Bridport

Rope and net making put this market town on the map centuries ago, and that maritime heritage still runs through Bridport's veins today. The wide Georgian streets - originally designed for drying fishing nets - give the town centre an unusually spacious feel, quite different from most Dorset market towns. It's proper working town rather than tourist trap, though that's changing as more visitors cotton on to its charms.

West Bay, Bridport's harbour just two miles south, became famous as the setting for Broadchurch. The dramatic golden cliffs and working fishing boats create a backdrop that's genuinely stunning, even if the pebble beach can be a bit brutal on bare feet. The town itself has a cracking Saturday market and some excellent independent shops along South Street.

Eggardon Hill Fort offers some of the finest views in Dorset - a proper climb but well worth it on a clear day. The ancient earthworks sit 827 feet above sea level, looking out over the Marshwood Vale towards the coast. Several lovely churches dot the surrounding countryside, including St Mary the Virgin and the Parish Church of St Michael, while patches of ancient woodland like Ten Acre Copse and Wynford Wood provide peaceful walking territory.

Getting here is straightforward enough - Bridport sits on the A35, about 20 miles west of Dorchester. There's no railway station, so you'll need to drive or catch a bus from Dorchester South. The surrounding hills and valleys are laced with footpaths, making a stay at one of the nearby holiday parks like Highlands End or West Bay Holiday Park an excellent base for exploring both the Jurassic Coast and the rolling Dorset countryside inland.