The Italian Garden, Compton Acres

Compton Acres sits on the cliffs above Poole Harbour, and the Italian Garden is the jewel in its crown. Terraced beds drop down the slope in proper Mediterranean style - cypress-shaped conifers, stone urns, gravel paths lined with agapanthus and box hedging. It's all very orderly, very Continental, and oddly it works on the Dorset coast.

You're looking at a formal garden designed in the early 20th century, when wealthy folk could actually commission this sort of thing without flinching at the bill. The bones are solid - sweeping views over the harbour, seasonal colour that shifts from spring bulbs through to late summer dahlias, and enough stone archways to keep photographers happy for a good hour or so.

Walkers will enjoy it more than kids of primary school age. There's no playground, no gimmicks, just thoughtful planting and views. Allow 45 minutes to an hour, longer if you're actually interested in what grows where. It's not free - expect to pay for entry - and summer weekends can get properly rammed with tour groups.

The park sits nicely between Poole town and the holiday parks clustered nearby: Haven Rockley Park is just 4.6 miles away, Burnbake Forest Lodges a bit further at 5.2 miles. Both work well as bases if you're doing a proper Dorset break. The Italian Garden makes a decent half-morning stop rather than an all-day destination, but for anyone who genuinely loves formal gardens, it's worth the detour.