St Mary's Chapel

A small medieval chapel sits quietly near Wareham, and it's one of those places you stumble upon rather than deliberately seek out. St Mary's Chapel is genuine old England - the sort of building that's been standing in roughly the same spot for centuries while everything else around it changed. The chapel itself is modest, which is rather the point. There's no gift shop, no interpretation boards, just the actual thing.

It's worth a visit if you're into church architecture or just want to see how people actually worshipped in a rural corner of Dorset centuries ago. The walk there is pleasant enough, especially if you're based at one of the nearby parks like Durdle Door Holiday Park, which is proper lovely and only three miles away. You won't need more than thirty minutes here unless you're the sort who sits in quiet places for longer.

The closest town is Wareham, which gives you somewhere to base yourself for a few days exploring the wider area. St Mary's works best as part of a broader wander through Purbeck rather than a destination in itself. If you're camping or glamping in the area - and there's plenty of accommodation within a few miles - combine it with coastal walks or a trip into Wareham town itself. History types will appreciate the medieval fabric of the place; others might find twenty minutes quite enough. Go on a quiet afternoon when you won't be sharing the space with tour groups, because there won't be any.