‘The best things come in threes’ goes the saying. This certainly rings true of Dorset, the New Forest and the Isle of Wight. Tucked inconspicuously along England’s southern coast from Southampton to Lyme Regis, these contrasting yet complimentary regions are a treasure box of traditional English and rather exotic attractions for kids and adults alike. There’s the 95-mile Jurassic Coast famed for its fossils, shingle banks and must sees such as the wonderful Swannery at Abbotsbury. The New Forest is England’s newest national park, created in 2005. A mosaic of woodland, heath and pasture it offers a comprehensive network of cycle tracks, footpaths, pony treks, campsites and teddy bear picnics. The Isle of Wight has that great island feel: individual, quirky and rather magical. Best known for Cowes Week where the yachties descend and Bestival music festival, it also has botanical gardens, the home of Queen Victoria, pebble and sand beaches, tree climbing and posh yurts – the stuff of childhood memories
