Dorset or Dorsetshire as it was known long time ago, is a county in the southwestern part of England on the English Channel coast. The county is governed by Dorset city council and the authorities of Bournemouth and Poole.
The county has a long history of human settlement panning to the Neolithic era. The Romans conquered the Dorset’s indigenous Celtic tribe during the middle ages and the Saxons settled in the area during the 7th century. The county is widely noted for idyllic countryside, beautiful coastline and rolling hills that receives tourists on a daily basis.
It is an area of outstanding beauty and ancient rock formation, beyond the spectacular stretch of the coastline is a rich countryside from the dairy pastures of Blackmore Vale to chalks downlands of Cranborne Chase.
It is the most popular county in England for overnight stays with over two million visitors’ visiting the area annually. Dorset has no motorways or cities, it is a rural location with market towns and villages, over a third of the county is designated as areas of outstanding beauty.
In the year 2001, over ninety miles of the Dorset coastline and East Devon were designated as world heritage sites because of a wide range of landforms and fossils. Because of the coastal erosion the rock formation on the rock formation on the western coastline are the perfect places for fossil hunting.
Puberck stone and Portland are areas with Old Stone Age buildings, with thatched cottages and old manor houses acting as reminders of rich agricultural heritage. Some of the areas worth visiting include:
1. Brownsea Island, Poole Harbor
Poole is a town to the eastern region of the county with a large harbor and busy port, within the harbor there are a number of tiny islands, which includes Brownsea owned by the National Trust.
There are boat trips throughout the islands for tourists to enjoy sightseeing around the island. The area is home to a large population of seabirds and red squirrels. Brownsea Island was home to Lord Baden Powell who was the founder of Boy Scout movement in the last century.
Poole port, Brownsea Island
2. Corfe Castle
If you are looking for rich English history then Corfe Castle is the place to be, the ruins stand on a hill in the village area of Corfe, near Wareham region. The site was built in the year 1066 for William the conqueror and served as a royal fortress for over six hundred years before it was destroyed in the year 1646 by the parliamentarians.
The castle is rich in history and the local area is well endowed with lush and green bushes, offering ultimate relaxation for tourists. Take a guided tour to learn the history of Lady Bankes and her betrayal by the parliamentarians leading to Civil War treachery.
While in the area tourists can take their time to admire the ravens of the last several centuries and enjoy picnic at the grassy slope with tantalizing views of the surrounding coast and countryside.
Corfe Castle, Dorset, England
3. Durdle Door
Durdle Door is one of the most amazing picturesque of the Dorset coastline and it is located near Lulworth. It is regarded as the door of the natural limestone arch, which protrudes from the cliffs of the sea. The water is beautifully clear and is a popular spot for snorkeling and summer swimming.
Durdle Door Sunset, Dorset
4. Chesil Beach
Chesil is the longest shingle beach in the European continents; it stretches eighteen miles from Bridport in the west to Portland in the eastern region. It is one of the best spots for tourists who want to enjoy an evening or morning walk.
At the eastern part of the beach the shingles narrow down to form the Isle of Portland, it is separated by land with brackish lagoon, which ends at the Abbotsbury. The western part of Chesil lies beneath a huge sandstone cliff, making the area a magnificent tourist attraction site.
Chesil Beach, Portland, Dorset by Spencer Means
5. Maiden Castle
Maiden castle is the fort from the Iron Age located near the county town of Dorchester; With its area of 190,000 square meters it has become the largest fort in Britain (and according to some criteria, the largest fort in Europe as well). There is an evidence of early roman occupation in the area; Dorchester itself is an old roman town.
Maiden Castle, Dorset, England
6. Weymouth Sea Life Adventure Park
This innovative attraction offers outdoor and indoor experience with indoor bits housed in a wide array of special pods. The outdoor are seal and otter sanctuaries coupled with Homboldt penguins of South America.
The indoor attractions include tropical shark nursery where bonnet head, blacktip and other shark species patrol in the water. The Turtle sanctuary is the perfect location for watching the turtles. Under the glass tunnel, you can check out the rides on Adventure Island where real crocodiles swim around.
7. The Jurassic Coast
The Jurassic coast is a world heritage site popular in the world for its geology and uniqueness. It incorporates ninety-five miles of coastline from east Devon to Swanage.
Keen walkers can be able to walk to the southwestern path, according to geologists the area spans over a hundred and eighty million years of history, which includes Jurassic, Triassic, and cretaceous period’s rich with geological wonders and fossils.
The Jurassic Coast
8. Abbotsbury and the Sub-tropical Gardens
Abbotsbury is a little village with multiple tourist attraction areas, which includes the Tithe barn, swannery, and sub tropical gardens. The garden has rich and rare exotic trees where all kinds of plants and flowers flourish. The swannery was established by Benedictine monks of the 11th century, few ruins of the monastery are still in place.
Abbotsbury and the Sub-tropical Gardens
9. Bridport
Bridport is a market town that hosts regular farmers market; it is one of the busiest markets in the area. There are a number of items sold in the market form local produce to antiques and crafts of the local people. There is a thriving scene of art and a wide range of live music to choose from.
Bridport market
10. Lyme Regis
Lyme Regis is a popular tourist destination because of its geology; it acted as a home to Mary Anning a famous geologist who was the first to discover dinosaur bones in the area. The museum here is rich in art and history spanning several decades ago.
Lyme Regis
In summary, when looking for a holiday destination Dorset is the perfect place to be, you can sleep, relax, eat and drink while enjoying the beautiful scenery and learning ancient history. The area is a good destination for both children and adults, making it the best learning experience for the kids. Visit Dorset and have fun filled holiday!
