Tower Park

The tower itself is rather modest - a Victorian structure that commands views across the Dorset heathland between Wimborne and Poole. It's the sort of landmark that catches your eye on the horizon and makes you wonder what it's doing there, which is exactly the point. Built in the 1880s, it's become a proper focal point for the area, and climbing it rewards you with genuinely decent vistas across the heath and towards the coast on a clear day.

Walkers gravitate here naturally. The heathland around it is excellent for a proper ramble, and the tower itself serves as a satisfying destination if you're combining it with a longer route. The climb isn't arduous - nothing to put off older legs or kids who've got a bit of puff in them. Expect to spend an hour or so here unless you're planning a wider moorland walk, in which case it becomes part of something larger.

Staying at one of the nearby parks - Haven Rockley Park is closest at under four miles - makes this an easy addition to your itinerary. It's not the sort of place that will consume a whole afternoon, but it's well worth the detour if you're based locally. The heathland itself is the real draw; the tower is simply the excuse to get out into it. Free to access, naturally, and no nonsense about opening hours - it's there when you fancy it. Head on a weekday morning and you'll likely have the place to yourself.