Valley of Stones National Nature Reserve

The Valley of Stones is one of those places that makes you stop and actually look at what's in front of you. Near Portesham in Dorset, this reserve is essentially a dry valley carved out of the chalk downland - all loose stones underfoot, sparse vegetation, and a strange sort of bleakness that somehow works. It's not dramatic in the postcard sense, but it grows on you.

You're walking through what geologists reckon was formed during the last ice age when the ground was frozen solid. The stones litter the valley floor in a way that feels almost chaotic, and the whole thing has an otherworldly quality that photographs don't quite capture. There's something rather moving about the sheer emptiness of it.

Walkers will get the most from this one - it's not a spectator sport, you have to be on your feet to appreciate it properly. Families with young kids might find it becomes repetitive after a bit, but those interested in geology or anyone after a proper ramble across open downland will find it worth the journey. The reserve is free to access and you can spend anywhere from an hour to a half-day here depending on how thoroughly you explore.

If you're staying at Litton Lakes nearby, it's a decent afternoon outing. The landscape is quite different from the parkland setting, so it adds variety to a Dorset break. Go when it's not raining - the stones become treacherous underfoot otherwise.