Weymouth

Georgian terraces sweep down to a sandy bay where donkeys still plod along the shore come summer. Weymouth keeps the seaside holiday spirit alive - proper old-school British with its promenade arcades and fish and chip shops, but there's sophistication here too in the restored harbour and smart waterfront restaurants. The 2012 Olympics sailing events put this Dorset resort back on the map, though locals will tell you it never really left.

Sandy beaches stretch for miles, with the main strand getting properly busy on sunny weekends. Head west to Bowleaze Cove for a quieter spot, or east towards Preston Beach where families spread out with more room to breathe. The harbour area buzzes with activity - fishing boats alongside pleasure craft, and some cracking seafood restaurants that know their way around a crab sandwich.

Beyond town, the Jurassic Coast unfolds in all directions. Came Down Golf Club offers 18 holes with views across Weymouth Bay, while the ancient Chalbury Hill Fort provides a proper walk with Iron Age earthworks to explore. Max Gate, Thomas Hardy's former home, sits just inland - the novelist knew this landscape intimately and wrote about it beautifully.

Getting here couldn't be simpler. Direct trains run from London Waterloo in under three hours, terminating at Weymouth station right by the harbour. Dorchester, the county town, lies just eight miles north with excellent rail connections and that unmistakable Hardy country atmosphere.

Staying at one of the nearby holiday parks makes perfect sense. Haven Weymouth Bay sits practically on the beach, while Bowleaze Cove Holiday Park offers that spa touch after days exploring the coast. The parks provide an ideal base for day trips along this stunning stretch of coastline without the hassle of town centre parking.