Dorset is one of the most beautiful counties in southern England. It’s a great destination for a variety of activities. Its beaches are some of the best in England, and its coastline is stunning and can be explored on foot. Interestingly, the Dorset coast is known as the Jurassic Coast due to the abundance of fossils. There are also a few castles that you can visit, relaxing countryside walks and even a heritage railway! Dorset is also quite small in size and well linked to many other cities, making it a very accessible destination. With so much to see and do, let’s explore the best places to visit in Dorset.
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Bournemouth
Bournemouth is the largest and most famous town in Dorset, and definitely one of the best places to visit in the county. Its numerous amenities and transport links make it a great place to stay during your visit as well. Aside from good road connections, Bournemouth also boasts many train services to London, Birmingham and other cities. For local travel, the town has good transport links with most other attractions in Dorset.
Besides the advantages of staying there, Bournemouth is also a very popular beach destination. Its beautiful beach has soft, golden sand which is perfect for relaxing and sunbathing. The water is also clean and clear, so it’s a great place for swimming.
At the beach, you can find family activities, such as an observation wheel and adventure golf. The pier has recently been renovated and now hosts a climbing gym and a zipline.
The town centre has everything you’d expect from restaurants, cafes, bars and shops. There are also several parks that add pleasant greenery to the town. You can stroll along the Lower Gardens near the beach, or the Middle Gardens in the town centre. If you walk past the town centre, you’ll also find the quieter Upper Gardens.
Overall, Bournemouth should definitely be on your list when visiting Dorset. It’s a beautiful seaside town with a stunning beach, and the amenities and transport links make it a strong base to visit the rest of Dorset.
Brownsea Island
This small island is a protected reserve, now owned by the National Trust. You can get there by taking a ferry: the main option leaves from Poole Quay, but there is also an alternative ferry from sandbanks beach. For more information on the ferry crossings, visit their website.
Brownsea Island is a notable place for many reasons. It’s one of the best places in southern England to see red squirrels, which are now extremely rare. The island is also rich in footpaths, allowing for peaceful walks in the woods, heathland and on the beaches. You can definitely expect beautiful views of the harbour.
Historically, Brownsea Island was also the birthplace of the Scout Movement. The first encampment of the Scouts was in fact held there in 1907, starting off a movement that will eventually become global.
Brownsea Island is definitely one of the best places to visit in Dorset, especially for nature lovers, who will love its wildlife, quietness and amazing views.
Old Harry Rocks
Old Harry Rocks are one of the most famous and spectacular rock formations along the Jurassic Coast. They are definitely one of the best places to visit in Dorset.
Old Harry Rocks are located at the end of a small peninsula and you can only reach them on foot. If travelling by car, you should park in the South Beach car park in the village of Studland. If you are travelling by public transport, you can take the 50 Breezer from Bournemouth or Swanage to Studland. The timetable is available on this website.
From Studland, the walk to Old Harry Rocks is about 1.5 miles and takes around 30 minutes. It’s quite an easy walk with amazing views across the bay, and you can see the nearby beaches and Bournemouth in the distance.
If you’d rather do something other than walking, you can also reach Old Harry Rocks by sea. You can join a kayaking tour from the nearby Middle Beach, where you’ll paddle along the cliffs to Old Harry Rocks and back. Alternatively, join a stand-up paddle tour from the nearby town of Swanage.
Knoll Beach
The village of Studland isn’t just the base to visit Old Harry Rocks. There is a long, sandy beach that stretches from Sudland to the end of the bay. It’s a beautiful sandy beach with clear, calm water. It’s the perfect stop to relax after a coastal or country walk, for swimming or playing games at the beach. Food and beach equipment are also available at local cafes.
In Studland, there are two other car parks to access the beaches: Middle Beach, where the kayaking tours leave, and Knoll Beach. If you’d rather enjoy the quieter areas of the beach, Knoll Beach car park may be the best option. It’s very large and popular, but its location will allow you to explore the more remote areas of the beach.
Knoll beach is also perfect as a water sports location. You can hire anything from kayaks, pedaloes and stand-up paddle boards. you can also join boat activities such as water skiing. If interested, check out their website for more information.
At the opposite end of the beach from the village, there is a small stretch of water that crosses the lagoon where Poole Harbour is located. You can drive to the end of the beach and take a ferry to cross the lagoon, landing at Sandbanks Beach. From there, you can make your way to Bournemouth if that’s where you’re based. This is an interesting alternative route to take by car, instead of driving back to Corfe Castle and around the lagoon.
Corfe Castle
Confusingly, Corfe Castle is the name of the ruins of a castle, as well as the village they are located in. Corfe Castle ruins are some of the most evocative in England and are undoubtedly one of the best places to visit in Dorset.
You can drive to the village and park in the convenient National Trust car park, which is free for members. Alternatively, the best route by public transport from Bournemouth takes around one hour. You’d have to take a train to Wareham and the 40 Breezer bus to Corfe Castle. If you’re staying in Weymouth, you can also take a train to Wareham and the 40 Breezer bus. Check out this link for the bus timetable.
If you’re up for an interesting experience, Corfe Castle is home to one of Britain’s few remaining steam railway lines. It runs between Wareham and Swanage, stopping at Corfe Castle, and offers stunning views of the countryside. This is a truly great opportunity to experience a heritage train journey.
