historians still debate his origins. Some reckon he's a Romano-British fertility symbol, others argue he's a more recent creation from the 17th century. What's certain is that he's bloody impressive when you finally spot him from the designated viewing area.

Families with teenagers will get a kick out of it, though parents might find themselves fielding some awkward questions from younger ones. The walk up to the best viewpoint is fairly gentle, taking about 20 minutes from the village car park. Local folklore claims that couples who, ahem, spend time within the figure's outline will be blessed with fertility - though the National Trust rather frowns upon such activities these days.

If you're staying at one of the New Forest holiday parks like Hoburne Bashley or the Centenary site, it's a proper day out combined with exploring Cerne Abbas village. The drive from New Milton takes about 45 minutes through lovely countryside. Allow a couple of hours total - there's not much else to do once you've seen him, but he's definitely worth the detour for the novelty factor alone.