Holidays in Dorset

Posted by Peter Brady on Tue 8th August 2006 at 09:30 AM, Filed in Alternative DestinationsFossil Hunting

If you’re visiting the UK and wondering where to visit, give some serious consideration to the Dorset coast. This unique part of the world has recently been listed a World Heritage Site and rightly so. Comprising rugged coast line, unique geological formations of Triassic, Cretaceous and Jurassic strata which are perfect for amateur fossil hunters, excellent sailing (The 2012 Olympic Sailing events will be held in Dorset), bird watching and much more.

Key areas to visit are:

Lyme Regis: “Situated in the South West of Dorset, The West Country, England,  UK, Lyme Regis is an historic unspoiled seaside resort and fishing port on the world famous Cobb harbour. Surrounded by beautiful coastlines and countryside.”

Charmouth: “The picturesque sea side village of Charmouth is located on the World Heritage Site Jurassic Coast. The Lower Jurassic clays in this part of Dorset are full of fossils that are washed out of the cliffs and left in the gravel and sand to be found by those who look carefully enough”

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Portland Bill and Chesil Beach
:  “Portland Bill - world famous because of its picturesque and wild location. The lighthouse is perhaps the most photographed feature on Portland. The Chesil Bank or Chesil Beach (Old English ceosol, cisel=shingle) stretches 29 km (18 miles) from Bridport Harbour (West Bay) to Chesil (or Chesilton or Chiswell) Bay in the Isle of Portland. It is a very large simple linear storm beach connecting the so-called Isle of Portland to the mainland.”


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While you’re visiting Dorset you may want to consider taking a look at some of the local attractions which are listed below:

Abbotsbury Smugglers Barn,
Tel: 01305 871817 New Barn Road, Abbotsbury, Dorset, DT3 4JG      

Abbotsbury Sub Tropical Garden,
Tel: 01305 871387 Bullers Way, Abbotsbury, Dorset, DT3 4LA    

Abbotsbury Swannery,
Tel: 01305 871858 New Barn Road, Abbotsbury, Dorset, DT4 4JG    

Athelhampton House & Gardens,
Tel: 01305 848363 Athelhampton, Dorchester, Dorset, DT2 7LG      

Blandford Museum,
Tel: 01258 450388 Bere’s Yard, Blandford Forum, Dorset, DT11 7EB      

Bridport Museum,
Tel: 01308 422116 South Street, Bridport, Dorset,      

Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre,
Tel: 01297 560772 Lower Sea Lane, Charmouth, Dorset, DT6 6LL      

Compton Acres Gardens,
Tel: 01202 700778 Canford Cliffs Road, Poole, Dorset, BH13 7KS      

Corfe Castle,
Tel: 01929 481294 Wareham, Dorset, BH20 5EZ    

Dinosaur Museum,
Tel: 01395 269880 Icen Way, Dorchester, Dorset,      

Dorset County Museum,
Tel: 01305 26273566 High West Street, Dorchester, Dorset, DT1 1XA      

Farmer Palmer’s Farm Park,
Tel: 01202 622022 Organford Farm, Wareham Road, Organford, Poole, BH16      

Kingston Maurward Gardens,
Tel: 01305 215003 Dorchester, Dorset, DT2 8PY      

Lulworth Castle,
Tel: 01929 400352 Wareham, Dorset, BH20 5QS      

Mill House Cider Museum,
Tel: 01305 852220 Owermoigne, Dorchester, Dorset, DT2 8HZ      

Monkey World,
Tel: 01929 462537 Wool, Wareham, Dorset, BH20 6HH      

Royal Signals Museum,
Tel: 01258 482248 Blandford Camp, Blandford, Dorset, DT11 8RH
   
Shaftesbury Abbey Museum & Garden,
Tel: 01747 852910 Park Walk, Shaftesbury, Dorset, SP7 8JR
     
Sherborne Castle,
Tel: 01935 813182 New Road, Sherborne, Dorset, DT9 5NR      

Sturminster Newton Museum & Mill,
Tel: 01747 854355 Bath Road, Sturminster Newton, Dorset,      

Swanage Railway,
Tel: 01929 425800 Station House, Swanage, Dorset, BH19 1HB      

The Cavalcade of Costume Museum,
Tel: 01258 453006 Lime Tree House, The Plocks, Blandford Forum, DT11 7AA      

The Dorset Teddy Bear Museum,
Tel: 01305 266040, Eastgate, corner of High East St & Salisbury St, Dorchester, Dorset.
     
The Military Museum of Devon & Dorset Regt.,
Tel: 01305 264066, The Keep, Bridport Road, Dorchester, DT1 1RM      

The Tank Museum,
Tel: 01929 405096 Bovington, Wool, Dorset, BH20 6JG      

Tolpuddle Martyrs Museum,
Tel: 01305 848237 TUC Memorial Cottages, Tolpuddle, Nr Dorchester, DT2 7EH      

Tutankhamun Exhibition,
Tel: 01305 269571 High West Street, Dorchester, Dorset,      

Wareham Town Museum,
Tel: 01929 553448 Town Hall, 5 East Street, Wareham, Dorset, BH20 4NN


For further Dorset info you may want to check out these sites:

Dinsosaur Land - fossil hunting walks costing £5 adults, £3 children. 01297 443 541

Tourist Information - 01297 442 138

 

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