Attractions & Events
Dorset
Beaches
Kids
Museums
Stately Homes And Castles
Literature
Walking
Activities
Nature Attractions
Eating Out
Dorset
http://www.dorsetattractions.co.uk/
http://www.visit-dorset.org.uk/topattractions-dorset.shtml
Beaches
Burton Bradstock (9 miles)
West Bay (10 miles)
West Bexington (9 miles)
Weymouth ('The sunniest place in Britain' according to the met office!)(18 miles) http://www.jurassiccoast.com/
Chesil Beach (9 miles) http://www.chesilbeach.org/
Lulworth Cove And Castle, Lulworth (27 miles) http://www.lulworth.com
Seatown And Golden Cap (12 miles) click_here
Lyme Regis (19 miles) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyme_Regis
Kids
Monkey World, Wool (20 miles) http://www.monkeyworld.co.uk/main.php
Dinosaur Museum, Dorchester (11 miles) http://www.thedinosaurmuseum.com/
Sealife, Weymouth (18 miles) http://www.sealifeeurope.com/local/index.php?loc=weymouth
Pirate Adventure Mini Golf (18 miles) http://www.sealifeeurope.com/local/pamg.php?loc=weymouth
Adventure Wonderland, Bournemouth (38 miles) http://www.adventurewonderland.co.uk/
Teddy Bear Museum, Dorchester (11 miles) http://www.teddybearhouse.co.uk/
Abbotsbury Swannery, Tropical Gardens and Children's Farm (12 miles) http://www.abbotsbury-tourism.co.uk/
Great Dorset Maize Maze, Portisham (13 miles) http://www.greatdorsetmaizemaze.com/index.html
Swanange Railway, Swanage (38 miles) http://swanagerailway.co.uk/
Charmouth Fossil Hunting, Charmouth (16 miles) http://www.charmouth.org/
Beer Quarry Caves, Beer (29 miles) click_here
Boat Trips, Weymouth (18 miles) http://www.weymouth-whitewater.co.uk/
Boat Trips, West Bay (10 miles) http://www.westbayfishing.net/cruises.htm
Museums
Dorset County Museum, Dorchester (11 miles) http://www.dorsetcountymuseum.org/
The Keep Military Museum, Dorchester, (11 miles) http://www.keepmilitarymuseum.org/
The Tank Museum, Wool (20 miles) http://www.tankmuseum.org/
Dorset Heavy Horse Centre, Edmondsham (43 miles) http://www.dorset-heavy-horse-centre.co.uk/
Dinosaur Museum, Dorchester (11 miles) http://www.thedinosaurmuseum.com/
Fleet Air Arm Museum, Ilchester (20 miles) http://www.fleetairarm.com/
The Tutankhamun Exhibition, Dorchester (11 miles) http://www.tutankhamun-exhibition.co.uk/
Portland Sculpture Park (23 miles) http://learningstone.org/
Stately Homes And Castles
Mapperton House http://www.mapperton.com/home_frame.htm
Minterne House, Minterne Magna (10 miles) http://www.minterne.co.uk/
Kingston Maurward Gardens, Stinsford (12 miles) http://www.kmc.ac.uk/gardens/
Portland Castle (23 miles) http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/server.php?show=nav.15746
Nothe Fort, Weymouth (18 miles) http://www.nothefort.org.uk/
Montacute House, Montacute (20 miles) click_here
Brownsea Island, Poole Harbour (34 miles) click_here
Corfe Castle (33 miles) http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-corfecastle
Gold Hill, Shaftesbury (40 miles) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gold_Hill,_Shaftesbury
Sherborne Castle (21 miles) http://www.sherbornecastle.com/
Athelhampton House, Athelhampton (16 miles) http://www.athelhampton.co.uk/Welcome.html
Forde Abbey, Chard (21 miles) http://www.fordeabbey.co.uk/pages/index.php
Kingston Lacy (30 miles) http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-kingstonlacy
Literature
Hardy's Cottage, Higher Bockhampton (13 Miles) click_here
Hardy's Max Gate, Dorchester (11 Miles) http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-maxgate
The Cobb - Lyme Regis - Jane Austen's 'Persuasion' and John Fowles' 'The French Lieutenant's Woman'
Chesil Beach - Ian McEwan
Walking
Maps of local walks available on arrival
Many footpaths start outside the Old School and link to the Wessex Way, Jubilee Trail and dozens of other routes.
