West Bay Discovery Centre

The cliffs here are the real draw, not the centre itself. West Bay's striped chalk and clay faces tower 150 metres above the shingle beach - golden, rust, and cream bands that look almost painted on. The Discovery Centre sits right at the top and explains the geology properly, which matters because these cliffs are actively eroding and genuinely dangerous to wander beneath without context.

You get the basic story: how the cliffs formed, why they're collapsing, what lives in them. It's educational without being dry, and the views from the centre across Bridport and the Jurassic Coast are genuinely worth the visit on their own. Families with kids aged eight upwards will find it engaging. Younger children might get restless after 30 minutes. Geologists and coastal enthusiasts should allow longer - the detail on stratigraphy and the ongoing erosion process is solid.

There's no charge for entry and opening hours are fairly flexible, though you'll want daylight to appreciate those views properly. The centre doubles as a café, which is handy after the walk up from the beach. If you're staying at Parkdean Resorts West Bay Holiday Park - literally next door - it's an obvious stop. Golden Cap Holiday Park a couple of miles west gives you a clifftop base to explore from, and Freshwater Beach Holiday Park down the coast keeps you close to the action without being right on top of it.

Go on a clear day, not when it's drizzly and grey. The cliffs need light to show their stripes properly. Bring waterproofs anyway - this coast gets battered.