Lymington

Salt hangs in the air here, mixing with the earthy scent of the New Forest just inland. Lymington sits perfectly between two worlds - the wild heathland stretching north and the Solent's choppy waters lapping at its doorstep.

This Georgian market town has kept its working harbour alive while polishing up nicely for visitors. Cobbled High Street shops give way to yacht-filled marinas, where the ferry to the Isle of Wight chugs back and forth all day. The Saturday market still draws proper crowds.

Keyhaven & Pennington Marshes Nature Reserve sprawls along the coast east of town - brilliant for spotting curlews and redshanks if you're into that sort of thing. The path out to Hurst Castle makes for a decent walk, though it's a fair trek on foot. Closer to town, Sturt Pond offers gentler wildlife watching, while Salterns Marsh provides another slice of coastal nature.

Inland, the New Forest begins almost immediately. Woodside Park and Lymington Nature Reserve give you a taste without venturing too deep into the heathland proper. New Forest Paddle Sport runs trips along the quieter waterways if you fancy getting on the water.

After dark, The Malt Cinema keeps things local and independent, while Vibrant Forest Brewery does what it says on the tin - proper Hampshire ales in relaxed surroundings.

Staying at one of the holiday parks dotted around makes perfect sense. You're close enough to walk into town for dinner, yet positioned brilliantly for exploring both the forest trails and the coastal paths. The area's well connected too - the A337 runs straight up to the M27 if you need to escape quickly.