In the village, the ruins of the castle are truly spectacular. The castle dates back to the 11th century and was built by William the Conqueror. It was heavily damaged during the English Civil War, and was never rebuilt. Unlike many other ruins of English castles, many walls of Corfe Castle are still standing. This allows visitors to have a fair idea of what the castle looked like in its heyday. Moreover, its raised position guarantees sweeping views across the beautiful countryside.
The castle ruins are also amazing if seen from above. If you feel up for a challenge, you can walk up the neighbouring hills to get a better view.
Durdle Door Beach
One of England’s most recognisable beaches, Durdle Door Beach is one of the most famous places in Dorset. The location is quite remote, so driving there would definitely be the best option. If travelling by public transport, you can take a train to the village of Wool from Bournemouth or Weymouth. From Wool, you can take a bus or a taxi to Durdle Door Beach. For more convenience, coach tours are also available from Bournemouth.
After a short walk down from the car park, you’ll start to see the famous arched rock formation that makes this beach so recognisable. The walk is quite steep, but there are steps along the way that make it more accessible.
The beach does not have beautiful golden sand like other beaches in Dorset. However, the pebbles are small enough to make walking and lying down comfortable. When the water is calm and clear, beautiful colours can be seen from above.
This beach is an amazing location for swimming and relaxing, but its best asset is definitely the view. Therefore, I would recommend having a walk along the path above the beach before descending. You’ll appreciate the natural beauty of the rock formations and colourful sea bottom much better from above, particularly on a clear day.
Man O’War Beach
This small beach is located just next to Durdle Door Beach. You can get there from the same car park and take the opposite direction when you get down to the steps.
Man O’War Beach is very similar to its more famous neighbour, but without the crowds. Durdle Door Beach, in fact, gets very crowded regularly, especially on sunny weekends. If you’d like to visit Durdle Door but would rather escape the crowds, you can easily stop to admire the view from above and walk down to Man O’War Beach after.
Aside from being less crowded, Man O’War Beach is arguably a better beach for swimming and snorkelling. It has large rocks on both sides, which shelter the beach from the open sea. Therefore, even on windier days Man O’War Beach will get less choppy than Durdle Door.
Overall, while the view at Durdle Door Beach is a must if you’re visiting Dorset, Man O’War Beach is right next door to provide a quieter location. For this reason, it makes the list of the best places to visit in Dorset.
Lulworth Cove
Located close to Durdle Door Beach, Lulworth Cove is one of the most unusual beaches you’ll ever see. It has an almost semi-circular shape that appears to be carved from the coastline. This shape shelters it from the ocean, making it an amazing beach to swim or snorkel.
There is a very large car park, and if you’re travelling by public transport you can take a similar route to Durdle Door. You can take a train from Bournemouth or Weymouth to Wool, and a bus or a taxi from there.
If you’re up for a spectacular walk, you can take the South West coast path to Durdle Door or the other way around. The distance between the two beaches on the path is only one mile and it runs right next to the cliffs.
Next to the beach is also the village of West Lulworth. With the looks of a very traditional coastal village, West Lulworth is now mainly built for visitors and offers ice cream, cafes and restaurants.
If you’re visiting the area, I would strongly recommend stopping at both Durdle Door Beach and Lulworth Cove. The walk between the two is also truly spectacular, so if you have time I would strongly recommend trying it out.
Isle of Portland
The Isle of Portland is a small, rocky island located near the town of Weymouth. It is linked to the mainland via a bridge, so you can drive there without taking any ferries.
This small island is mostly known for rock climbing. There are in fact several climbing routes along its cliffs that can be easily accessed. The spectacular location best to the sea makes this one of the UK’s prime destinations for rock climbing. If you’re interested in climbing in Portland, check out this article for more information. If you’re new to climbing and would like to try it out in such a spectacular location, check out this website for local courses.
Besides rock climbing, the Isle of Portland is also a great location for walking. The South West Coast path runs along the whole coastline of the island. You can enjoy beautiful coastal walks, admiring the views from the cliffs and the blue water below.
There are a handful of beaches on the island. The best one is definitely Church Ope Cove, a pebbly beach with beautiful sheltered water and ruins of an old church. You can get there on foot, after a short walk from a car park. Alternatively, you can also get there from the main coastal path.
Overall, the Isle of Portland is a beautiful destination if you enjoy walking, exploring secluded areas and the traditional villages. It is definitely one of the best places to visit in Dorset.
Weymouth
Dorset’s second-largest town, Weymouth is one of the best places to stay when visiting Dorset. The train station has links to most other locations in the area, as well as with Bournemouth, London, Bristol and other cities. Tours of the main attractions are also available from Weymouth. Weymouth also has all the amenities of a large town, such as plenty of eateries, shops and facilities.
The town also boasts a beautiful sandy beach, with clear water that’s ideal for swimming. During the summer the beach and seafront also come alive with events and activities, making it perfect for a family holiday.
Weymouth’s historic harbour is also a charming place to visit, especially in the evening. The sunset colours will reflect in the calm water to create perfect conditions. You can enjoy a walk among the traditional buildings, and of course enjoy a meal or a pint in one of the many restaurants and pubs.
