Wareham

Two rivers converge here, the Frome and Piddle, creating a proper Saxon stronghold that's managed to keep its medieval walls largely intact. Wareham sits like a jewel box in the middle of the Purbeck Peninsula, its Georgian facades hiding centuries of stories behind every door.

The town square feels wonderfully unchanged on market days. You'll find the Baden-Powell First Camp Memorial tucked away - this is where Scouting began, after all. More atmospheric still is the ancient Rempstone Stone Circle, a short walk across the heathland that feels like stepping back millennia.

What makes this place special is its position. You're 20 minutes from Swanage's beaches, half an hour from Corfe Castle, yet surrounded by the wild beauty of Wareham Forest and the Purbeck Hills. The heathland stretches for miles - proper Thomas Hardy country this, all gorse and rolling downs.

Brands Bay at Goathorn offers some of the finest views across Poole Harbour, especially at sunset when the water turns molten gold. It's a bit of a trek on foot, but well worth it for photographers.

Getting here couldn't be easier - the train from London Waterloo takes just over two hours, with regular services throughout the day. From Poole it's a quick 20-minute hop on the branch line.

Staying at one of the nearby parks makes perfect sense. You're ideally placed for day trips to Swanage, Corfe Castle, or Lulworth Cove, yet can retreat to the tranquil heathland each evening. The surrounding countryside offers brilliant cycling and walking, with footpaths threading through ancient woodland and across open downs that seem to go on forever.