This stunning southwest county is known for having one of the best coastlines in England. Crowned as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the sprawling Jurassic Coast is a major tourist attraction in the UK for its beautiful sandy beaches and ancient-old coves. But it’s not all about the beach. Dorset is also home to bustling towns, lush nature reserves, enchanting castles and rolling green landscapes – which have inspired many of Enid Blyton’s stories, including the Famous Five.
This corner of the UK has it all, whether you want to wander the cobbled streets, visit ghost towns or tick off local landmarks – the famous Durdle Door and Lulworth Castle, to name a couple. If you’re already dreaming of your next Dorset escape, discover our unique collection of cottages, hotels and homestays available to book for family holidays or group travel parties.
Dorset
10 BEDROOMS | From £5,864 per week
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9 BEDROOMS | From £14,836 per week
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4 BEDROOMS | From £1,799 per week
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4 BEDROOMS | From £1,837 per week
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8 BEDROOMS | From £14,595 per week
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7 BEDROOMS | From £3,308 per week
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2 BEDROOMS | From £3,836 per week
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2 BEDROOMS | From £3,836 per week
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2 BEDROOMS | From £1,339 per week
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1 BEDROOMS | From £1,479 per week
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1 BEDROOMS | From £1,479 per week
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6 BEDROOMS | Call for prices
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4 BEDROOMS | From £1,664 per week
ViewThere’s so much to see and do both on and off the sand in Dorset, whether you’re travelling with friends or want to entertain little ones. A pretty cool attraction on a warm summer evening is the alfresco Luna Cinema experience, where some of your favourite movies are projected onto a screen that hangs from the 17th-Century Lulworth Castle (which totally counts as soaking up the history!). For a tour of the county, hop on the Swanage Railway – this beautifully preserved vintage steam train is ready to whisk you through the heart of the countryside and past iconic landmarks including Corfe Castle. Feeling adventurous? Pack your hiking boots and head to the isle of Portland where you can tackle the climb at the popular inland crag, The Cuttings. Or, for a leisurely walk with panoramic views to match, Gold Hill in Shaftesbury is a pretty sloping village that overlooks the lush Blackmore Vale – it also hosts an annual Cheese Race!
There’s no shortage of dramatic ruins, heritage sites and ancient castles in Dorset, which is ideal if you like to soak up a destination’s local history during your visit. The dramatic Corfe Castle is over a thousand years old and one of the more popular tourist spots here, particularly for its fascinating yet spooky ghost stories! The ruin of 12th century Sherborne Old Castle will make you feel as though you’ve transported back in time, nestled among beautiful grounds that are full of wildlife; while the impressive Grade-1 listed Highcliffe Castle in Christchurch is a sight for sore eyes, an architectural delight with undeniable beauty and sophistication overlooking the twinkling sea.
If you like to be by the sea, you’ve got a fair share of beaches to explore in Dorset. One of the most photographed landmarks on the Jurassic Coast is Durdle Door, which also holds the title as the first UNESCO World Heritage Site to be crowned in England. Created by erosion over 140 million years ago, its natural limestone arch is a sight to behold – so don’t forget your camera. A similar geographic wonder is Lulworth Cove, this beautiful bay, village, and pebble beach neighbours Durdle Door and makes the perfect spot for a summer picnic. If you’re partial to a British drama series, why not visit the famous on-screen “Broadchurch” beach in Dorset’s West Bay? Or if you’re a history lover, Lyme Regis is the place to be for fossil hunting – with some of the most unusual ammonite fossils waiting to be uncovered (which actually became extinct around the same time as dinosaurs!).
It may sound as though sleepy villages, scenic coastlines and pretty castles take precedence in this county, but there’s a much livelier side to be discovered, too. If you like to let your hair down, the famous annual summer festival of Bestival has been hosted in Dorset’s Lulworth Estate for the last few years, with a host of music entertainment, fairground rides, fireworks and the World’s Biggest Bouncy Castle – all wrapped up within an actual castle. If adrenaline-pumping sports activities are your thing, buckle up and throw yourself off the edge of the Jurassic Coast’s rugged clifftops, with experiences such as coasteering; or for more wet and wild fun, why not take the kids to try out the aqua-based obstacle course at Dorset Waterpark in Purbeck, instead? Whether you want to admire the wildlife, hike the wild landscapes or simply admire the scenery, you’ll never be short of action and adventure in the southwest.