Bridport

The Saturday market draws crowds to the wide streets, where rope-making once ruled supreme and still threads through the town's identity. Bridport's industrial heritage runs deep - this was where Nelson's navy got its cordage, and the tradition of twisting fibres into something stronger still echoes in the independent shops and creative businesses that line East Street and West Street today.

West Bay, just a couple of miles south, provides the seaside drama with its towering sandstone cliffs and harbour that doubled as Broadchurch's fictional setting. The contrast works brilliantly - market town pragmatism meets coastal spectacle. Those familiar golden cliffs at West Bay are properly impressive, though the beach itself gets packed in summer.

Inland, the landscape opens into some of Dorset's finest walking country. Mapperton House, Gardens & Wildlands sits in a valley that feels almost secretive, while the South Poorton Nature Reserve and Loscombe Nature Reserve offer quieter spots for spotting wildlife. Coltleigh Hill rewards the climb with views across the Brit Valley, and on clear days you can see right to the coast.

The town itself has kept its working character. Rather refreshing, actually - it's not gone down the twee route that some Dorset towns have taken. Hugo Grenville Studio shows off local artistic talent, and the whole place feels properly lived-in rather than preserved in aspic.

Bridport sits on the A35, making it easily reached from Dorchester or Yeovil. The nearby holiday parks make sense as a base - you're close enough to walk into town for the Saturday market or evening meal, yet positioned perfectly for exploring both the Jurassic Coast and the rolling countryside that stretches north towards Somerset.