Dorset Attractions

Abbotsbury

Abbotsbury is an ancient village with its historic past still in evidence from the topography; from the Neolithic tumuli to the Celtic hill fort above the village and the Saxon strip-lynchets. The village is still owned by the descendants of the Earl's of Ilchester/Strangways who purchased the village and surrounding lands from Henry V111 after the dissolution of the monastery in 1539. Today this unspoilt village provides craft and antique shops, historic Tithe Barn with children's farm, an old coaching inn and of course cream teas! The walk to St. Catherine's chapel above the village provides stunning views across Lyme Bay and the surrounding countryside.

Arne

Has a fantastic Nature Reserve run by the RSPB.

Athelhampton

15/16TH HOUSE

Blandford Forum

Besides being a very pretty town it has a large army camp - Royal Signals Museum. The museum explains the history of radio and telegraph equipment and is extremely interesting.

Bournemouth

Famous for its sandy beach, smart shops attractive gardens and pine trees.

Bridport

Surrounded by small hills. Broad streets Rope and net making. The Arts Centre is the old Wesleyan Methodist Chapel. The Chantry in South Street is the oldest building

Brownsea

Island is the largest island in Poole harbour and owned by the National Trust. Open from April to Sept you can take a boat from Sandbanks or Poole Quay and have a pleasant walk round the island. There are tea rooms and the isle is famous for red squirrel. Baden Powel held camps on the isle in 1907 as a prelude to the Boy Scout movement.

Cerne Abbas

a lovely little village we the remains of an Abbey and the Giant guarding it. The giant is 180 feet high and cut out of the hill revealing the chalk lines. Cerne also has St Augustine's Well, and it is said that St Augustine asked the local shepherds if they would prefer to slack their thirsts by beer or water. Apparently they all preferred water and the Saint struck the ground with his staff and a spring appeared. One wonders what would have happened if the shepherds had opted for beer...

Clouds Hill

is just a small cottage in which T E Lawrence (as Lawrence of Arabia) lived. He had been stationed at Bovington Camp He died in a motorcycle accident in 1935 - and there are still conspiracy theories concerning his death.

Corfe Castle

attacts loads of visitors to the castle ruins. Extremely picturesque. Also railway from Swanage to Harmans Cross. Corfe makes a good focal point for visiting other parts of the Isle of Purbeck including Kimmeridge, The Blue Pool, etc.

Dorchester

is the county town. The only Roman town in Dorset. There is a roman house on the outskirts of County Hall. The Museum shows many mosaics that have been relaid. There were many more roman findings during the renovations of the town - especially round the old hospital site. Of course, Dorchester's author is Thomas Hardy - he called Dorchester Casterbridge. There is a lot to do and see in Dorchester - including the Tutankhamun Exhibition, the Military Museum, the Dinosaur Museum, the Roman town house, Maumbury Rings - originally a Neolithic henge, but the Romans turned it into an Amphitheatre, also there are the Dorset Martyrs - designed by Elizabeth Frink in South Walks. Dorchester has been extended by the tremendous building operation at Poundbury, courtesy of Prince Charles. Finally, one must remember that Maiden Castle is the largest hill fort in the country.

The County town of Dorchester, with a wealth of museums and archaeological sites, lies 9 miles to the north-east of Elworth hamlet. The beaches of Weymouth Bay are 7 miles to the east and the old fishing village of West Bay with the historic town of Bridport lies 8 miles to the west.

Forde Abbey

is a wonderful house surrounded by a large and interesting garden. Initially is was a Cistercian Abbey The house and gardens are well worth a visit and open all the year round.

Kingston Lacy

is owned by the National Trust, and perhaps Dorset's grandest house.

Kingston Maurward

between Stinsford and Upper Bockhampton, there is an Animal Park and garden with many varieties of livestock and 4 types of sheep breeds. The garden goes down to a lake and there is a nature trail.

Mapperton

this is really a house and not a village. The garden is worth a visit and there are tea rooms. Along the lane to Mapperton is a tree known as the Posy Tree - where the flowers were thrown by passers by during the black death.

Milton Abbas

remarkable for its village street, abbey church and mansion. The whole village was moved by Lord Milton - because it ruined his view, and he had it built out of sight!

Moreton

here lies Lawrence of Arabia. The church at Moreton is a "must". The windows have been beautifully engraved by Lawrence Whistler.

Poole

a port and fishing town but renown for its pottery. A wonderful day can be spent exploring the Waterfront Museum, and Scaplen's Court, Poole Park and of course a visit to Brownsea Island.

Portland

an island linked to the mainland by the Chesil- a large bank of shingle. There is much to see on Portland, and it is full of strange customs and humours. It has an unusual landscape, full of quarries extracting the white Portland stone. Its history is long and fascinating the Museum interesting. Walks from the lighthouses recommended, there is also a large stone infront of the lighthouse marked TH 1884 for Trinity House. To the right are ledges of stone, one called Pulpit Rock reaching into the sea. The sea beyond the Bill is the Portland Race, extremely dangerous to shipping.

