Bournemouth is famed for its seven mile stretch of golden sands and sheltered waters. Our beaches have won more awards for their cleanliness and safety than any other UK seaside destination. Soft sand slopes gently from the pine clad Chines into the water of one of the most attractive bays on South Coast. The bay offers expansive views, from the Isle of Wight and The Needles in the East to the Isle of Purbeck and Old Harry’s Rock to the West.

Within half an hour’s drive to the East is the glorious New Forest (Britain’s most recent National Park) with its herds of wild deer and the famous New Forest ponies; to the West lies the ancient Kingdom of Wessex, Thomas Hardy country and the famous Jurassic coastline (a World Heritage site). Sightseeing day tours can be pre-booked with pick ups from the Cransley. www.discoverdorset.co.uk

Bournemouth town offers visitors a wide variety of shops and restaurants, parks and sub-tropical gardens. Bournemouth hotels are a perfect base from which to explore the full delights of the area (Dorset, Hampshire and Wiltshire). Additionally, with great transport links by road or bus you can get around Dorset with ease.

Here are just a few ideas for days out, within a drive time of 10 minutes to 2 hours:

• The New Forest
• Brownsea Island (National Trust)
• Christchurch and the Priory
• Lulworth Cove
• Swanage Railway
• Corfe Castle (National Trust)
• Kingston Lacey (National Trust)
• Monkey World
• The Tank Museum
• Lulworth Castle & Park
• Abbotsbury Swannery
• Compton Acres
• Bournemouth Oceanarium
• Salisbury and Salisbury Cathedral
• Beaulieu House & National Motor Museum
• Dorchester
• Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum
• Stonehenge (English Heritage)
• Shaftesbury and Gold Hill