Greenhill Gardens

The gardens sit on a slope overlooking Weymouth, and on a clear day you can see right across the bay. It's the sort of place that rewards a lazy afternoon rather than a rushed visit - benches scattered about, decent views, and enough planted beds to keep you pottering for a couple of hours without feeling you've missed anything crucial.

Greenhill Gardens works best for older visitors and anyone after a gentle stroll. The gradient is a bit steep in places, so it's not ideal if you're pushing a buggy or managing mobility issues. Children will get bored after half an hour unless they're the sort who enjoy spotting plants and sitting quietly, which, let's be honest, most aren't.

Finding exact opening times or admission fees proved tricky - you'll want to ring ahead or check when you arrive in Melcombe Regis. The gardens are close enough to Weymouth's holiday parks that you could easily include them in a morning's wandering before heading back to Bowleaze Cove or Haven Seaview for lunch. If you're staying at Chesil Beach Lodge Park further out, it's worth the short drive.

The real draw is the setting rather than rare horticulture. Locals use it as a quiet spot to escape the seafront bustle, and that's probably the best frame of mind to visit in. Go early or late in the day when the light's decent and the crowds have cleared. Proper worthwhile if you're in the area, but don't plan your whole holiday around it.