Westwood Coppice

The woodland around Westwood Coppice, just inland from Bridport, is proper old-growth forest - the sort of place where you actually notice the quiet. Ancient oaks and beech trees create a proper canopy, and the floor is thick with leaf litter that softens every footstep. It's the kind of walk that feels a world away from the coast, even though you're only a couple of miles from town.

This is fundamentally a walker's spot. There are no visitor facilities to speak of, no cafe, no car park with a gift shop. You come here to be among the trees, to follow whatever paths appeal to you, to listen. Families with young kids might manage an hour or so before restlessness sets in, but older children and serious walkers will find genuine peace here. The forest floor can be muddy - go after dry weather if possible.

It costs nothing and it's open whenever you fancy turning up. Allow a couple of hours if you want to properly explore without rushing. Spring is lovely here, when the woodland floor erupts in bluebells and wild garlic, though autumn when the light comes sideways through the canopy is equally good.

If you're staying at one of the nearby glamping spots - Dorset Valley is closest at just over two miles - this makes an excellent morning walk before heading down to the Bridport beaches or exploring the coast further. It's the sort of place that doesn't photograph particularly well, which is precisely why it still feels undiscovered.