The Blue Pool

The water here is an almost unnatural turquoise - the kind of colour you'd expect from a postcard of somewhere Mediterranean, not rural Dorset. The Blue Pool sits in what used to be a clay pit near Wareham, abandoned decades ago and slowly flooded until someone realised they'd accidentally created one of England's most eye-catching swimming spots.

It's genuinely free and genuinely worth a quick detour if you're camping in the area. The water stays cool year-round (it's deep, and clay doesn't warm up) so summer swimmers will find it properly refreshing rather than bracing. There's a small car park, basic facilities, and on a decent day you'll see people paddling, floating about, and taking the obligatory Instagram shot. In peak season it gets rammed, though - arrive early or visit out of season if you prefer breathing room.

The walk around the perimeter takes maybe twenty minutes at a stroll. Don't expect dramatic cliffs or hiking trails; it's more of a gentle poke about and a paddle. Kids will enjoy it for half an hour or so, though the novelty does wear off fairly quickly unless they're keen swimmers.

Stay at Norden Farm Campsite - it's less than a mile away - and you've got a quick morning visit sorted before heading to Poole or Bournemouth proper. For something with more facilities, Burnbake Forest Lodges offers a bit more comfort if you're not roughing it. The Blue Pool works best as a refreshing stop on a park holiday, not a destination in itself.