Dorset Southwest England, England Travel Guide
Directly adjacent to eastern Dorset, accessible from Bournemouth and Poole. An easy drive. Direct train services from Bournemouth and Poole to Brockenhurst, a central New Forest village, make it accessible by public transport.
Ancient woodlands, open heathland, and picturesque villages like Lyndhurst and Beaulieu. Free-roaming New Forest ponies, cattle, and donkeys. Visit the National Motor Museum at Beaulieu or walk/cycle on the many trails. A full day is well spent.
Dorset's surroundings hold further natural beauty, with additional opportunities for outdoor exploration and wildlife spotting.
Connected to the mainland by Chesil Beach, easily accessible from Weymouth.
Near Wareham, accessible from Poole or Purbeck.
Extend cultural exploration beyond Dorset's immediate borders, visiting nearby historic towns and villages.
Picturesque hilltop market town famous for Gold Hill. Offers stunning views and charming independent shops.
Historic market town with two castles and a magnificent medieval Abbey.
On the western edge of the Jurassic Coast, famous for fossil hunting on its beach.
In North Dorset, near the Wiltshire border.
In West Dorset, accessible by train.
For a longer trip to Southwest England, Dorset forms a good stepping stone to other regions.
Explore coastal towns like Sidmouth and Torquay, or Dartmoor National Park. Cornwall for rugged coastline, surfing beaches, fishing villages (St Ives, Mousehole), Land's End, St Michael's Mount.
Head north to Cheddar Gorge, Glastonbury (Abbey, Tor), and Wells (cathedral). Mendip Hills for walking and caving.
Combine with Winchester Cathedral, Portsmouth's historic dockyard. Ferry to Isle of Wight for coastal scenery, historic sites (Osborne House).
