Dot's Camping

Occupying an area of former gravel pits, Blashford Lakes Nature Reserve (10 minutes’ drive) is crossed by paths and dotted with bird hides, so you can keep an eye on the antics of resident woodpeckers and herons. Swimming is not allowed, but you can have a go at wakeboarding on Ellingham Lake. If you’re travelling with younger children, they might like to visit Paultons Park, home of Peppa Pig World (half an hour), with gentle amusements inspired by the beloved cartoon character and her family. However, this is also a top spot for thrill rides, including the roller coasters in the ominously named Tornado Springs area. You can easily spend a few hours just sipping a drink or two by the marina in Southampton (40 minutes), but there’s also plenty to see here, starting with the SeaCity Museum, with its Titanic exhibition. If it’s the history of aviation that gets you going, you can head to the Solent Sky aircraft museum. From Southampton, you can also catch a ferry to the Isle of Wight.