19 Outdoors - Other to Explore in Dorset
Checkout places to visit in Dorset
Popular Activities And Trips in Dorset
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Outdoors - Other to Explore in Dorset
Abbotsbury SwanneryAbbotsbury Swannery is the only place in the world where you are able to walk through the heart of a colony of nesting Mute Swans. Visitors to the Swannery can help hand feed over 600 swans at 12.00 noon and 4.00pm daily, which is an experience not to be missed. The accompanying talk from the swanherd provides an enaging and informative insight into these graceful birds.
Badbury RingsBadbury Rings is an area of great historical interest, with evidence of Bronze Age, Iron Age and Roman occupation. Now forming part of the Kingston Lacy estate, and under the guardianship of The National Trust, the Badbury Rings site has been restored to light grazing land as this has always played an important role in establishing centuries of wild herbs and flowers.
Charmouth BeachCharmouth is a delightful unspoiled seaside village set in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty with a fantastic beach world-renowned for its fossils. The large shingle beach and the Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre on the seafront are a must-visit for those interested in fossils and local natural history. It is great for the family – lots of sand especially at low tide, safe swimming, picnic areas, cafes, and beach shops.
Dancing LedgeDancing Ledge is one of the south coast’s best wild swimming spots. It’s not an easy place to reach. Dancing Ledge is so called because at certain stages of the tide when the waves wash over the horizontal surface, the surface undulations cause the water to bob about making the ledge appear to dance.
Durdle DoorDurdle Door is one of Dorset’s most photographed and iconic landmarks. It is part of the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site and is an extremely popular beauty spot. It was created when the sea pierced through the Portland limestone around 10,000 years ago. Looking west over the beach, isolated stacks out at sea show where an older coastline once lay. The arch has formed on a concordant coastline where bands of rock run parallel to the shoreline.
Durlston Country Park and National Nature ReserveDurlston Country Park is a 320-acre country park and nature reserve. The Park is part of the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site and has been owned by Dorset County Council since the early 1970s. the country park is a 280-acre countryside paradise with stunning views, hay meadows and coastal downland, the historic Great Globe, and a wealth of bird and wildlife including regular sightings of dolphins. There are numerous walking trails to explore.
Gold HillGold Hill is a very steep and short climb – iconic for its famous views, entering into the national consciousness through the 1973 Hovis Bread advert. At the top of the street is the 14th-century St Peter's Church, one of the few buildings remaining in Shaftesbury from before the 18th century. Adjacent to the church is the former Priest's House, which is still part of the Gold Hill Museum building but now houses a shop.
Hengistbury HeadHengistbury Head is a scenic and historic headland near the town of Bournemouth on the south coast of England. It is home to over 500 plant species, 300 types of birds, a superb variety of insects, reptiles and small mammals. It is a fascinating place not only for its wide variety of habitats but also for its internationally important archaeology and geology.
Isle of PortlandThe Isle of Portland is the Jurassic Coast’s most southerly point, and is joined to the mainland by just a thin strip at the southern end of the sweeping arc of Chesil Beach. Its isolated location and beautiful scenery make it a real explorer’s island, while the comparatively mild climate enables a wide variety of flora and fauna to thrive.
Kimmeridge BayKimmeridge Bay lies within a marine Special Area of Conservation and boasts the best rock pooling and safest snorkeling site in Dorset. The area is popular with surfers and windsurfers for the sea breezes and surf created by the rock ledges underneath the waves. The natural rock ledges extending out into the bay make it easy to view life on the shore and in the shallow waters, making it a wonderful location for rock pooling.
Lulworth EstateThe Lulworth Estate extends over 12,000 acres of the south Dorset countryside, including 5 miles of the Jurassic Coast and internationally renowned landmarks such as Lulworth Cove and Durdle Door. The fairy tale Lulworth Castle is a great day out for all the family, from the fascinating exhibits in the basement cellars to the incredible views from the tower. The estate is predominantly owned by the Weld family, who have lived there for several generations.
Old Harry RocksA spectacular cliff formation Standing tall on Handfast Point at the southern end of Studland Bay is one of the most famous landmarks on the South Coast – Old Harry. They are part of the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site and are managed by the National Trust. One of the iconic location where you can spend some nice time.
RSPB ArneArne RSPB reserve is a 5.634-square-kilometer nature reserve and Site of Special Scientific Interest maintained by the RSPB and located in Dorset. Arne is celebrated for its lowland heathland (which is rare in Europe) and its wildlife including Dartford warblers, nightjars, all six species of British reptile, plus many species of butterflies, dragonflies, and moths. It is also home to nearly 500 types of a flowering plants.
Sandbanks BeachSandbanks is a small peninsula crossing the mouth of Poole Harbour. It is of the highest quality with fine golden sand and sparkling clean waters, perfect for a family day out at the seaside. One of the iconic location for a day out with family and also you can spend some nice time there.
Swanage BaySwanage is the most easterly town on the Jurassic Coast, and its gently shelving sandy beach and sheltered waters have made it a popular destination for families since Victorian times. Despite being just six miles from the urban expanse of Poole and Bournemouth, Swanage feels a world away, and retains a sense of bustling but easy-going seaside charm. The beach also holds the prestigious blue flag for beach cleanliness.
The Blue PoolBlue Pool is a flooded, disused clay pit where Purbeck ball clay was once extracted. It is now a lake within the Furzebrook Estate. The Pool is surrounded by 25 acres of heath, woodland and gorse interlaced with sandy paths that seem to take you to another world. The Green Route includes steps up to views of the Purbeck Hills or down to the edge of the Pool.
The EsplanadeThe Esplanade is a wide walkway and street on the seafront at Weymouth, Dorset on the south coast of England. The Esplanade is immediately next to the sandy Weymouth Beach, It is the section of the Legacy Trail that joins wildlife sites in the Lorton Valley Nature Park to Radipole Lake reserve. To the south at the end of the Esplanade are Weymouth Pier,the Condor Ferries terminal for ferry service to the Channel Islands and the Pavilion Theatre.