Dorset, Visitor & Tourism Guide
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AONBs: Dorset, Cranborne Chase and West Wiltshire Downs, East Devon.
Towns: Lyme Regis, Weymouth, Dorchester
Villages: Abbotsbury, Cerne Abbas, West Lulworth, Corfe Castle
Beaches and downland, history and fossils
Exceptional beaches and wonderful inland scenery, fine market towns and beautiful villages, dramatic coastal walking and extraordinary historical buildings, a stunning geological record and fossils. Dorset's great.
In South West England, surrounded by Hampshire, Wiltshire, Somerset and Devon.
Natural Beauty
Dorset's gorgeous so it comes as no surprise that much of the county has Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty status. The Dorset AONB covers about 40% of the county and most of its coastline. The Cranborne Chase and West Wiltshire Downs AONB runs further north and spills over into neighbouring Wiltshire.
A Jurassic coastline
Home to one of the most beautiful and important stretches of coastline in the UK. The Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site, which runs in Dorset from the area around Lyme Regis all the way eastwards to Swanage, was England's first natural UNESCO site. We cannot recommend highly enough a stroll or yomp along the coastline here. Perhaps try West Bay Beach and (East) Cliffs or Durdle Door if you've never walked the area before although you can't really go wrong wherever you start.
Dorset towns and villages
There are dozens of fine towns and villages in which to base yourself when exploring the county. Dorchester's the county town, Lyme Regis possibly its most famous destination. For coastline, try Weymouth and West Bay. Inland, try Shaftesbury and Sherborne. We've plenty or other recommendations in the Top 10 lists so browse some more there.
Attractions
The county has fine attractions, too. Corfe Castle is exceptional, as is the small village in which it stands. Then there's the mighty Chesil Beach and the South West Coast Path, The Cerne Giant and Portland Bill. If you're into country houses, you must visit Kingston Lacy and Gardens, if you prefer prehistory walk the ramparts at Maiden Castle.
Sand and sea
Then there are the beaches. Dozens of beaches from the pebble and shingle stretches in the west at Charmouth and Seatown to the sandy expanses at Swanage and Poole.
And don't forget those fossils. Lyme Regis and Charmouth are full of them!
Top 10 Recommendations
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Local Map
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Local Attractions [See more Attractions]
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Located in Dorchester, Dorset, South West England, England Less than a mile away. Museum of Dorset, opened in 1884. The Jurassic Coast Gallery, opened by Sir David Attenborough, covers the 95 mile coastline of the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site . The splendid Victorian Hall explores Dorset history... |
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Located in Dorchester, Dorset, South West England, England Approximately 1.7 miles away. The largest Iron Age hillfort in the UK. Just south of Dorchester on the edge of the Dorset AONB. According to the English Heritage information board on site, 'occupation of this hilltop began over 6,000 years ago in the... |
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Located in Dorchester, Dorset, South West England, England Approximately 2.5 miles away. |
Local Accommodation [See more Accommodation]
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 Less than a mile away. Total Rooms: 3; Rates: £60 - £60 Per Night Situated in Victoria Park, this hotel is within 5 minutesa walk of the town centre, close to the Dorchester bypass and adjacent to the county hospital There is a car park for guests and plenty of street parking... |
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Less than a mile away. Total Rooms: 5; Rates: £50 - £60 Per Night Set in the lovely market town of Dorchester in Dorset, the heart of Hardy County, this traditional English pub provides 5 newly-built letting rooms finished to a high standard... |
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 Less than a mile away. Total Rooms: 25; Rates: £49 - £199 Per Night The Wessex Royale is a delightful Georgian hotel with an excellent location in the centre of Dorchester It has free Wi-Fi and an la carte restaurant with an RAC Rosette... |
