It takes just under 15 minutes to drive to Forde Abbey, a privately owned former Cistercian monastery full of history dating back almost 1,000 years and featured in the film adaptation of Hardy’s Far From the Madding Crowd. The gardens are forever evolving, featuring designs like the Asian woodland and Prairie garden. There are plenty of other National Trust properties in the region too, including Montactute House, Lytes Cary Manor and Tintinhul Gardens. The nearest town is Crewkerne, around 10 minutes' drive away. The small market town has a good range of independent shops, including a renowned sourdough bakery and ice cream parlor, plus a monthly farmers market. For cyclists, it's worth bringing the bike with you. The campsite is adjacent to the Route 3 National cycle route and there are plenty of testing hill climbs locally – try the 'col de Seaborough' if you think you’re up to the challenge. Further afield, Wytch Wood is around 25 minutes from the Jurassic Coast and the South West Coast Path. From here, the coast is dotted with delightful seaside towns, including Sidmouth, which has a lovely sand and shingle beach with lots of rock pools to explore when the tide is out.