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Dorset
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Ant Hill Trail
Venture through meadows and pastures, across streams and up sunken lakes along the 6km trail from South Poorton Nature Reserve to Loscombe Nature Reserve in the countryside near Bridport. Keep an eye out for foxes, deer and buzzards, as well as the ant hills that gave trail its name. Visit The Dorset Wildlife Trust website for more Nature Reserve walks in the area.
www.dorsetwildlife.co.uk
50.775
-2.693
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Chesil Beach
Studied in geography lessons across the land as a prime example of ‘long shore drift’, Chesil Beach is a long, long strip of shingle stretching out into the sea.
www.chesilbeach.org
50.6228
-2.54503
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50.702
-2.737
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Cerne Abbas
Home to the famous Cerne Giant, a huge chalk man carved into the hillside whose function is (clearly) as a fertility symbol. Expect much sniggering from younger members of the family.
50.81
-2.475
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Hive Beach Cafe
This beach café right by the sea on Chesil Bank bagged the Coast magazine award for Best Coastal Café, Pub or Restaurant 2009. Local fish and shellfish are specialities.
www.hivebeachcafe.co.uk
50.698
-2.723
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Hix Oyster and Fish House
Overlooking the fishing port of Lyme Regis and The Cobb, Hix Oyster and Fish House is blessed with uninterrupted views of the Jurassic Coast. Simplicity of food is key here. The very best ingredients are used; make your choice from the blackboard of the day's landings and a small menu of house dishes. Award-winning restaurateur Mark Hix mastered his trade in London restaurants such as The Ivy. Just 45 covers means it is advisable to book.
www.hixoysterandfishhouse.co.uk
50.714
-2.994
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50.735
-2.93
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Moors Valley Country Park and Forest
Cycling, fishing, walks, golf, rope swings; there are loads of activities to try here. Choose how active you want to be - swinging through the trees on the Go Ape rope swings, chugging along taking in the scenery on the narrow gauge steam railway, or just relaxing with a picnic by the lake. A great way to spend the day in the Dorset countryside.
www.moors-valley.co.uk
50.85
-1.85
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50.70288
-2.278289
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50.606
-2.456
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Ringstead Beach
The Jurassic Kimmeridge clay found here makes for rich pickings in fossils.
50.632
-2.353
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50.653
-1.953
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The Jurassic Coast
It would be remiss not to mention the pleasures of walking the Jurassic Coast here; a good way to combine a little exercise with a history lesson is to join one of the organised Fossil Walks from Charmouth.
50.737
-2.904
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The Kingcombe Centre
An environmental study centre in the heart of West Dorset. Situated in a Nature Reserve, 'the farm that time forgot' uses traditional farming methods to work the land and offers courses and lectures on the local flora and fauna as well as art and music.
www.kingcombecentre.org.uk
50.79
-2.634
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The Marquis of Lorne
This 16th Century country inn serves excellent food and real ales at reasonable prices. There is a children's play area and walkers will find The Marquis also makes a good starting point for walks up the famous Eggardon Hill, where there are the remains of an Iron Age fort and Bronze Age burial mounds, as well as great views across the Dorset countryside and coast.
www.marquisoflorne.com
50.75786
-2.685552
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Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens
Planted as a kitchen garden in 1765 by the first Countess of Ilchester, today Abbotsbury Gardens bring together rare and exotic plants from all over the world. Scintillate your senses with a visit to the world famous camellia groves and magnolias, enjoy a sedate stroll in the walled gardens or go wild for the stunning woodland valley views. The BBC's Alan Titchmarsh declared them to be 'one of the finest gardens I have ever visited'. See for yourself. If it leaves your green fingers itching for some action, you can choose from a superb range of quality plants at the Specialist Plant Nursery.
www.abbotsbury-tourism.co.uk/gardens
50.662
-2.629
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Lyme Regis
Awash with history, Lyme Regis is an integral part of Dorset’s famous Jurassic Coast; guided fossil hunting tours are a popular way to discover the rich geological history of the area. Literary history is equally important to Lyme Regis; the unique harbour, known as ‘The Cobb’ was immortalised by John Fowles in his novel ‘The French Lieutenant’s Woman’ and Thomas Hardy set many of his novels in the area.
50.725
-2.937
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The George Inn
Enjoy a (not so) swift pint by the cosy log fire in winter or out in the patio garden in summer at this 17th Century thatched country inn. Lunch and dinner menus include locally sourced seafood and meats. You can enjoy a locally brewed pint of Palmers ale while the kids play on the giant Jenga. Booking is advisable in summer.
www.georgeinn-chideock.co.uk
50.732
-2.814
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The Old Watch House
Situated on the historic Cobb harbour in Lyme Regis. Choose from fresh fish, crab, lobster or whatever happens to have been freshly landed that day. Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, Clarissa Dickson-Wright, Charlie Boorman and Mark Hix are all fans. In 2009 The Old Watch House won silver for best retail shop in the Taste of the West awards.
www.theoldwatchhouse.com
50.72102
-2.938622
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Charmouth West Beach
Charmouth has to be one of the most famous places for collecting fossils in the world. Part of Dorset's World Heritage Jurassic Coast; many a happy hour can be spent scouring the beach for ammonites and belemnites.
