Freshwater Beach Holiday Park

Monkey World is an ape and monkey rescue centre set in 65 acres near Wool in Dorset. It was founded in 1987 and takes in primates rescued from the illegal pet trade, laboratories and abuse, rehabilitating them into natural living groups.

Tip: Book online in advance, as tickets are cheaper than at the gate.

The Cerne Abbas Giant is an ancient figure cut into the chalk hillside above the village of Cerne Abbas. At 180ft tall, it is Britain's largest chalk hill figure and perhaps the best known.

Tip: The viewing area in the car park gives the best view; the A352 lay-by is free but offers only a limited view. Keep dogs on leads, and expect mud on the steep slope after rain.

Lyme Regis Museum overlooks Lyme Bay and the Jurassic Coast, and it is built on the site of the former home and fossil shop of Mary Anning. Three galleries tell the story of the town across 200 million years, using objects, audio and touchscreens, with plenty of interactive and touch exhibits.

Tip: If you're visiting with children, ask for the Museum Trail at Reception, which comes with the admission ticket.

The Tank Museum at Bovington tells the story of tanks and the crews who fought in them. Its collection of around 300 vehicles runs from the First World War through the Second World War and the Cold War to Afghanistan, with exhibitions built around personal stories from the soldiers themselves. It is Dorset's largest indoor attraction.

Tip: Allow 4-5 hours for your visit, and wear comfortable walking shoes as there is a lot of ground to cover.

Forde Abbey is a former Cistercian monastery, now a family home, with nearly 900 years of history. Inside, you can see surviving monastic parts such as the cloisters, the monks' dormitory and the old chapter house, alongside State Rooms with ornate plaster ceilings and four-poster beds. The house is also known for its Mortlake tapestries, woven from the famous Raphael cartoons.

Tip: Dogs are welcome in the gardens on a short lead, and the nursery and gift shop can be visited without an admission ticket.

Chesil Beach is a major shingle beach in Dorset, running 29 kilometres from West Bay to the Isle of Portland. In places it is up to 15 metres high and 200 metres wide. Behind it lies the Fleet, a shallow tidal lagoon. The beach and the Fleet are part of the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site and the Dorset National Landscape.

Tip: For the view Simon Jenkins rates as one of England's top ten, look along the coast from Abbotsbury towards Portland Bill.

Montacute House is a late Elizabethan mansion in South Somerset, completed around 1601 and built of golden local Ham Hill stone. Inside you can explore the ground floor, which is home to the rare Tournai Tapestry, and the Long Gallery is the longest in England and displays portraits as an outpost of the National Portrait Gallery.

Tip: Parking is free, and timed entry tickets are used on busier days, so check before you set off. The Ladies' Walk is a 45-minute climb with lovely views over the village.

Corfe Castle is a ruined fortress built by William the Conqueror in the 11th century, standing on a steep hill above the village on the Isle of Purbeck. It was one of the earliest English castles built partly in stone, and it was added to over the 12th and 13th centuries.

Tip: The car park fills up quickly in busy periods, so consider an alternative car park or arrive in the afternoon, when it tends to be quieter.