Dorset Travel Guide: Things to Do, Beaches and Where to Stay

Dorset is one of the UK’s prettiest counties with it’s famous Jurassic coastline and six Blue Flag beaches. My (Charlie) mum lives in the county, so we have explored it slowly over many, many visits: scrambling down to fossil beaches, walking the chalk clifftops of the Jurassic Coast, and delighting over cream teas in little villages.

This is our guide to the best things to do in Dorset, the prettiest towns and beaches, where to stay and how to get around.

In a Rush? Our Favourite Places to Stay

Dorset also pairs beautifully with the New Forest, just across the border in Hampshire, and plenty of people combine the two on one trip. If that is you, see our New Forest weekend guide for the best things to do and where we stayed.

Is Dorset Worth Visiting?

Dorset is well worth visiting. The Jurassic Coast is England’s only natural UNESCO World Heritage Site, the walking is some of the finest in the south, and you are never far from a castle, a fossil beach or a proper Dorset cream tea.

It works brilliantly as a long weekend or a full week, and it is one of the easier parts of the south west to reach from London. Two of our personal favourites are Wareham and Lulworth Cove, and both belong on any first trip.

Best Things to Do in Dorset

We have grouped Dorset’s highlights into coast and nature, history and heritage, family days out, and the more unusual corners, so you can shape the trip you want.

Coast and Nature

• Durdle Door – The huge natural limestone arch that has become the emblem of the Jurassic Coast. It is a steep walk down from the clifftop car park, and worth every step.
• Lulworth Cove – A near-perfect circular bay and our favourite spot in the county. Do not miss the clifftop walk from Lulworth Cove to Durdle Door, our favourite short walk in Dorset.
• Old Harry Rocks – Gleaming white chalk stacks at the end of the Jurassic Coast, an easy walk from Studland with huge sea views.
• Lyme Regis – Hunt for fossils on the beach and walk out along the historic Cobb harbour wall; time it for a falling tide.
• Chesil Beach and the Fleet – An extraordinary eighteen-mile shingle bank sweeping down to the Isle of Portland.
• Golden Cap – The highest point on the south coast of England, with a glorious clifftop walk near Bridport. A good daypack and sturdy shoes make the coast path far more enjoyable.
• Studland Bay – Four miles of soft National Trust sand looking across to Old Harry Rocks.

History and Heritage

• Corfe Castle – Dramatic ruins above a storybook stone village. Charlie’s mum is the gatekeeper at the National Trust’s Corfe Castle, so this one is close to our hearts; arrive by Swanage Railway steam train if you can.
• Tyneham – The haunting village evacuated in 1943 for D-Day training and never reoccupied, now a moving open-air time capsule.
• Swanage Railway – A heritage steam line running through the Purbeck countryside between Swanage and Norden.
• Maiden Castle – One of the largest Iron Age hillforts in Europe, on the edge of Dorchester.
• Cerne Abbas Giant – The famous chalk hill figure above the pretty village of Cerne Abbas.
• Sherborne – A handsome market town with a golden-stone abbey and two castles.
• Kingston Lacy – A grand National Trust country house and gardens near Wimborne.

Family Days Out

• Monkey World – The much-loved ape rescue centre near Wareham, a guaranteed hit with children.
• The Tank Museum – A vast collection of historic tanks at Bovington, and one of Dorset’s most popular attractions.
• Abbotsbury Swannery – The world’s only managed colony of nesting mute swans.
• Brownsea Island – A car-free National Trust island in Poole Harbour, home to rare red squirrels.
• Weymouth – A classic family seaside town with a long sandy beach and the Sea Life centre.

Unusual and Quirky

• Clavell Tower – A lonely folly above Kimmeridge Bay, moved back from the eroding cliff edge.
• Dancing Ledge – A rock shelf with a tidal swimming pool near Langton Matravers, and a wonderful dark-sky spot. We have a whole post on camping and stargazing at Dancing Ledge.
• Nothe Fort – A Victorian sea fort guarding Weymouth harbour.
• Gold Hill, Shaftesbury – The steep cobbled street from the Hovis advert, with sweeping views over the Blackmore Vale.

Best Beaches in Dorset

Dorset has some of the finest beaches on the south coast, from dramatic coves to long family sands:

• Durdle Door – The iconic arch and a shingle beach beneath the cliffs.
• Lulworth Cove – A sheltered, near-circular cove and one of our favourite spots.
• Studland Bay – Sweeping National Trust sands with views to Old Harry Rocks.
• Weymouth Beach – A gently shelving, family-friendly town beach.
• West Bay – Sand and shingle beneath golden cliffs near Bridport, of Broadchurch fame.
• Sandbanks – One of the most popular beaches in the country, with beautiful golden sand. It gets extremely busy in summer, so arrive early.
• Bournemouth – Miles of sandy beach just over the border, with all the seaside trimmings and plenty of good cafes.

Prettiest Towns and Villages in Dorset

• Wareham – Our favourite; a walled Saxon town on the River Frome with boat trips, riverside walks and a lovely quay. Stop for coffee at the GOAT.
• Corfe Castle village – A picture-perfect Purbeck village beneath the castle ruins.
• Shaftesbury – Hilltop town famous for Gold Hill.
• Dorchester – The county town, with Roman roots and Thomas Hardy connections.
• Sherborne – Golden-stone abbey town.
• Swanage – A traditional seaside town at the end of the steam railway.

