Arne Hill

Walking to the top takes about 20 minutes from the car park at the RSPB Arne reserve, and the views across Poole Harbour are properly spectacular on a clear day. This modest 161-metre hill might not set any altitude records, but its position on the peninsula gives you sweeping panoramas that feel much grander than the effort required.

Families with older children will enjoy the climb - it's steep enough to feel like an achievement but not so challenging that anyone gets genuinely knackered. The path winds through heathland where you might spot deer if you're quiet, and the final scramble over the rocks at the summit is good fun for kids who like a bit of adventure.

Coming here works brilliantly if you're staying at Haven Rockley Park or any of the other holiday parks around Poole. The hill sits within the RSPB reserve, so there's plenty more to explore if the weather's decent - though honestly, the view from the top is the main event. Allow a couple of hours for the round trip if you want to take your time and maybe spot some wildlife.

Best visited in the morning when the light's better for photography, and definitely worth combining with a walk around the wider Arne peninsula. Just don't expect mountain-level drama - this is gentle Dorset countryside at its most agreeable.