Spyway car park (National Trust)

There's a car park near Swanage that's genuinely worth knowing about, even if it sounds daft to say so. Spyway is a National Trust holding that sits on the cliffs above this stretch of Dorset coast, and what makes it special isn't the tarmac - it's the views and the access it gives you to some proper coastal walking. You can arrive here, park up, and within minutes you're standing on clifftops looking out over the English Channel with Old Harry Rocks visible if the weather's clear. It's free to use and there's no faffing about with opening hours because it's an access point rather than a staffed attraction. The car park itself handles the overflow from busier spots around Swanage, so you'll often find it quieter than the seafront. Families with young children who don't fancy a long walk can sit here with a flask and binoculars for wildlife spotting - the cliffs are good for seabirds. Walkers use it as a jumping-off point for the South West Coast Path, which cuts through here heading east towards Studland and west towards Swanage itself. Allow thirty minutes to an hour if you're just stopping for views and a stretch, or half a day if you're committing to a proper walk. If you're camping at Swanage Bay View or Woodyhyde, both just down the road, this is an easy morning visit that costs nothing and delivers decent coastline without the crowds. Not Instagram-famous, not busy, and that's precisely why it works.