Dorset for Every Kind of Trip

For Couples: base yourself in Wareham or Lulworth, walk the coast path at golden hour, and book a table for local seafood. It is one of our favourite romantic corners of England, along with neighbouring Devon.

For Keen Walkers: the South West Coast Path runs the length of the county. If you love a coastal hike, you will also enjoy our guide to the coastal paths of Porthtowan in Cornwall.

With Kids: Monkey World, the Tank Museum, Weymouth beach and a steam train on the Swanage Railway will fill a family week easily.

Free Things To Do: most of Dorset’s best moments cost nothing, from the walk to Durdle Door and Old Harry Rocks to fossil hunting at Lyme Regis and exploring Tyneham.

How to Spend a Day or Weekend in Dorset

One day (Purbeck classic): Start at Corfe Castle, ideally arriving on a Swanage Railway steam train, then drive to Lulworth Cove and walk over to Durdle Door. Finish with fish and chips in Wareham or on the coast.

A weekend: Add a morning of fossil hunting and a walk on the Cobb at Lyme Regis, an afternoon on the sands at Studland or Weymouth, and time to wander Wareham or Shaftesbury.

Where to Stay in Dorset

Here are the places we recommend, grouped by area. Wareham and the Isle of Purbeck are our favourite bases for the coast.

Wareham and the Isle of Purbeck

The Priory, Wareham is our top pick in Dorset, a beautiful hotel right on the River Frome, and we always call in for afternoon tea when we are visiting family nearby. For a countryside stay near Corfe Castle, Kingston Country Courtyard has lovely Purbeck views, and The Cow Stalls is a peaceful farmhouse close to the castle.

Lulworth and the Coast

To wake up near the coast path, the Castle Inn near Lulworth Cove is a lovely option and handy for the Durdle Door walk.

Western Dorset and the Jurassic Coast

For the western end of the county, Strongate Cottage is a rural retreat near Bridport, well placed for the Jurassic Coast and West Bay.

Best Cafes and Restaurants in Dorset

Dorset does seaside food well. Expect fresh fish and chips, and fresh seafood in Lyme Regis and West Bay, cream teas across the county, and plenty of good pubs and cafes in Wareham and the Purbeck villages.

Just over the border, Bournemouth adds a bigger choice of restaurants and vegetarian and vegan cafes if you want a night out.

How to Get to Dorset and Get Around

Trains from London Waterloo run to Wareham, Dorchester and Weymouth with South Western Railway, and mainline services also reach Bournemouth.

Once you are here, a car is by far the easiest way to explore, as many of the best spots are down narrow lanes with limited public transport.

Best Time to Visit Dorset

Late spring and early autumn are our favourite times: the weather is usually kind for walking and the beaches are far quieter. July and August are the busiest and warmest, so if you visit then, start early at honeypots like Durdle Door and Sandbanks. If you don’t have children, avoid school holidays where traffic queues can be long at all the nicest beaches and sights.

Dorset Travel FAQs

Is Dorset worth visiting?

Yes. Dorset is home to the Jurassic Coast, England’s only natural UNESCO World Heritage Site, plus Durdle Door, Lulworth Cove, Corfe Castle and some of the best coastal walking in southern England. It suits a weekend or a longer trip.

What are some unusual or quirky things to do in Dorset?

Wander the abandoned wartime village of Tyneham, frozen in 1943; climb to the lonely Clavell Tower above Kimmeridge Bay; see the Cerne Abbas Giant; or swim in the tidal pool at Dancing Ledge. Dorset is full of offbeat corners once you leave the main sights.

What is the prettiest place in Dorset?

It is hard to beat Lulworth Cove, a near-perfect circular bay, and the walk from there to Durdle Door. Corfe Castle village and the riverside town of Wareham are our other favourites, and Gold Hill in Shaftesbury is one of England’s most photographed streets.

How do you spend a day in Dorset?

A classic Purbeck day: start at Corfe Castle, arriving on a Swanage Railway steam train if you can, then drive to Lulworth Cove and walk over to Durdle Door. Finish with fish and chips in Wareham or on the coast. See our suggested day and weekend routes above.

What is Dorset famous for?

The Jurassic Coast and its fossils, Durdle Door’s limestone arch, fossil hunting at Lyme Regis, the ruins of Corfe Castle, Gold Hill in Shaftesbury, Monkey World and the Tank Museum, and West Bay, which featured as a filming location for Broadchurch.

When is the best time to visit Dorset?

Late spring and early autumn are ideal for quieter beaches and good walking weather. July and August are the busiest and warmest, and honeypots like Durdle Door and Sandbanks get extremely busy, so start early.

Where should I stay in Dorset?

Wareham makes a great base for the Purbeck coast, and our favourite is The Priory on the river. For the coast itself look at Lulworth, and for western Dorset and the Jurassic Coast, Bridport is well placed. See the where to stay section for our picks and booking links.

This guide contains affiliate links. If you book through them we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only ever recommend places we rate.