Best Things to Do in Dorset, South-West England

Tour Thomas Hardy Country, Visit Abbotsbury Swannery and Dorchester

Oct 20, 2009

Top visitor attractions in Dorset in the South-West of England include Thomas Hardy's Wessex, the Abbotsbury Swannery, Dorchester, Lyme Regis, Weymouth, Bournemouth.

There are so many widely different things to do in Dorset and yet it remains one of England's most under-rated counties. As with neighbouring Somerset, many holidaymakers drive right through Dorset to get to the two honeypot counties of Devon and Cornwall.

Yes Dorset is filled with rolling green hills, beautiful old villages, dramatic scenery, a UNESCO World Heritage coastline, ancient monuments, fun family attractions, atmospheric towns like Lyme Regis and fun seaside resorts like Weymouth and Bournemouth.

Here are just some of the best things to do in Dorset, a short list that could be very much longer and still only skim the surface of one of the loveliest counties in England.

See the Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens

With their special mild micro-climate, these gardens can grow exotic plants from all over the world. They cover 20 acres, and were established in 1765. Highlights include a sculpture garden and fabulous views along Chesil Beach.

Visit the Abbotsbury Swannery

Visit Bournemouth

Bournemouth long had a reputation as a fairy staid seaside resort, mainly attracting elderly people. But that is now far from the case as it appeals to younger people too, and its 7 miles of sandy beach appeal to everyone.

Check Out the Cerne Abbas Giant

Carved out of chalk on a hillside next to the lovely village of Cerne Abbas, the giant is 180ft high, a large part of which is... well, see the photo. No-one knows how old the giant is but it may date from the 17th century.

See Chesil Beach

One of the most unusual and beautiful sights in the South-West is this 17-mile stretch of pebble beach, tiring to tramp along but fabulous views of it from the Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens. Near here is also the Chesil Beach Centre for further information.

Visit Corfe Castle

Imposing remains of an 11th-century castle standing near the pretty village of the same name.

Visit Dorchester

The county town has numerous attractions including the Dorset County Museum, Thomas Hardy's house Max Gate, a Teddy Bear Museum, the unusual Terracotta Warriors Museum, and plenty of good eating, good shopping, and old buildings.

Tour Thomas Hardy Country around Dorchester

Go Fossil-Hunting on the Jurassic Coast

Dorset's Jurrasic Coast is part of 95 miles of coastline covering 185 million years of history, and there is good fossil-hunting to be found in several places but especially near Lyme Regis (but only collect fossils from the beach, never dig them out of rocks and cliffs.)

See Lulworth Cove and Durdle Door

Not far from Corfe Castle the white cliffs of Lulworth Cove represent one of the loveliest stretches of the Dorset coast, with the eye-catching natural arch of Durdle Door.

See the Cobb at Lyme Regis

The attractive harbour town of Lyme Regis is worth a few days by itself, with its famous curving harbour wall known as the Cobb, lovely walks and gardens, fossil-hunting and the Dinosaurland Fossil Museum.

Tour Maiden Castle

The largest Iron Age Hill Fort in Britain occupies a vast site on the edge of Dorchester.

See Sherborne

With its museum, abbey, Old Castle, New Castle, and many attractive old houses and cottages going back to the 15th century, Sherborne is one of Dorset's most appealing towns

Stay in the Seaside Resort of Weymouth

All the fun of the English seaside can be found in this historic resort, gearing itself up for the 2012 Olympics sailing events on neighbouring Portland.

Where to Stay in Dorset

Middle Cottage in West Knighton is 3 miles south-east of Dorchester. To find other cottages to rent in Dorset visit the website of Dorset Coastal Cottages. Not all their 176 self-catering cottages are right on the coast but are guaranteed to be no further than 10 miles from Dorset's World Heritage Jurassic Coast, stretching from Lyme Regis to Poole Harbour.

Best Dorset Guidebook

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