Lymington

Yachts bob against Georgian terraces while mud-slicked creeks wind into ancient saltmarshes. Lymington's got that proper maritime swagger - this is where sailing folk moor their Sunseeker motor cruisers alongside working oyster boats that have been plying these waters for generations.

The town sits at the mouth of the Lymington River, where the Solent stretches across to the Isle of Wight. Cobbled Quay Hill tumbles down to the harbour, lined with chandlers selling rope and brass fittings to weekend sailors. Saturday market day brings a cracking buzz to the High Street, though midweek it's wonderfully quiet for a proper browse.

Apple Court Gardens offers four acres of rare plants and specimen trees - well worth the short drive if you fancy escaping the maritime madness. Back in town, families make good use of Dudley Avenue Recreation Ground for a kickabout after fish and chips.

Lymington's the gateway to the New Forest's southern edge. Ancient woodlands roll right up to the town's doorstep, where wild ponies still wander freely. Those saltmarshes? They're part of a vast nature reserve that attracts serious birdwatchers.

Getting here's straightforward - the M27 delivers you within 10 minutes, and there's a direct rail line from London Waterloo via Southampton. Staying at one of the nearby holiday parks makes perfect sense. You're close enough for evening harbour strolls yet positioned to explore both the Forest's heathland and those glorious Solent waters.