Puddletown

a village with an interesting church and lots of reference to Thomas Hardy. The church has an alabaster of a knight in armour - one of the Martyns from Athelhampton House - a lovely house beyond and worth a visit.

Shaftesbury

high of its hill overlooking the Blackmore Vale. The town once had a castle, 3 mints, 12 churches, shrines, chantries, hospitals and a gabled freestone mansion - all now have disappeared - possible because of the Dissolution of monasteries in the 1530s. But Shaftesbury still has its Gold Hill (now made memorable through the Hovis Bread advert), a steep cobbled road.

Sherborne

a lovely town with lots to do and see. Sherborne Abbey, Sherborne Old Castle and then The New Castle - all full of history on Sir Walter Raleigh.

Studland

a small sea-side town with beautifully sandy beach. You can take the ferry over to Sandbanks and on to Brownsea Island.

Sturminster Newton

once housing a huge cattle market - no sadly no longer. William Barnes, the Dorset poet, went to school here. Also Thomas Hardy lived here for a short period while writing The Return of the Native. There is also Newton Mill and an interesting Museum.

Swanage

a lovely small fishing port, with ferry stops and from the station you can take a Steam Train to Harmans Cross.

Tyneham

a lost village in the Purbecks, evacuated in 1943 by the Army and no one has been allowed back since. The little school and houses give an opportunity to realise how people lived then, how the children were taught and how a community existed. A short walk takes you to the beach and Worbarrow Bay. All the land around is used by the Army and dates to visit the village must be checked.

Wareham

a riverside town, attractive and worth a visit. Lots of history and a Saxon church - St Martin's. Here there is a full length marble effigy of T E Lawrence in Arab dress.

West Bay

formerly known as Bridport Harbour. To the east are the famous cliffs of sandstone, to the east the cliffs are eroding and the view takes you to Golden Cap the highest cliff in southern England. The harbour itself has a few attractive buildings - but recent development has not enhanced this.

West Lulworth

the cove is very popular, often used in photos because of Durdle Door where the sea has cut through the stone.

Weymouth

a large town with sandy beach. Lots to do and see - the harbour is always busy, there is a Sea Life Centre, a Timewalk at Brewers Quay. Radipole Lake is a RSPB reserve.

Whitchurch Canonicorum

a small village in the Marshwood Vale. Visit the church dedicated to St Candida, who was also known as St Wite. St Wite's shrine contains three large, oval openings where pilgrims could place their afflicted limbs to be cured

Wimborne Minster

a thriving shopping centre with a market on Friday, Saturday and Sunday mornings. The minster church of St Cuthberga is dedicated to the sister of Ine, King of Wessex, dating from early in the 8th century. Wimborne has a model town in King Street showing the town as it was in the 1950's. Deans Court is worth a visit.

Wimborne St Giles

a small village on the edge of the Cranborne Chase, and the centre of the Shaftesbury estate.

Early History

Long barrows, round barrows, hill forts - largest Maiden Castle and Hod Hill, Ackling Dyke (east of Dorchester on the heath above Hardy's cottage) and Bokerly Dyke. Cerne Giant (date unknown) which may or may not have been Roman.

Henge monument

Maumbury at Dorchester.and Knowlton - which is a deserted medieval village.

Long barrows

Ridgway, Pimperne, Grey Mare and her Colts at Kingston Russell and Dorset Cursus.

Broze Age

Barrows Ridgeway, Poor Lot (Winterborne Abbas) and Oakley Down.

Stone Circles

Kingston Russell and Winterborne Abbas.

Iron Age - Hillforts

Abbotsbury, Badbury, Coney's Castle, Eggardon, Flower's Barrow (Tyneham), Hambledon, Hod Hill, Lambert's Castle, Maiden Castle, Poundbury (Dorchester), Pilsdon and Rawlsbury, Bulbarrow.

Promontory Fort

Hengistbury.

Roman - temples

Jordan Hill (Bowleaze Cove, Weymouth and Maiden Castle at Dorchester. The Walks and Wall, Maumbury, Town House and the aqueduct running from Maiden Newton to Dorchester.

Roads

Thorncombe Woods (Bockhampton), Bokerly Dyke, Badbury Rings A35 west of Dorchester see OS1:50,000 for routes.

Beaches vary from steep cliffs to sandy bays. Most of the coast is safe - apart from the Chesil, here there are very strong and erratic currents. Weymouth is a lovely beach for children - and safe with lots of shallow water. Lyme Regis and Swanage are also excellent. Our longest sandy beach is Studland.

Jurassic coast a World Heritage site

Castles and forts

Corfe is our most impressive. Christchurch still has a medieval castle and 12th century house. Sherborne Old Castle - defensive as oposed to Royal. Sherborne New Castle, Highcliffe, Durlston and Lulworth are all really houses. East Lulworth Castle does look more like a castle.

Forts

for coastal defence - at Sandsfoot, Portland, Borwnsea and Portland. Nothe at Weymouth. The Keep Military Museum in Dorchester - showing the history of Devonshire and Dorset regiments - and other military formations. Woodsford is the only thatched castle in the country.

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