Parkstone Yacht Haven

The water at Parkstone Yacht Haven is what catches you first - impossibly calm, lined with white hulls bobbing gently against their moorings. It's a working marina just outside Poole, the kind of place where serious sailors actually keep their boats rather than somewhere tourists are shepherded through in groups.

You can walk the pontoons for free, watching the activity - boats coming and going, the occasional bit of shouting about tides and diesel, people actually doing something rather than just being somewhere. The setting is genuinely peaceful, especially in the quieter corners where you're just surrounded by water and the creak of rigging. It's worth an hour of your time if you're staying nearby, though it's not a full afternoon attraction.

Families with kids old enough not to run off the edge will find it interesting enough. The real draw is for anyone with even mild nautical leanings - there's something oddly satisfying about watching people maintain their boats and slip out into open water. Bring proper shoes; the pontoons get slick.

If you're based at Ulwell Holiday Park, just down the coast, this makes a straightforward morning wander before heading to Poole itself. Go when it's not raining - the marina loses its appeal in heavy weather. Allow 45 minutes unless you get chatting to someone, which is entirely possible. There's no café on site, so plan accordingly.