Dorset Places to Visit
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Dorset Places to Visit What to See & Do in Dorset Cycling Cyclists will find the thousands of miles of winding hedge-lined lanes very enticing. Dorset offers the visitor a huge range of things to There is no better way to observe the life of the see and do within a relatively small area. What- countryside than on an ambling bike ride. The ever your interest, whether it be archaeology, more energetic cyclist will find a large variety of history, old churches and castles or nationally suggested routes in leaflets at the TICs. important formal gardens, it is here. Activities For people who prefer more organised Museums The county features a large number activities there is a wide range on offer, particu- of museums, from the world class Tank Museum larly in the vicinity of Poole, Bournemouth, to the tiniest specialist village heritage centre. All Christchurch and Weymouth. These cover are interesting and staffed by enthusiastic people everything expected of prime seaside resorts who love to tell the story of their museum. with things to do for every age and inclination. The National Trust maintains a variety of Coastline For many the prime attraction of properties here. These include Thomas Hardy’s Dorset is its coastline, with many superb beach- birthplace and his house in Dorchester. The es. Those at Poole, Bournemouth, Weymouth grandiose mansion of Kingston Lacy is the and Swanage have traditional seaside facilities creation of the Bankes family. Private man- and entertainments during the summer. People sions to visit include Athelhampton House and who prefer quiet coves or extensive beaches will Sherborne Castle. not be disappointed, especially in the winter. Nature enthusiasts will not be disappointed as All-Year Attraction Dorset is a county which the county is a year round destination for bird will reward the visitor at any time of year and in watchers. It is famous for its wild flowers, butter- any weather. That so many visitors come back flies and dragonflies. With the 95mi (155km) time and again is testament to the place, but also long Jurassic Coast UNESCO World Heritage to the welcome afforded by the Dorset folk. Site and nearly 60 varied nature reserves, there is plenty of scope. Accommodation This guide specifically does not cover information about accommodation, Walkers will find Dorset very welcoming, with eating out or shopping as these are well covered its huge network of paths, long distance and by annual tourist guides and subject to frequent shorter. Routes can be planned by combining change. Dorset offers everything from five star information in this guide with the relevant Ord- hotels, self catering and bed & breakfast to nance Survey map. Alternatively there are many campsites. walking books available. Tour guides also lead groups in many places. Eating Out ranges from top class restaurants to very good chip shops. Dorset offers an excel- lent range of local produce including prime beef, The Nine Stones, Winterborne Abbas lamb, pork and seafood as well as fruit and vege- tables in season. Few are disappointed. Shopping The many small towns and villages have retained a wide selection of local shops. These include butchers, bakers, fish shops, drap- ers, bookshops, hardware stores, newsagents and antique outlets and other interesting businesses. Dorset Guide Book 1st edition by Charles Tait 316 Visitor Information Centres & Archaeology Tourist Information Centres visit-dorset.com There are several Tourist Information Centres in Dorset, all in the main towns and villages. visit-dorset.com is the Official Dorset Tourism Information website and covers the huge range of things to see and do in Dorset. Brochures may also be requested from here on Christchurch, West Dorset, Swanage & Purbeck Sculpture by the Lakes as well as the main Dorset Guide. Swanage Tourist Information Centre, The White House, Shore Road, Swanage Blandford Tourist Information Centre, BH19 1LB Tel 01929 422885 Riverside House, West Street, Blandford DT11 7AW Tel 01258 454770 Wimborne Tourist Information Centre, 29 High Street, Wimborne Minster BH21 1HR Bournemouth Tourist Information Centre, Tel 01202 886116 Westover Road, Bournemouth BH21 2BU Tel 0845 051 1700 Other information sources include visitor at- tractions, museums, local shops, accommoda- Bridport Tourist Information Centre, Bucky tion providers and rural post offices. Books and Doo Square, South Square, Bridport DT6 3LF guides are available from TICs, local bookshops Tel 01308 424901 and visitor attractions, as well as online. Christchurch Information Centre, 49 High Archaeology - Neolithic Street, Christchurch BH23 1AS Tel 01202 471780 Cursus, Cranborne Chase ...........................270 Hell Stone .....................................................150 