10 ten things to do in Dorset this Summer..
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1. Meet the ancestors at Monkey World, Wareham
Home to nearly 250 monkeys and apes that have been rescued from the world’s illegal trade in primates, this Ape Rescue Centre, ensconced in woodlands, is a delight.
Rescued chimps are reintegrated back into groups, each given at least a hectare of land, and there are 15 species to see here – the orangutans, gibbons and chimpanzees are perennial favourites.
Meet the ‘batchelor boys’, a group of male chimps, led by Butch, who were rescued from Spanish beaches, where they had been photographers’ props. There’s also a woodland walk, adventure playground, café and gift shop.
More info:
www.monkeyworld.org
2. Explore a thousand years of English history at Corfe Castle
Dominating a steep chalk mound between the Purbeck Hills, this is one of Britain’s most evocative ruins, built by William the Conquerer soon after his victory at Hastings.
Take a guided tour to learn about Civil War treachery, when owner Lady Bankes was betrayed to the parliamentarians. Admire the famous ravens, and have a picnic on the grassy slope, with glorious views of the surrounding countryside and coast.
Explore the pretty medieval village beneath the castle, and the estate grounds that extend down to Studland Beach and Nature Reserve.
More info:
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/corfecastle
3. Hunt for fossils on the Jurassic Coast
England’s first natural World Heritage Site, the Jurassic Coast stretches from Swanage into east Devon. Its rocks date back 250 million years, and are stuffed with fascinating fossils that represent a geological ‘walk through time’.
Highlights include beautiful Lulworth Cove, famous Chesil Beach and the amazing, natural rock arch of Durdle Door.
Charmouth is home to a rich diversity of fossils, and you can search for them on the beach there, or take a special, guided fossil-hunting walk from the Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre, throughout the summer.
More info:
www.jurassiccoast.com
4. Have watery fun at Weymouth Sea Life Adventure Park
This innovative attraction is an indoor/outdoor experience, with the indoor bits housed in a series of special pods.
Outdoors there are otter and seal sanctuaries, as well as a colony of popular Humboldt penguins (a cute South American species).
The indoor attractions include the Tropical Shark Nursery, where black-tip, bonnet head and other sharks patrol the waters, and the crowd-pleasing Turtle Sanctuary. Another visitor favourite is the National Seahorse Breeding and Conservation centre.
Elsewhere, walk the underwater glass tunnel, check out the rides on Adventure Island, and take the new Crocodile Creek log flume-style ride, past real crocs.
More info:
www.sealifeeurope.com
5. Steam along the Swanage Railway
One of Britain’s best steam railways, the Swanage Railway runs on a six-mile track from the beach resort of Swanage to Norden, on the Isle of Purbeck (not actually an island, but a peninsula).
The atmospheric Corfe Castle (see above) is one of the great sights from the train, and you can stop off at the station there, for some exploring. There are also stations in the lovely villages of Harman’s Cross and Herston, both with wonderful walks nearby.
You can even arrange a ‘railway experience’ day, when you get to fire up and drive the train.
More info:
www.swanagerailway.co.uk
6. Take a wildlife walk on Brownsea Island
Famous birdwatcher Bill Oddie described Brownsea, an island in Poole Harbour, as “the best place for seeing wildlife in Dorset”.
As well as the bird life, which includes avocets, sandwich terns, oystercatchers and kingfishers, there are sika deer and a thriving population of red squirrels.
For walkers, there are beautiful landscapes to discover, with woodland, heath and grassy fields in the interior. The cliffs and beaches of the stunning coastline have wonderful views across the harbour to the Purbeck Hills.
Free of charge from the visitor centre are Tracker Packs for children, which will help them to get wildlife sightings.
More info:
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/brownsea
7. See the topiary at Athelhampton House and Gardens
This beautiful, privately owned 15th-century house near Dorchester has some stunning, antique-filled interiors, but it’s the gardens that most people come to wander around.
The sculpted trees and hedges of the formal gardens are quite a sight to behold, with The Great Court a particular highlight. There are a variety of beautiful water features throughout, too.
Take the River Walk along the bank of the amusingly named River Piddle, and on the side lawn, admire the historic dovecote, complete with fluttering white doves.
More info:
www.athelhampton.co.uk
8. Join a feeding session at Abbotsbury Swannery
A long-term favourite among Dorset’s many attractions, this is the only place on the planet where you can walk through a colony of nesting mute swans.
This isn’t one of those Johnny-come-lately attractions – the swannery was established by Benedictine monks in the 11thcentury, but these days only a few ruins of their monastery remain, in the village.
Mid-May to late June is cygnet-hatching time, and year-round, every day from 12pm-4pm, you can join in the feeding of up to 600 swans – it’s an amazing spectacle.
And the Swannery isn’t the only attraction at this village near Weymouth. There are also subtropical gardens and a children’s farm.
More info:
www.abbotsbury-tourism.co.uk
9. Chill out on Durley Chine beach, Bournemouth
Dorset has some fine beaches, but one of the best, and the owner of a prized Blue Flag award, is this one to the west of Bournemouth’s central beach.
Down at the bottom of wooded cliffs, it has a great setting and a long arc of soft golden sand.
It’s carefully zoned, so that swimmers don’t get annoyed by watercraft, which makes it safe for families, and there are ‘intense lifeguard areas’ for extra peace of mind.
Hire one of the cute beach huts for the day, for a classic seaside experience.
More info:
www.dorsetbeaches.co.uk/bournemouth2/durleychine2/
10. Oo Ar! Visit Farmer Palmer’s Farm Park
It’s often difficult to find a really good attraction that’s just for the little ones, but this award-winning petting farm near Poole is aimed squarely at the under-nines.
Ponies, pigs, chickens, sheep, goats and rabbits and guinea pigs abound, with opportunities for the kids to cuddle the small and infant animals. And don’t forget Toby the super-cute donkey…
In the cowshed there are daily milking demonstrations by Farmer Palmer himself, and tractor-and-trailer rides take the children around the fields, near the river and woods.
There are miniature pedal tractors, bouncy castles, slides and a sandpit, and the soft indoor play-zone is great fun, whatever the weather.
More info:
www.farmerpalmers.co.uk
Source: TalkTalk