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Enormous - according to English Heritage equivalent to 50 football pitches - Iron Age hillfort with multiple and complex ramparts and ditches. This was ancient Dorchester! Here, Vespasian's highly trained Roman troops overcame the British defenders, the Durotriges tribe, one of whom ended up with a ballista in his spine. There's not much to see, but quite a lot to marvel and wonder at.

Photo by Major George Allen (1891–1940) (Ashmolean Museum) public domain via Wikimedia Commons

St Nicholas Moreton is world famous for the unusual engraved glass windows by Laurence Whistler and for the grave of Lawrence of Arabia (soldier-philosopher T E Lawrence) in the nearby cemetery, following his funeral in the church. The church was originally dedicated to St Magnus Martyr, Earl of Orkney (why?), but this was changed to St. Nicholas in 1490. A German bomb on 8 October 1940 extensively damaged the church, blowing out all the glass. Created as part of the refurbishment following the war, the 13 engraved glass windows (1955-85) are by Sir Laurence Whistler, who revived glass engraving in the 20th century. Lawrence of Arabia had a bolt-hole at Clouds Hill nearby and was killed on his motorcycle just along the road from it in 1935.

Heritage railway on the Isle of Purbeck. The Wareham-Swanage line was closed in 1972. Thanks to local support and the efforts of volunteers, the Swanage Railway is probably the best thing in town and ran its first service in 1979. The frequent service runs about 6 miles between Swanage and Norden, via Corfe Castle.  Journey time between Swanage and Corfe is about 20 minutes.

Probably Dorset's most famous lost village, frozen in time.  In 1943, the villagers were ordered to leave their homes so that the area could be used for training; they never returned.  Only empty buildings remain, plus the preserved school and church, offering a fascinating insight into life in isolated communities in the first half of the 20th century, together with an evocative air of sadness.

Check opening times carefully - the area is still used for military training.

Drumlanrig Castle is the Dumfriesshire seat of the Duke and Duchess of Buccleuch and Queensberry, one of Scotland’s finest examples of 17th-century Renaissance architecture and more like a French château than what you might of as a castle.  It comes with a history.  Drumlanrig was a Douglas stronghold, built on land given to the Douglas’ by Robert Bruce in the 14th century.  The Douglas Clan motto is ‘Forward Braveheart!’ and the winged hearts of the family crest are everywhere - carved into stone, decorating ceilings, carpets, gutters – even garden beds.

The Castle has 120 rooms, 17 turrets and four towers and is renowned for its art collection, the Buccleuch Collection, which includes works by Gainsborough, Rembrandt and Holbein.  It houses tapestries allegedly worked by Mary, Queen of Scots and, of course, Bonny Prince Charlie once stayed the night there.

Outside is a 90,000-acre estate, with gardens, miles of beautiful walks, bike trails, fishing and an adventure playground.

Image credit: Historic Houses