Discover Purbeck Information Centre, South Knowlton Henge, Cranborne Chase .........268 Street, Wareham, Purbeck BH20 4LR Maumbury Rings, Dorchester ....................162 Tel 01929 552740 Nine Stones, Winterborne Abbas ..............150 Valley of Stones ............................................150 Dorchester Tourist Information Centre, Antelope Walk, Dorchester DT1 1BE Archaeology - Bronze Age Tel 01305 267992 Clandon Barrow, Dorchester ......................151 Lyme Regis Tourist Information Centre, Kingston Russell Stone Circle ....................150 Church Street, Lyme Regis DT7 3BS Valley of Stones ............................................150 01297 442138 Poole Welcome Centre, 19 The Quay, Poole BH15 1HJ Charmouth Beach pooletourism.com Tel 01202 253253 Shaftesbury Tourist Information Centre, 8 Bell Street, Shaftesbury SP7 8AE Tel 01747 853514 Sherborne Tourist Information Centre, Digby Road, Sherborne DT9 3NL Tel 01935 815341 317 Dorset Guide Book 1st edition by Charles Tait Dorset Places to Visit Tout Quarry Sculpture Park, Isle of Portland Tel 01305 821638........................................198 Beaches, Coast & Cliffs Bournemouth, sandy beach ........................294 Chapman’s Pool, rocky bay, cliffs ................212 Charmouth, sand beach, cliffs, fossils ........136 Chesil Beach, shingle ...................................148 Christchurch, sandy beaches ......................307 Corfe Castle Cogden Beach, sand, shingle .......................148 Archaeology - Iron Age Durdle Door, shingle beaches, cliffs ...........204 Abbotsbury Castle, Abbotsbury ................148 Durlston Head, cliffs ...................................214 Badbury Rings, Kingston Lacy ...................266 Eype, sand, shingle, cliffs .............................147 Coney’s Castle, West Dorset .......................140 Kimmeridge, rocks, cliffs .............................210 Eggardon Hill, West Dorset .......................152 Lulworth Cove, sand, rocks, cliffs ...............204 Hambledon Hill, North Dorset .................249 Lyme Regis, sand, shingle, cliffs ..................132 Hengistbury Head, North Dorset .............308 Mupe Bay, sand, shingle, cliffs ....................206 Hod Hill, North Dorset .............................248 Poole, sandy beaches ....................................288 Lambert’s Castle, West Dorset ...................140 Portland, cliffs, rocky beaches, shingle .......190 Maiden Castle, Dorchester .........................172 Ringstead Bay, sand, shingle, cliffs ..............187 Pilsdon Pen, West Dorset ...........................140 Sandbanks, sandy beaches ..........................288 Poundbury Hillfort, Dorchester ................162 Seatown, sand, shingle, cliffs .......................139 Spetisbury Rings ..........................................250 St Aldhelm’s Head, cliffs .............................212 Studland, sandy beach .................................219 Archaeology - Romans Swanage, sandy beach, cliffs ........................216 West Bay, sand, shingle, cliffs ......................146 Ackling Dyke, Cranborne Chase ......266, 270 Weymouth, sandy beach .............................182 County Museum, Dorchester .....................164 White Nothe, cliffs, rocky beach ................187 Jordan Hill Roman Temple, Weymouth ...180 Worbarrow Bay, sand, shingle, cliffs ...........207 Roman Aqueduct .........................................162 Roman Fort, Hod Hill ................................248 Boat Trips Roman Road, Thorncombe Wood ............174 Roman Town House, Dorchester ..............163 Adventure Voyages, Mudeford Quay, Christchurch adventurevoyages.co.uk Art & Craft Tel 07968 334 441 Sculpture by the Lakes, Pallington Lakes, Dor- Bournemouth Boating Services, 323 Belle Vue chester DT2 8QU sculpturebythelakes.co.uk Road, Bournemouth BH6 3BA Tel 07720 637 808 .......................................237 bournemouthboating.co.uk Tel 01202 429 119 Studland Beach Brownsea Island Ferries, Hethfelton, East Stoke, Wareham, Dorset BH20 6HJ brownseaislandferries.com Tel 01929 462383 From Poole Quay & Sandbanks to Brownsea Island, also to Swanage and Wareham. Fleet Observer (Glass Bottom Boat), Wyke Regis, Weymouth DT4 9NU fleetobserver.co.uk Tel 01305 759692 ......341 Dorset Guide Book 1st edition by Charles Tait 318 Visitor Attractions & Events Greenslade Pleasure Boats, The Orange Kiosk, Poole Quay, Dorset DT15 1HJ greensladepleasureboats.co.uk Tel 01202 669955 Boat trips from Poole Quay to Brownsea Island, Swanage and Wareham Weymouth Whitewater, Nr town bridge, Weymouth weymouth-whitewater.co.uk Tel 0789 9892 317 Castles Great Dorset Steam Fair Wareham, St Martins .................................226 Christchurch Castle, Castle Street, Whitchurch Canonicorum .........................138