Dorset
Dorset is such a wonderful county, from the beautiful beaches and glorious countryside to the peaceful market towns and picturesque villages. There is so much to see and do when you come here for your holiday in the West Country, with adventures, activities and attractions giving you heaps of choice for days out with the kids.
See cygnets hatching at Abbotsbury Swannery and then go for a relaxing stroll around the Subtropical Gardens. Take a big step back in time at Corfe Castle, get up close to marine life at Weymouth Sea Life Adventure Park, or make like an ape at Monkey World; spot red squirrels on Brownsea Island, have a bird of prey experience at Dorset Falconry Park and reach dizzy new heights at Tunnel Treetops near Charmouth.
Discover some of those beaches, each with their own character and spectacular coastal scenery; the unique stone arch at Durdle Door will astound, the sheer beauty of Lulworth Cove will impress. Spend a day by the sea at Swanage or Weymouth, see the famous lighthouse at Portland Bill, go fossil hunting and mackerel fishing at Lyme Regis, soak up the quiet ambience at Burton Bradstock and Seatown.
If shopping is your thing go bargain hunting in Bournemouth, explore the city streets at Poole and make time for a leisurely cruise around the harbour; for something different browse the lively vintage quarter in Bridport. If history is high on the agenda, you’ll love Sherborne Castle and the magnificent Abbey, known as the ‘cathedral of Dorset’. Take in the tranquillity of Shaftesbury Abbey with its far reaching views cross the Blackmore Vale, or for literature lovers there’s T E Lawrence’s home, Clouds Hill, and the cottage where Thomas Hardy was born at Higher Brockhampton.
Spend a day in Dorchester, the county town; browse the shops, watch an outdoor movie or live entertainment at Brewery Square, amble along the water meadows or to the top of the hill fort at Maiden Castle. Take your pick from the fascinating museums; Dorset Museum & Art Gallery has an important collection of Roman, Bronze Age and Iron Age artefacts, but there are others - the Teddy Bear Museum, Dinosaur Museum, Terracotta Warriors Museum and Tutankhamun Exhibition.
If you prefer time away from the crowds head out into the wilds; explore the hills and heaths of Hardy Country, see the enormous Cerne Abbas Giant carved into the chalk hillside, look out for wildlife at one of the many nature reserves; the unique landscape of Chesil Beach and Fleet Lagoon is brilliant for birdwatching.
Dorset is a land of plenty and so much awaits you; walk the clifftops of the South West Coast Path, fill your baskets at a local farmer’s market, enjoy lazy picnics or pub lunches, pack in as much as you can and make the most of what Dorset has to offer. You’ll want to come back again and again because as the old saying goes – Dorset is bootiful.
All information correct at the time of writing