Places to visit in and around West Dorset:
The Jurassic Coast - Dorset's coastline has been awarded World Heritage Site status, ranking it alongside the Grand Canyon and the Great Barrier Reef. The coast between Charmouth and Lyme Regis is world famous for its rocks and fossils dating back 190 million years.
The ancient Cobb harbour at Lyme is where a hooded Meryl Streep stood in 'The French Lieutenant' Woman'.
West Bay is a bustling harbour community of traditional kiosks, boats, pubs and restaurants.
Bridport is a thriving market town (wed & sat) and a great place to browse and shop for local produce . Now known for Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall's 'Return to River Cottage' series.
Dorchester is still very much the 'Casterbridge' of Thomas Hardy's novels.
Weymouth made famous by King George has a beautiful, sandy and safe beach ideal for families with young children, complete with Punch and Judy shows and donkey rides.
Abbotsbury has thatched cottages, tea rooms, gift shops, the famous Swannery and a Medieval Barn
Dorset's Tourist Attractions :
West Dorset boasts a wide range of Tourist Attractions ranging from the famous Swannery at Abbotsbury, Monkey World at Wareham, The Llama Experience at Beaminster, the Sealife centre at Weymouth to the Tank Museum at Bovington. Dorchester is home to the Tutankhamun Exhibition, the Dinosaur Museum, The Terracotta Warriors and the Teddy Bear Museum!
Mangerton Mill near Bridport has a 17th Century working watermill and museum of Rural Bygones. Mapperton House and Gardens near Beaminster and Forde Abby and Gardens near Chard with a 12th Century house and 30 acres of gardens are well worth visiting.
The Great Dorset (Maize) Maze between Weymouth and Abbotsbury will fascinate children as will the Animal farm for the little ones beside the Tithe Barn at Abbotsbury. Parents will probably prefer the Sub Tropical Gardens.
Bridport and Dorchester each have a leisure centres with swimming pools and a golf course.
Dorset Coast and Countryside:
The South West Coast Path National Trail is a 630 mile path which follows the coast from Poole harbour past West Bexington along side Chesil beach continuing right round the south west peninsula to Minehead on the edge of Exmoor National Park.
A 17 mile section of the path from Osmington Mills to West Bexington follows the South Dorset Ridgeway passing antiquities such as Iron Age hill forts and with the highest concentration of burial mounds in the country. It's recommended for the stunning views, such as those looking down on Abbotsbury, Chesil Beach and the western end of the Fleet Lagoon.
Please contact us for the web site address to find out more about the Jurassic Coast and Dorset's coast and country side, or pick up a copy of the Doset Countryside Guide from the local tourist Information centre in Bridport situated near the Library in South Street.
marks the location of the property in South of England
