Dorset: Holiday Rentals, Castles and World Heritage Coast

Dorset combines historic sites with impressive coastal landscapes, walking trails, museums and local culinary delights. Between castles, Iron Age sites, railway journeys and vineyards, a diverse picture of the county emerges, bringing together nature, history and local traditions.

Culture and History

Corfe Castle preserves 1,000 years of history as a royal palace and fortress. At Corfe Castle, there are walks around the ruins and an audio trail. Portland Castle is a coastal artillery fortress built under Henry VIII to defend Portland Harbour. Its history is conveyed through presentations, interactive exhibitions and an audio guide. This includes a Tudor kitchen with an exhibition explaining how food was prepared for the troops stationed in the fortress.

Maiden Castle is one of the largest and most complex Iron Age hillforts in Europe and covers an area equivalent to the size of 50 football pitches. Admission is free, and the site is open during reasonable daytime hours. At the Dorset Museum & Art Gallery, the Natural Dorset Gallery presents the county’s geology, landscapes, habitats and wildlife. The museum also offers family tours and workshops and presents 500,000 years of human history from the Palaeolithic to the present day, as well as the central themes of land, sea and community in Dorset.

The former school in Tyneham has served as a museum since the late 20th century. Tyneham is an abandoned village, also described as a ghost village. Since 1975, Tyneham and the surrounding area have been open to the public on approximately 145 days per year, when the military training area is not in use.

Coast and Landscape

The Dorset and East Devon Coast World Heritage Site comprises eight sections along a largely undeveloped coast with a total length of 155 kilometres. Its geology documents approximately 185 million years of Earth’s history; the area also includes internationally significant fossil sites. Durdle Door is a natural limestone arch.

The South West Coast Path runs along the Dorset coast and ends at Poole Harbour. Alongside the geological features, long stretches of coastline and distinctive natural formations are therefore central features of the landscape.

Trails and Activities

A walking trail across the Purbeck Ridge passes Corfe Castle and Old Harry; depending on the route, it is 8.7 to 9.5 miles long. The route across Corfe Common passes through an archaeological landscape near Corfe Castle and is stated to be 2.5 miles long. Dorset also offers opportunities for cycling on quiet country roads.

Swanage Railway operates standard-gauge steam and diesel passenger trains on a 5.5-mile route between Norden, Corfe Castle and the Victorian seaside town of Swanage. The railway also offers bookable train journeys with a cream tea.

Local Culinary Delights

Moores Dorset Biscuits began making Dorset Knobs in a bakery at Stoke Mill. Dorset Knobs were a traditional early meal for local agricultural workers. Blue Vinney Cheese is considered a Dorset speciality.

In Dorset, you can explore vineyards, learn about growing, harvesting and preparing grapes, and receive tasting guidance from experts. The Hall & Woodhouse brewery in Blandford Forum offers a guided tour with beer tasting and lunch.

Other Places in Dorset

Higher Frome Vauchurch, Alderholt, Thorncombe, Ashley Heath, Ringstead, Bournemouth, Dorchester, Hamworthy, Wimborne, Weymouth, Swanage, Sherborne, Shaftesbury, Saint Ives, Poole, Hyde, Evershot, Christchurch, Charminster, Bridport, Blandford Forum, Beaminster, Winkton, Halstock, North Wootton, Winterbourne Abbas, Iwerne Courtney, Sturminster Newton, Ferndown Town, Horton, Portland, Charmouth, Lyme Regis, Worth Matravers, Wareham, Frome St Quintin, Iwerne Minster, Buckhorn Weston, Boscombe, Bere Regis, Alton Pancras, Minchington, Saint Leonards, Puddletown, Marnhull, Sandford, West Moors, Dewlish, Toller Porcorum, Yetminster, Verwood, Hooke, Corfe Castle, Chickerell, Burton Bradstock, Broadstone, Fontmell Magna, Wimborne Saint Giles, Hampreston, Shillingstone, West Bay, Piddlehinton, Woodsford, Gillingham, Winterborne Stickland, Canford Magna, Ashmore, Pilsdon, Charlton Marshall, Burstock, Langton Matravers.

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