Portland Bill Lighthouse Visitors Centre

The lighthouse at Portland Bill is dramatic - a red and white striped tower perched on the most southerly point of the Dorset coast, where the sea just keeps coming at you. The visitors centre sits at its base and gives you the full story of how this place has guided ships away from trouble since 1906.

Inside, you'll learn about the lighthouse keepers' lives, the engineering behind keeping the light turning, and the navigational history of one of Britain's busiest shipping lanes. There's a climb up the tower if you're game for it - decent views reward you at the top, though the spiral staircase isn't for anyone with a weak stomach.

It's the kind of place that appeals to families and history types equally. Kids tend to enjoy the tower climb and the sea views more than the exhibits themselves, so expect thirty minutes to an hour maximum before they're fidgeting. The rocks below are where real photographers come to shoot storms and seascapes.

Admission costs a few quid and opening hours shift with the seasons, so check ahead. The site's exposed as anything - bring a windproof even in summer. If you're staying at Waterside or Chesil Beach Holiday Park near Weymouth, Portland Bill makes a decent afternoon jaunt. The coastal road here is proper scenic, and you can easily combine it with a walk along Chesil Beach itself, which is far more compelling than the centre if the weather's decent.