Vurlands Animal Farm

Vurlands Animal Farm sits just outside Dorchester and is the sort of place that works brilliantly if you've got restless kids and need a few hours sorted. You'll find the usual suspects - goats, sheep, rabbits, that sort of thing - plus some less common animals depending on what they're keeping at the time. It's hands-on in the way farm attractions tend to be, so children can get close to the animals rather than viewing them from a distance.

The farm is best suited to families with younger children, probably up to age ten or so. Once they hit their teens, most will find it a bit basic. Allow two to three hours if you're not rushing, though you can do it quicker if the weather turns. Go mid-week if possible - weekends get busier and the appeal drops when there's a queue of other families.

Practical details are thin on the ground (the website isn't currently live), so ring ahead before you go or check their social media. Admission is likely modest but confirm costs when you call. It works well as a half-day activity between staying at somewhere like Litton Lakes or Freshwater Beach Holiday Park, both within easy reach of Dorchester. Combined with a walk around the town itself or a drive out to the Jurassic Coast, it slots into a decent family week without feeling like the main event.