Townsend Reserve

The coastal path drops down to Townsend Reserve just south of Swanage, and it's one of those places that rewards you for getting your boots on. This is a working nature reserve - marshy grassland and reed beds backing onto a shingle beach - rather than a manicured visitor attraction. You'll spot adders if you're lucky, and the bird life here is genuinely impressive, especially during spring and autumn migration. Bring binoculars.

It's really a walker's spot, not somewhere you plonk down for the day. Most people spend an hour or so picking their way along the designated paths, spotting whatever's about, then heading back. In summer the insects are thick on the wing. Winter's actually better for serious birders - curlews, redshank, and overwintering wildfowl are all regular.

The access is straightforward enough from Swanage itself. There's no fancy visitor centre or cafe, which is rather the point. Free to roam about, though respect the ropes and signs - it's a protected site, not your personal playground.

If you're based at Swanage Bay View or Ulwell Holiday Parks, this makes a quick morning or late-afternoon excursion. Pair it with a walk along the clifftop path towards Durlston Head and you've got a solid half-day outdoors. Don't come expecting crowds or facilities - come for the quiet and the wildlife. It's proper Dorset coast, unspoiled and a bit windswept.