Selection Of Local Walks http://walks4softies.co.uk/scripts/article.pl?a=a/20_jurassic/01_jurassic
Celtic Hill Forts And Historic Walks
Eggardon Hill (2 Miles) http://www.hiddendorset.org/index.php/hd/gem/hd1108.html
Pilsdon Pen (15 Miles) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pilsdon_Pen
Golden Cap (12 Miles) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Cap
for_more_information_click_here
Cerne Abbas Giant (8 Miles) click_here
Activities
Mountain biking and cycling trails click_here
Sea fishing http://www.weymouthangling.com/
(Weymouth has the biggest charter fleet in the country and hosted the World Boat Angling Championships in 2005)
http://www.westbayfishing.net/cruises.htm
Fly-fishing within 6 miles at Mangerton Mill (a 17th century working water mill)
Horse-riding
Diving - http://www.westbaydiving.com/ http://www.divedorset.com/
Sailing - amongst the best in Britain - nearby Portland is the 2012 Olympic sailing site. http://www.wpnsa.org.uk/
Boat Trips, Weymouth (18 miles) http://www.weymouth-whitewater.co.uk/
Boat Trips, West Bay (10 miles) http://www.westbayfishing.net/cruises.htm
Nature Attractions
Kingcombe Meadows Nature Reserve, Dorset Wildlife Trust's flagship reserve, is a traditional working farm with open access all year round. It is a nationally important site with a rich diversity of wildflower meadows (best time is June to July for wildflowers), woodlands, river and water meadows. Great for watching birds, deer, foxes, badgers, butterflies and even wild boar! (1/2 mile) - walk out of Old School and across a couple of fields.
The Kingcombe Centre (1 mile) an Environmental Education and Visitor Centre which runs a variety of wildlife, geological and art courses. It is open throughout the year to drop into and look around, and to sample the tea and home-made cakes. Wednesday afternoon walks around the reserve, with tea & cakes to finish.
Abbottsbury Swannery (12 miles) - 11th century Swannery where you can feed the swans, ducks and many other wild birds (cygnet hatching from mid-May to late June).
Radipole Lake, Weymouth (18 miles) - One of the best R.S.P.B. reserves in the country with many rare species, including the Bittern.
The Fleet Lagoon, Chesil Beach (12 miles) - A 12 mile long freshwater lagoon behind the Chesil Bank, stretching 10 miles from Abbotsbury to Portland harbour. An internationally important site for wading birds, etc. Take a cruise around the Fleet in a glass bottomed boat starting at Ferrybridge in Weymouth.
Portland Bill (23 miles) - One of the best places in Britain to see rare migrant birds and butterflies, and for sea birds, seals, etc.
Local Events
World Nettle Eating Competition, Marshwood, click_here (June)
Dorset Knob Throwing competition (early May)
Melplash Show http://www.melplashshow.co.uk/ (late August)
Powerstock Cider Festival - as featured on River Cottage (April)
Dorchester Couny Show (early September)
Dorchester Steam Fair (early September)
Yeovilton Airshow (July)
Farmers' Markets: monthly or fortnightly at Bridport, Poundbury and Townbridge,Weymouth
Eating Out
Pubs (all have separate eating areas if preferred)
Spyway Inn, Askerswell 01308 485250 (Nearest & poss. cheapest)
Marquis of Lorne, Nettlecombe 01308 485236
Three Horseshoes, Powerstock 01308 485238
Crown, Uploders 01308 485356
Bridge Hotel - Beaminster - 01308 862200 The Brasserie opened last year at the rear of The Bridge Hotel in conservatory and is less expensive than their main restaurant but you can choose from both menus - very relaxing atmosphere (main courses approx. £9- £16.00)
The Petit Canard Restaurant, Maiden Newton 01300 320536 - 3 courses approx £28.00
The Riverside, West Bay - 01308 422011
Cafes & Tearooms - reasonably priced
The Hive, Burton Bradstock - 01308 897070 - by the beach and has just been awarded ‘Best Coastal Café by the magazine ‘Coast'. Only open until 4 pm or 5 pm but serves hot meals at lunchtime - specialises in local fish and seafood. Very popular.
The Egg Cup Tearooms, Swyre - on a chicken farm, hence the name (the chickens are a couple of fields away) - on road between Burton Bradstock and Abbotsbury - serves hot lunches and cream teas - reasonably priced.
No 64, Maiden Newton - 01300 320260
One of our popular haunts - accessed through the back of the newsagents and essential to book. Opened last year for lunches and coffee and very busy - lunchtime meals for less than £5 - very good value.