Welcome to the beautiful County of Dorset.

Five reasons why you should choose Dorset as your holiday destination this year! If you still cant decide please goto town and area description.

Sandy beaches

Enjoy the mild climate Dorset offers at one of its Blue Flag beaches. Studland beach cared for by the National Trust is just one of many to offer safe family fun in beautiful coastal locations. Swanage and Weymouth beach one of few in England with direct access from the town onto the beach, stroll from your holiday home, bucket and spade in hand.

Jurassic Coastline

All of Dorsets coastline is recognised as a natural World Heritage Site, the area is recognised for its unique geology, this picture of Lulworth Cove is one reason why! The Heritage Centres as Lulworth Cove and Durlston Country Park (Swanage) take you back to the time of the dinosaurs.

Walkers Paradise

Dorset's unusually varied countryside provides many different walking environments. Hundreds of miles of footpaths and bridleways take you from the cliff top walks at Old Harry Rocks (Swanage), through rare habitats at Studland heath onto typically English countryside of hedgerow and field to end up enjoying a cream tea at Corfe Castle.

History

Although noted for its quiet villages and country lanes Dorset was once home to a royal castle at Corfe which was blown up during the civil war, the ruins are well worth a visit as is the village they tower over. Going back even further in time, Maiden Castle at Dorchester is the largest iron age hill fort in Britain!

Attractions

Though too numerous to list, Dorset has every kind of family entertainment for any time of year. Dorset is home to the famous Monkey World, Corfe Castle, Hardy's Monument, Badbury Rings and the unusual but equally delightful, Putlake Adventure Farm, Teddy Bear Museum at Corfe Castle or Blue Pool at Wareham.

Acton

This delightful little hamlet is just three miles from Swanage, an excellent walking area. Attractions nearby include Putlake Adventure Farm, Corfe Castle, Durlston Country Park or Steam Railway.

Blandford

Blandford Forum is located on the banks of the River Stour in Dorset, which explains why its name comes from Blaen-y-ford meaning 'the place near the ford'. The 13th century saw Blandford Forum as an important market town, enabling access by a bridge running over the Stour. In the 19th century accessibility was further improved by the addition of the railway and housing was being developed beyond the immediate town centre.

Blandford Forum boasts a Georgian style Market Place, and photographic records are able to illustrate how the area has retained its open style. Markets continue to run in the same place every Thursday and Saturday near the Church of St Peter and St Paul, which has stood grand in the Market Place since 1739 and is a fine example of the Georgian architecture that can be seen throughout the town.

Local attractions include the Royal Signals Museum at Blandford Army Camp, focusing on the history and significance of military communications, Blandford Museum and the Cavalcade of Costume Museum.

Annual celebrations take place in May for the Georgian Fayre, and September with Blandford Carnival and the week long, world-renowned Great Dorset Steam Fair. To mark the 400th anniversary of the granting of the Royal charter to Blandford Forum by King James I the town will be hosting an exciting variety of events throughout 2005, from a civil war re-enactment to an open air concert.

Corfe Castle

Larger village on the Isle of Purbeck, famous for the castle ruins, model village and steam railway to the larger town of Swanage 5 miles away. Within the village there are several good public houses, shop, cafe and tea rooms. Most of the cottages in Corfe Castle are several hundred years old and made from the local Purbeck ston.

Langton Matravers

A small village just two miles from the seaside town of Swanage. Surrounded by open countryside, Langton Matravers is a fairly quiet village with a small shop and public house. Many of the olde cottages are former smugglers cottage with hidden nooks for hiding contraband. Putlake Adventure Farm in the village is a must for the children.

Lytchett Matravers

The village is situated on rising ground in a landscape of attractive small valleys, open fields and little woods and is about five miles north of Wareham and seven miles north west of Poole town centre. The elevation gives views from many parts of the village to Poole harbour and the Purbeck hills. Nearby attractions include golf course, Farmer Palmers Adventure Farm, Poole Quay, paint balling, horse riding and Kingston Lacey.

Osmington

One of the most desirable holiday home locations in Dorset. This beautiful village is a favourite for locals and holiday makers alike. The Cove is famous for its dramatic rock formations and occasional visit by George the dolphin. In the next bay Durdle Door featured on many television programmes. A superb walking area either along the coastline or in the beautiful countryside. Local attractions include Lulworth Castle and estate, Bovington Tank Museum and Monkey World.

The Lulworth Estate is situated at the south west of Purbeck and is owned by the Weld family. The scenery around the area is stunning, but the estate also boasts some of the most dramatic in Purbeck.

Osmington

Osmington is a great location for a family holiday, this quaint village is a short drive into Weymouth and an easy walk to the coast. The fabulous Smuggler's Inn is nestled down below the surrounding cottages and houses in its own little valley, it is in an idyllic spot with a stream running down to the sea. This lovely old pub with parts said to date from the 13th century was once the home of the leader of the most notorious gang of smugglers in the area during the 18th and 19th centuries, Emmanuel Charles.

Studland

Studland beach is one of the most beautiful beaches in the South West, there are miles of sandy beach backed by dunes and the wild heathland all cared for by the National Trust. You can walk to the seaside town of Swanage or Corfe Castle. The village lies behind the beach a short walk away.

Tolpuddle

This little village has retained all the charm of bygone years despite being World famous. Those of you who can remember your History lessons will no doubt recall the Tolpuddle Martyrs who were transported to Australia and sowed the roots of Trade Unionism today.

West/East Burton & Winfrith (Central Dorset)

If you are looking to be centrally based in Dorset these villages have got to be your first choice. Choose one of these cottages and you will be within 10 minutes of the County town of Dorchester, Weymouth & Wareham, Monkey World and the coast at Lulworth Cove.

Wimborne Minister

The market town of Wimborne Minster is situated on the banks of the picturesque water meadows of the River Stour. The town boasts excellent shopping facilities and restaurants within quaint narrow Georgian streets and squares. The famous Minster dates from the 12th Century with astronomical clock and chained library. To the North of the town the beautiful Cranborne Chase is designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The New Forest is a mere twenty minutes from Wimborne as are the sandy beaches of Poole and Bournemouth.

Wimborne stages an annual Folk Festival. Founded in 1980 and held in the shadow of the gracious 12th century Minster Church of St Cuthburga, the annual event of Traditional Folk Dance and Song has become the focal point for the largest gathering of dance teams and musicians in the South of England. For the old town of Wimborne Minster, the festival is considered by many to be the major event of the year and is highly regarded nationally as one of the largest events of its kind in the country.

The captivating model town, which depicts Wimborne in the 1950s, provides hours of fun for children and adults alike, as they compare the tiny buildings to those in the town today. The award-winning Priest's House Museum is set in a 16th century townhouse with an enchanting English walled garden and there is a bustling market (every Friday - Sunday), Walford Mill Craft Centre and numerous speciality shops and boutiques for hours of browsing.

Weymouth

The seaside town of Weymouth has much to offer, a long safe sandy beach with traditional promenade. Quaint shopping area with small interesting side streets to explore. The town boasts a wealth of attractions including Nothe Fort, Brewers Quay, TimeWalk, Deep Sea Adventure, fishing trips, SeaLife Centre and Lodmoor Nature Reserve to name a few.

Events throughout the Year including International Beach Kite Festival, Classic Car Run, Triathlon, Tennis Tournament, Fireworks Displays, Steam Show, Carnival, Sailing regatta and of course the 2012 Olympic Games.

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