Fontmell and Melbury Downs SAC

The chalk downland around Fontmell and Melbury rolls with that particular kind of English countryside that stops you mid-stride - all open grassland, steep valleys, and the sort of views that make the walk up worth the effort. This is a Special Area of Conservation, which means the wildlife folk take it seriously: the grassland here supports rare orchids, and if you're lucky you'll catch sight of chalk-hill blue butterflies in summer.

What you're doing is walking. There are no visitor facilities, no café, no car park with a kiosk - you're just turning up with decent boots and following the paths through proper wild downland. The terrain is unforgiving in places; the slopes are steep and sometimes slippery after rain. Allow a couple of hours if you want to do a decent loop from Shaftesbury, which sits just a few miles north.

History types will appreciate the Iron Age earthworks scattered across the ridges, though they're subtle enough that you need to know what you're looking at. Serious walkers and photographers absolutely get it here - the light at sunset is extraordinary, and on a clear day you can see for miles.

It's free, naturally, since it's common land. Best visited in spring for the wildflowers or early autumn when the light softens and the summer crowds have vanished. If you're basing yourself at Gold Hill Glamping or Chalke Valley Camping, this is proper walking territory - no theme parks, no attractions, just downland and silence.