Gegant de Cerne Abbas

You'll spot him from miles away - a 180-foot chalk giant carved into the hillside above the village of Cerne Abbas, just north of Dorchester. The figure is, well, anatomically explicit, which tends to get people talking. Nobody's entirely sure when he was cut into the chalk - theories range from the Iron Age to the 1600s - but he's become one of Dorset's most recognisable landmarks.

The walk up to him takes about fifteen minutes from the car park, and it's a proper leg-burner if you're not used to hills. Worth it though. From the top, you get sweeping views across the Dorset countryside, and on clear days you can see for miles. The figure itself is maintained by the National Trust, which means the chalk stays bright white and the whole thing remains visible from the surrounding villages.

Families with decent walkers will enjoy the hike and the bit of scandal attached to the place. History buffs might spend longer pondering the various theories about his origins. You won't need more than an hour unless you're stopping for a picnic at the top, which plenty of people do.

Gegant de Cerne Abbas works well as part of a wider Dorset ramble - Giants Head Caravan & Camping Park sits less than a mile away, making it an easy morning trip before heading elsewhere in the county. Free to visit, no entry fees, just bring decent boots and don't expect a cafe at the summit.