Dorset and The New Forest's coastline has always given the area a maritime flavour, and the region is rich in legends and stories, tales of contraband and smuggling.

Many points along the coast hold associations with ships lost at sea. Brewers Quay in Weymouth tells some of the story, but why not check out some of the areas for yourself?

Lulworth Cove and Kimmeridge Bay were both much-used by smugglers, being mainly out-of-the-way, hidden inlets. Off the coast at Osmington Mills, just along from The Smugglers pub, a shipwreck can be seen at low tide. The isolated Isle of Portland, at the end of its long causeway, played a key role in the smuggling world, even though the waters around the promontory are treacherous for shipping outside of the Harbour.

In The New Forest, visit Bucklers Hard near Beaulieu for a taster of the time of smuggling and the golden age of maritime trade. For the most atmospheric venue of all, visit Moonfleet Chapel, nestled on the banks of The Fleet, inland from Chesil Beach. The chapel was immortalised in the classic novel Moonfleet, which was based on some of the legends and stories of the time.