Dorset is where the past and present combine to form a truly wonderful location in the South of England. You won’t be stuck for things to do after I’ve provided you with some fantastic reasons to visit the county.
Firstly, there aren’t many places in the world where you can be transported back to over 200 million years ago; however, Dorset is one of them. As you walk along the 95 mile long Jurassic coast, resting among the pebbles and driftwood will be the fossilised remains of plants, insects, and other living organisms from the Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous periods. You can take part in guided walks along the coastline (Charmouth Heritage Centre, Lyme Regis Museum), or go it alone, this can be a really exciting way to dip into the history on our doorstep. Visit Lulworth Cove and experience firsthand the ancient fossil forest and see if you can find some of the genuine dinosaur footprints and track ways it is claimed have been found here. It is important that if you do embark on a fossil hunt that you consult the local tide times, it is advisable that you hunt during falling tides and follow the fossil hunting code. For those who want to find fossils, but don’t want to risk becoming victims of the Great British elements, the Dorset County Museum has numerous fossils from the area on display.
Staying on the coastal theme, the beaches in Dorset are some of the most beautiful that you can visit around the UK, Bournemouth and Weymouth are just two examples. To begin with, it’s no surprise that Bournemouth has recently won Group Leisure magazine’s Best UK resort award. Stretching a remarkable seven miles, the beach at Bournemouth boasts a traditional seaside pier, the world’s largest deck chair, and the land train that runs along the promenade. Also, with some of the warmest waters in the UK, Bournemouth beach is a favourite among the extreme water sports community. Weymouth is another example of stunning shoreline, offering a completely different experience to Bournemouth. Part of the Jurassic coast, and densely populated with wildlife, you’ll find the reed bed habitat that is home to many rare and interesting birds.
Animal lovers will love visiting Monkey World which features over 160 primates in 65 acres of sanctuary; a great favourite destination among families. The purpose of this fantastic attraction is to help stop the illegal smuggling of apes out of Africa and Asia. Also, be blown away at the Wimborne Minster Model Town, built over 50 years ago and featuring the picturesque town of Wimborne at 1/10th scale, this incredible attraction has really stood the test of time and continues to amaze visitors to the county every year. Finally, celebrate Great British heritage at Swanage railway. Visitors to this attraction can experience the beautiful Dorset countryside in a completely unique way on a stunning six-mile journey that passes the magnificent ruins of Corfe Castle.