Osmington Mills Lodge Park - Fun Days Out

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.

You can see the largest group of chimpanzees outside Africa, split across four social groups, plus Bornean and Sumatran orangutans. The park also has Europe's only orangutan crèche, five species of gibbon and a wide range of monkeys and lemurs, including capuchins, marmosets, spider monkeys and slow lorises. The lemurs are fed at their window each day around midday. There's also a gift shop, and the centre's work is shown in the TV series Monkey Life.

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

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.

Highlights include Tiger 131, one of only two Tiger I tanks still able to run, and a British First World War Mark I, the world's oldest surviving combat tank. The Vehicle Conservation Centre is a short walk away and shows more of the collection under cover. There is also a memorial room for Royal Armoured Corps soldiers.

It suits military history fans and families, and there is an on-site café, soft play and shop. Parking is free, and the museum describes its accessibility as excellent.

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

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. Theories about who he is and why he was made range from a symbol of spirituality to Hercules, though National Trust research suggests he was probably first made in the late Saxon period.

There is a viewing area in the car park, and a gentle quarter-mile signposted footpath leads from the village. The surrounding chalk grassland is nationally and European important for rare plants and insects, so look out for wildflowers in summer. Above the giant is the Trendle, an Iron Age earthwork. It suits history fans, walkers and nature lovers. How clearly you see him changes with the light and the season.

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.

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. It is also known for the Civil War, when Lady Mary Bankes led its defence through two sieges before it was slighted on Parliament's orders in 1645.

You can wander the ruined walls and towers, then stop at the 18th-century tea-room and garden, which has close-up views of the castle, or browse the shop near the entrance. The site is family friendly, with a picnic area, and dogs are allowed on short leads at all times. Expect steep slopes, steps and uneven paths throughout.

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.

Durdle Door is a natural limestone arch on the Jurassic Coast near Lulworth in Dorset. It is privately owned by the Weld family of the Lulworth Estate, but open to the public. The arch formed as the sea eroded a band of hard Portland limestone, leaving the small headland that includes it. UNESCO teams monitor both the arch and the adjacent beach.

Next to it, Man o' War Cove has the Man O'War Rocks showing above the waves. Offshore to the west, a line of rocky islets called The Bull, The Blind Cow, The Cow and The Calf marks the old limestone outcrop. The coastline here is eroding, so the cliffs see occasional rockfalls and landslides.

Film fans may enjoy spotting a place that has appeared in music videos, films and Doctor Who, including the Thirteenth Doctor's regeneration in 2022.

Lulworth Castle is an early 17th-century hunting lodge built in the style of a revival fortified castle, and it is Grade I listed. It stands in a 1,000 acre deer park on the Lulworth Estate in Dorset. Visitors can explore the grounds and exhibits, and there is a playground in the park.

The castle has a dramatic story. A fire in 1929 left it a roofless ruin, and restoration work finished in 1998 with a new roof and restored interior walls. In the grounds, St Mary's Chapel was built in 1786 in the form of a Greek mausoleum. It is Grade I listed and was the first Roman Catholic chapel built in England since the Reformation. The castle also holds medieval-themed events. The wider estate includes Lulworth Cove and Durdle Door on the Jurassic Coast.

The Osmington White Horse is a hill figure cut into the limestone of Osmington Hill, in the South Dorset Downs just north of Weymouth. It shows King George III riding his horse, and it can be seen for miles around. The king was a regular visitor to Weymouth and helped make it "the first resort".

The figure is 280 feet (85 m) long and 323 feet (98 m) high, so it is best seen from a distance. The A353 is the best road to view it from. Volunteers spent two years repairing it before a 2012 restoration was completed, and a new plaque made of local stone was unveiled at a ceremony attended by Princess Anne. It is also a Scheduled Monument. It suits anyone who likes a landmark with a bit of Dorset history behind it.

Tip: The figure is best viewed from the A353, so look for it from the road rather than up close.

Portland Castle is one of Henry VIII's coastal artillery forts, built from Portland stone to defend Portland harbour. Its squat, rounded seaward form was designed to deflect incoming cannon shot, and Historic England considers it one of the best preserved examples of the king's forts. Presentations, interactive exhibits and an audio tour trace its long and varied story, and you can explore the Tudor kitchen, the armoury and the gun decks.

Outside, the Governor's Garden is a sheltered spot with dramatic sea and harbour views. Children can build their own fort on the World Builder trail. The Captain's Tearoom serves hot and cold drinks, cakes, cream teas and ice creams, and you can sit inside or out in the sheltered courtyard overlooking the garden.

Tip: The Captain's Tearoom offers vegan, gluten-free and dairy-free alternatives.