Gad Cliff

The walk up to Gad Cliff takes proper effort, but the reward is a dramatic stretch of Purbeck coastline that feels genuinely wild. You're standing on sandstone cliffs with views across Poole Harbour, and on a clear day the scale of it hits you - you can see right across to the Isle of Wight. It's less polished than some Dorset viewpoints, which is exactly why it works.

The approach is steep in places and can be muddy after rain, so decent shoes are essential. Allow at least an hour for the walk and views, longer if you're the type to sit and stare for a bit. It's free, naturally - just park near Wareham and make your way to the cliff edge. Bring a jacket; it gets windy up there even when it's calm below.

This is genuinely walker territory rather than a casual drive-and-point affair. Families with older kids will manage fine, though younger ones might find the walk tedious. If you're camping nearby - West Holme Glamping and Luckford Wood are both within a few miles - it makes a brilliant morning mission before breakfast. The light here is particularly good in late afternoon, so plan accordingly.

It's not Instagram-famous like Durdle Door, which means you might have it largely to yourself. That's the whole appeal. The cliffs themselves are impressive enough, but the sense of being somewhere less trampled-over gives Gad Cliff real character. Worth the drive out of Wareham.