Weymouth

The golden arc of sand stretches for miles, backed by Georgian terraces that catch the morning light like a stage set. Weymouth's main beach is proper old-school seaside - donkey rides, Punch and Judy, the lot. But there's more substance here than just bucket-and-spade nostalgia.

Weymouth sits where Dorset's countryside meets the English Channel, with the Jurassic Coast rolling away in both directions. The town itself has two faces: the tourist-friendly seafront with its pastel-painted houses, and the working harbour where fishing boats still land their catch. Both have their appeal.

Beyond the beach, Weymouth Golf Club offers cracking views across Weymouth Bay, while Bennetts Water Gardens provides a peaceful contrast to the seafront bustle. The town's compact enough to explore on foot, though the hill up from the harbour to the old town will get your heart pumping.

Chesil Beach, that extraordinary 18-mile pebble bank, lies just west of town. It's one of Britain's most unusual geological features - worth the short drive for the sheer strangeness of it. The Fleet lagoon behind it is brilliant for birdwatching.

Getting here is straightforward enough. The train from London takes around three hours, or it's a scenic two-hour drive from the M25. Dorchester's the nearest big town, just eight miles inland.

Staying at one of the nearby parks makes perfect sense. You're close enough to nip into town for fish and chips or a harbour-side pint, but far enough out to enjoy Dorset's countryside properly. Chesil Beach Lodge Park gets particularly good reviews from visitors who appreciate its location near that famous pebble ridge.