Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole

This stretch of Dorset coast is built around water. Bournemouth's beach runs for miles of soft sand backed by chines and clifftop gardens, Poole Harbour opens out into one of the largest natural harbours in the world, and Christchurch sits where the Rivers Stour and Avon meet before flowing out to sea. It is a landscape of contrasts within a short drive of each other: busy seafront promenades in one direction, quiet reed-lined riverbanks and harbour inlets in the other.

Self-catering cottages are the way most people base themselves here, and the choice is wide. There are 165 to pick from across the three towns, ranging from Time to Unwind and Tranquil Oasis to Victoria Cottage and Turnstone. Some, like Tree Canopy and Vista, suit those wanting a green, leafy outlook rather than a sea view, while others put you within easy reach of the harbour or the beach itself. Topdeck and Wake and Wander are the kind of names that hint at the setting without giving too much away, and part of the pleasure of booking here is finding the cottage that matches the pace you want.

Bournemouth itself has the liveliest seafront, with its pier and long promenade making it the natural choice for anyone who wants to be by the sand. Poole's harbour side is quieter and more maritime, with boats moored close to the quay and Brownsea Island visible out in the water. Christchurch, set back a little from the coast around its priory and the confluence of the two rivers, has a gentler, more historic feel, and its harbour and quay are worth the short trip from either of the other towns.