Dorset Sunflower Trail at Maiden Castle Farm, Dorchester

A sprawling yellow sea of sunflowers stretches across Maiden Castle Farm just outside Upwey - it's one of those spots that photographs so well on Instagram that you half-expect it to be a letdown in person. It isn't. The trail winds through the flowers during peak season, usually July and August, and the scale of it catches you off guard. Proper stunning.

This is a working farm that opens its fields for the season, so it's not a formal attraction with visitor facilities or timetabled entry. You turn up, walk through, take your pictures. There's no charge that I'm aware of, though it's worth checking ahead as these things can change. Allow a good hour if you want to properly wander rather than just dash through for the photos. The paths are manageable even with younger kids, though the ground can get muddy after rain.

If you're camping nearby - and there's no shortage of options within five miles, from Haven Weymouth Bay to Green Valley Yurts - this fits nicely into a Dorset coastal break. It's far enough inland from the beach to give you something different during a week of seaside time, but close enough that you're not burning a full day getting there. Go mid-week if you can. Weekends get rammed with the Instagram crowd, and the magic gets a bit lost when you're queuing to get the perfect shot. Early morning light is cracking, mind you.