Dorset Holidays

Dorset holidays have much to offer: and whether you choose to stay in the south or west of the county you'll find the best of both coastline and countryside.

Dorset is home to dramatic coastal paths, historic houses and ancient relics, plus winding country lanes leading to picturesque towns and villages. The links to the right will enable you to view Dorset hotels, guest houses, holiday parks, caravan sites, cottages and self catering accommodation within your chosen area.

For centuries the unspoilt tranquillity and beauty of Thomas Hardy’s Wessex have captivated film-makers, poets and authors who have been inspired by visits to coastal towns like Lyme Regis, Charmouth and West Bay, as well as Abbotsbury, Dorchester, Sherborne, Beaminster and Bridport.

Dorset was obviously once very popular with dinosaurs too. As the cliffs gradually erode, this stretch of the coast is revealing fossils formed 200 million years ago.

Charmouth’s cliffs are full of animals that swam in the Jurassic seas. Complete skeletons have been discovered in the area, which is the best and safest place to look for fossils in the World Heritage Site.

Dorset's Chesil beach consists of 18 miles of pebbles and shingle that has protected this coast from the force of the Atlantic swell for thousands of years. It encloses the Fleet, the largest tidal lagoon in Britain and a place of international importance for its birds and marine wildlife.

There is a heritage of traditional industries - in the 13th century Bridport was a focus for the rope and net making industry, hence its long, narrow rope walks and Beaminster once thrived from woolcloth and sailcloth.

South Dorset is home to a variety of treasures including the beautiful Purbeck countryside, the resorts of Weymouth and Swanage and the dramatic Isle of Portland.

There are the massive chalk and sandstone cliffs at White Nothe, which lead to the perfect arc of Lulworth Cove, formed by centuries of waves crashing against its limestone rock. Nearby is Durdle Door, which must be one of the most photographed pieces of rock in Dorset, if not the country.

The undulating coast continues past the Fossil Forest between Lulworth and Mupe Bay, on to Kimmeridge, Chapman’s Pool, St Aldhelm’s Head, and Swanage, and then on to the chalk stacks at Old Harry Rocks.

Weymouth is the largest community in South Dorset and it has a range of light industry, mainly of a high tech nature. There is also a strong emphasis on marine business, with large and small boat builders and a significant marine service sector. Portland is of course famous for its stone and quarries are still active on the island and in Purbeck.

It takes around an hour (traffic permitting) to drive from the famous landmark of Dorset's Portland Bill to Studland Bay, which marks the eastern end of the World Heritage Coast.

Own a second home in Dorset? Visit Dorset Keyholders, who can offer you peace of mind in the event of any concerns you may have about your property whilst it's vacant.

Lyme Regis... Charmouth ... Bridport & West Bay... Beaminster... Abbotsbury... Sherborne ... Weymouth... Dorchester ... Portland ... Gillingham ... Lulworth ... Shaftesbury ... Blandford... Wareham ... Corfe Castle ... Wimborne ... Poole... Swanage ... Bournemouth... Christchurch... The New Forest ...