50.733
-2.903
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50.61841
-2.246689
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The New Inn
Sunday lunch is a speciality at this attractive, thatched village inn.
50.803
-2.777
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50.732
-2.759
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Corfe Castle
Home to some of the country’s most significant ruins, the village of Corfe Castle is surrounded by the beautiful countryside of the Isle of Purbeck, a peninsula that stretches across a large part of Dorset. History lovers will find the castle itself fascinating – a dramatic hilltop ruin over 1,000 years old. Corfe Castle has a lot more to offer, though; good shopping, some great places to eat, fantastic walking in every direction and even a model village complete with a reconstruction of the castle as it would have looked before it was destroyed.
50.637
-2.056
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Goldhill Organic Farm Shop
Stock up on organic veg and British beef grown and reared on the farm. Goldhill has been an organic farm since 1988.
50.913
-2.221
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Home Farm Shop
They stock everything here from fresh local veg, freshly laid eggs and local cheeses, to organic fruit, local juices and home produced meat and game in season. Feeling peckish? Drop in to the Tearoom for a traditional farmhouse breakfast or a Dorset cream tea.
www.homefarmshop.co.uk
50.914
-2.123
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50.698
-2.216
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Pampered Pigs
Pampered pigs; and cows and sheep. All their breeds are raised free range to produce choice lamb, pork and beef. Awarded Best Food Producer for Dorset in the Taste of Dorset Awards 2008.
www.pampered-pigs.co.uk
50.744
-2.22
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Seatown Beach
This lovely long stretch of beach is backed by the Ridge cliff which affords great views of the lush Devon countryside. A good spot to look for ammonites and other fossils all year round.
50.722
-2.824
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Storm Fish Restaurant
The fish at Storm is landed by the owner of the restaurant, a claim that no other fish restaurant in Poole can make. The menu changes daily and depends both upon the catch of the day and what vegetables are available, also provided by the hands of the owner who who grows them during the milder months for use in the restaurant. Rustic and cosy the restaurant has a lovely atmosphere.
www.stormfish.co.uk
50.713
-1.988
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50.61
-1.96
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The Blue Vinny
Named after the legendary Dorset cheese (Monty Python fans may recall it mentioned in the 'Cheese Shop Sketch'). The Blue Vinny has a great menu (naturally, featuring dishes such as sirloin steak glazed with Blue Vinny, with wild mushrooms and hand cut chips), and a lovely big beer garden to sleep it all off.
www.thebluevinny.co.uk
50.751
-2.347
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The European Inn
This country pub in the beautiful Piddle valley serves good pub grub and is a good spot to unwind after walking one of the many paths that criss-cross the surrounding countryside. Dog friendly.
50.78254
-2.410695
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50.74
-2.663
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50.89515
-2.578066
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50.704
-2.389
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Washingpool Farm Shop
Run by a local West Dorset family that has farmed here for generations. The shop has won acclaim from the national press and the restaurant is up there too. Sit on the terrace and gaze out over Marshwood Vale to the sea.
www.washingpool.co.uk
50.74567
-2.764756
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Athelhampton House and Gardens
The beautifully preserved 15th Century manor house has stunning interiors resplendent with antique furnishings. The famous formal gardens incorporate a series of tranquil, sophisticated spaces, including the great court with its giant pyramids, simple plantings of roses, clematis and tulips, fountains and pools laden with water lillies, a canal and the River Piddle. The 15th Century dovecote still houses white doves. Stop off for some home-cooked refreshment at the Topiary Restaurant. Open March to October.
www.athelhampton.co.uk
50.74593
-2.326741
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Compton Acres
Ten acres of beautifully managed gardens including Italian, Roman, water and Japanese areas. Built in the 1920s by a margarine entrepeneur to reflect his worldwide travels and interest in horticulture, Compton Acres is a fine example of an historic garden in the late Victorian Mixed Style design.
www.comptonacres.co.uk
50.704
-1.926
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Kingston Maurward Gardens
Formal gardens in the ‘Arts and Crafts’ style of the Edwardian era in the grounds of Kingston Maurward House. Thomas Hardy was a frequent visitor to the house as a boy, and it features as 'Knapwater House' in his novel Desperate Remedies. Children can meet Button and Pebbles the donkeys in the animal park, as well as miniature Shetland ponies, goats, pigs, rabbits, ducks, emus and peacocks. Bring a picnic to enjoy in the large picnic area. There is also a refreshment kiosk, visitor centre and shop.
www.kmc.ac.uk/gardens
50.718
-2.404
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Fireside Breaks
Storm watching, star gazing, Dorset rocks and Devon stones - four reasons why we love the South West in winter.
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 | It’s difficult to know where to start in describing all the ways in which you can enjoy Dorset. Summarising its appeal is almost impossible, since there is simply so much going on in this county. |
 | Grab your walking boots and blow the cobwebs away. |
 | Browse our selection of hand-picked activities for days out and short breaks in Cornwall, Devon, Somerset and Dorset. |
 | View your personal itinerary of things to do, places to visit and where to eat on your holiday. |
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