Bridport

Saturday mornings here feel properly West Country. Markets spill across the streets while locals chat about rope-making - this town's been weaving hemp and flax for centuries, and you can still sense that industrial heritage in the sturdy Georgian buildings lining the main streets.

Bridport sits just two miles inland from West Bay, giving you the best of both worlds without the coastal crowds. The town itself has a relaxed, slightly bohemian feel - independent shops, decent pubs, and that lovely Sou'-Sou'-West Art Gallery tucked away if you fancy browsing local work. It's the sort of place where you can grab proper provisions and have a wander without fighting through tourist hordes.

The real draw here is the landscape. Thorncombe Beacon and Allington Hill offer cracking walks with views stretching to the coast, while Colmer's Hill - that distinctive conical peak you'll spot from miles around - makes for a proper afternoon climb. The countryside rolls away in all directions, dotted with villages like Symondsbury with its grand estate.

Getting here's straightforward enough. The A35 runs right past, connecting you to Dorchester and beyond, while West Bay's harbour and beach are barely ten minutes down the road. Staying at one of the nearby parks like Golden Cap Holiday Park or Freshwater Beach Holiday Park puts you right in the thick of Dorset's finest walking country, with the Jurassic Coast on your doorstep and proper market town life within easy reach.