South & South East coast

• Dorset
• Isle of Wight
• West Sussex
• East Sussex
• Kent

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Dorset
Visit the ruins of Corfe Castle and enjoy a picnic in the castle grounds within sight of Corfe village and the Purbeck Hills. One of Britain's most spectacular ruins, the castle is a feature of the Corfe Estate, which also includes dramatic Studland Bay. The sandy beach, with dunes behind, is sheltered by the chalk cliffs of Ballard Down and provides clean, safe swimming along three miles of coastline. Disabled visitors can access the Knoll Beach car park and visitors' centre.

Nearby Brownsea Island is situated in Poole Harbour, one of the largest natural harbours in the world. A haven in this busy area, Brownsea is reached by boat from Poole Quay, Swanage, Bournemouth and Sandbanks. Picnics can be enjoyed in the open all over the island or under trees in a sheltered, grassy area on the south side. Visitors also may have the chance to glimpse the deer and rare red squirrels that populate Brownsea.

Adults and children can follow the many trails around the island. With subjects ranging from smugglers to geology, the trails are an exciting way to walk off a picnic. The stony shoreline with its many species of birds can also be explored, and families can do this with the help of the special children's guide.

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Isle of Wight
Whether or not the great poet munched his way through a hamper on Tennyson Down, he certainly enjoyed strolling by the coast there. The white chalk cliffs on the SW of the Isle of Wight reach their highest point at Tennyson Down, 147 metres above sea level, and the spot is marked with the cross of the Tennyson Memorial. There are fantastic views along the island's SW coast and to Yarmouth and the mainland.

It is easy to get the most out of Tennyson Down, thanks to the network of waymarked paths, and most of the area is covered by spring downland turf, making it a comfortable place to stop, picnic and admire the landscape. It is also one of the most important downland sites in Britain with birds such as cormorants, guillemots and razorbills nesting along the chalk ridge which continues west over West High Down, ending at Needles Headland. Turning north, Alum Bay is known for its multi-coloured cliffs.

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West Sussex
At the mouth of Chichester Harbour, East Head is a remote, narrow spit of sand and shingle beach punctuated with dunes and mudflats. Families can get away from it all in the wilderness area near the mouth of the harbour, where the sensational coastline becomes increasingly dramatic and exposed. Like the harbour itself, East Head is one of the most exciting places in Western Europe to see a diverse population of overwintering birds. The promontory is a great viewing platform onto the busy harbour, which East Head plays an important part in sheltering.

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East Sussex
On one of the longest stretches of undeveloped coastline between Southampton and Hastings, the Seven Sisters are a striking feature of the landscape. From Crowlink and Birling Gap, visitors have open access to both the downs and the beach and can enjoy spectacular, unspoilt views out to sea. Crowlink extends for a mile along the cliffs from Birling Gap. As well as offering a viewing point, it is also a point of entry to delightful walks where families can stroll and picnic.

The chalk cliffs at Birling Gap rise up on either side to frame the beach to the east and west. As well as the open grassland that is rich with butterflies and wild flora, Birling Gap features a delightful beach that is ideal for seaside picnics. With its rock pools and areas of pebbles and sand, Birling Gap is also a marine nature reserve. Nearby sites of archæological interest have much to tempt families further along the coast.

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Kent
The White Cliffs of Dover mark the point where the chalk ridge of hills known as the North Downs meet the English Channel. Perched above the Straits of Dover, the National Trust Saga Gateway to the White Cliffs introduces the visitor to this breathtaking landscape. Containing a fascinating photographic display telling the story of the cliffs from prehistory to the present and assisted by computer interactive and audio sculptures, there is nowhere better to discover the coast and countryside of South East Kent.

To take a gentle walk along the cliffs and pause for a picnic on the chalk downland that looks down over the sea is to experience the expansive and refreshing landscape at its best. A walk along the cliff tops leads to South Foreland Lighthouse, quite literally, the 'highlight' of the White Cliffs. A 30-minute tour of the lighthouse reveals how it has protected ships and sailors off the coast of Dover. From here on Christmas Eve 1897 Guglielmo Marconi made the world's first ship-to-shore radio transmission, to which we owe the safety of countless ships in waters all over the world.