Bridport West Bay
This pretty little town has a really busy and buzzy feel to it, especially on Saturdays and Wednesdays when market stalls line the wide pavements. It’s free to go into the museum (bridportmuseum.co.uk) where you can see some of the weird and wonderful things in the collection, including dolls, ancient Roman artefacts and an example of The Bridport Dagger – the hangman’s noose. Bridport was at one time the rope and net-making capital of the world. At nearby West Bay (pictured), a fishing trip is recommended on a sunny day. There’s a fun, nine-hole pitch and putt course at the local golf club (bridportgolfclub.org.uk) and the near-vertical East Cliff is a challenge for any family. Round it off with fish and chips from one of the kiosks around the harbour, an ice-cream from the Esplanade or a seafood snack from the easy-going Watch House Café (watchhousecafe.co.uk).