Our verdict
Beautiful, historic, and genuinely worth a visit on your own — but leave the dog at home. Brownsea Island doesn't allow dogs anywhere on site, red squirrels and ground-nesting birds being the reason, so this isn't a walk you can do together.
The National Trust-managed southern and central parts of Brownsea Island, with a castle, church, open parkland and views across the harbour to the Purbeck Hills — the largest island in Poole Harbour and the birthplace of the Scouting movement.