Day trips from Dorset: Explore the surrounding counties
Dorset is one of the UK’s best and most popular destinations and as you will find on our extensive Holiday Planner, there are hundreds of things to see and do across the county. Some of the most popular include The Tank Museum, Lyme Regis, Monkey World, Durdle Door & Lulworth Cove and Weymouth.
Many of our parks are located in West Dorset, a short distance from Devon and Somerset, while Sandyholme Holiday Park is located further East, a little closer to the likes of Wiltshire and Hampshire. So if you’re looking for day trips from Dorset, a little further afield, then we’ve got you covered.
Below, we’ve selected our 3 favourite places to visit in each of Dorset’s neighbouring counties 4 counties…
Crealy Theme Park, Devon
Crealy Theme Park is an award-winning family park just east from the city of Exeter. There are over 60 thrilling rides and attractions, with live shows and animals. Rides include a log flume, rollercoasters, water rides and more!
There are seasonal events such as SpookFest over Halloween and Christmas celebrations in the Winter. Tickets must be purchased online in advance.
Distance from our Holiday Parks
- 35 miles from Highlands End / Eype House
- 33 miles from Golden Cap
- 39 miles from Graston Copse
- 59 miles from Sandyholme
Dartmoor National Park, Devon
Dartmoor is one of the last great wildernesses in the UK, covering 368 square miles of moorland and granite rock formations known as tors.
There’s plenty to do on the moors, including exploring castle ruins, taking guided walks, cycling and learning about local myths and legends.
Look out for the Dartmoor ponies and enjoy attractions and places to visit such as Lydford Gorge, Burrator Reservoir, Dartmoor Zoo, Canonteign Falls, Moretonhampstead Motor Museum, River Dart Adventures and Dartmoor Prison Museum.
Distance from our Holiday Parks
- 54 miles from Highlands End / Eype House
- 52 miles from Golden Cap
- 58 miles from Graston Copse
- 77 miles from Sandyholme
Paignton Zoo, Devon
Paignton Zoo is one of the best days out in Devon and the largest zoo in the area. It is home to more than 300 species of animals and set in 80 acres of botanical gardens. Many of the animals are endangered in the wild or part of conservation projects. Some of the animals include crocodiles, red pandas, giraffes, orangutans, rhinos, tigers and kangaroos.
The zoo is one of the South West’s biggest and best visitor attractions and is a place to discover, roam and get up closed to some of the wildlife wonders of the world! It’s a registered charity and part of a worldwide network of zoos which cares for and breeds rare species thanks to visitors who help fund the work. Come rain or shine Paignton Zoo is a fun filled day out for all the family, and you’ll need all day to see it all!
Visit the Paignton Zoo website
Distance from our Holiday Parks
- 61 miles from Highlands End / Eype House
- 58 miles from Golden Cap
- 64 miles from Graston Copse
- 83 miles from Sandyholme
Glastonbury Tor, Somerset
Glastonbury Tor, situated on the “Isle of Avalon” is an iconic and prominent feature of the landscape in Somerset. It rises 158 metres above the Avalon Marshes and on the summit stands St. Michael’s Tower, a Grade 1 listed building.
The tower is all that remains of a 14th Century chapel and in ancient times, the Somerset levels were a shallow sea, with Glastonbury Tor an island. The tor has been a site of religious significance for over 1,000 years. It’s a great place to take a walk to the top and enjoy a picnic with the views.
Nearby Ham Wall Nature Reserve is worth a visit with reedbeds, grasslands and open water teeming with wildlife such as otters, kingfishers, barn owls and of course starlings, who often put on incredible displays around sunrise and sunset from November to February.
Visit the Glastonbury Tor website
Distance from our Holiday Parks
- 37 miles from Highlands End / Eype House
- 39 miles from Golden Cap
- 39 miles from Graston Copse
- 44 miles from Sandyholme
Ninesprings Country Park, Somerset
Ninesprings is a lesser-known but pretty spot and not too far from our holiday parks, just over the Somerset border. It’s located in a beautiful wooded valley with springs, waterfalls, lakes and footpaths to explore.
The park, located on the outskirts of Yeovil, covers 20 acres and consists of a number of streams and springs that flow through a little valley to a large lake alongside the River Yeo.
There’s a play park for children, well-behaved dogs are welcome and there’s plenty of nice spots for a picnic.
Visit the Yeovil Country Park website
Distance from our Holiday Parks
- 21 miles from Highlands End / Eype House
- 24 miles from Golden Cap
- 26 miles from Graston Copse
- 28 miles from Sandyholme
Wookey Hole, Somerset
These world-famous caves are a magical place of legends and adventure, taking you through 8 underground chambers with great beauty and a great story. The caves are an experience, millions of years in the making! Inside and out, there is plenty to do, including soft plays, adventure golf and museums.
Over the years Wookey Hole Caves have been home to Neanderthals, local people, bears and hyenas, but these days, you can visit the cheese tunnel, which is home to the delicious Wookey Hole cheese.
The Wookey Hole Circus School performs at weekends and in school holidays and every year the caves receive over 250,000 visitors, so it’s definitely a must-see destination!
Distance from our Holiday Parks
- 46 miles from Highlands End / Eype House
- 47 miles from Golden Cap
- 50 miles from Graston Copse
- 52 miles from Sandyholme
Longleat Safari Park
The UK’s original safari park and the first to open outside of Africa, back in 1966. With over 120 species and a 6.5 mile safari drive-through. Enter a land where lions roam, tigers stalk and monkeys swing!
On the main park, you can see koalas, otters, crocodiles, monkeys, bats and more. Take a boat trip across to the island to see the gorillas and have a look around Longleat House, one of the finest examples of Elizabethan architecture.
Events take place throughout the year, as well as VIP experiences and the annual Festival of Light, in the Winter is a must-see!
Distance from our Holiday Parks
- 50 miles from Highlands End / Eype House
- 57 miles from Golden Cap
- 54 miles from Graston Copse
- 45 miles from Sandyholme
Stonehenge, Wiltshire
Just like the Jurassic Coast, where our holiday parks are located, Stonehenge is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This historic stone circle, dating back 5,000 years, is one of the most iconic and recognisable places in the UK and a popular place to visit during a holiday in Dorset. It is still not known how or why Stonehenge was constructed, but it is estimated to have taken more than thirty million hours of labour.
There is a Visitor Centre with cafe and exhibitions including one which contains objects on loan from The Salisbury Museum and Wiltshire Museum which tells the story of Stonehenge. For something really special, you can book a Stone Circle Experience. From December through to August small groups of up to 30 people can spend an hour walking amongst the giant stones outside of the regular visiting hours. Get up early, wrap up warm and join a knowledgeable host who will show you some of the remarkable features of these megaliths which can only be seen up close.
Distance from our Holiday Parks
- 66 miles from Highlands End / Eype House
- 68 miles from Golden Cap
- 64 miles from Graston Copse
- 49 miles from Sandyholme
Stourhead National Trust, Wiltshire
Stourhead Gardens is a beautiful location in Wiltshire and a lovely day out from our holiday parks at any time of year. The 18th Century gardens are situated around a series of lakes with walks around the lakes, grottoes and temples. We particularly recommend visiting Stourhead in October, when the leaves turn stunning orange and red colours.
There is a large National Trust shop and restaurant, as well as an art gallery, pub, farm shop and ice cream parlour for your enjoyment. Dogs are welcome. On some years, there are Christmas light events, which are well worth visiting. Nearby you can visit King Alfred’s Tower, a red-brick folly with fantastic views over Dorset, Wiltshire and Somerset.
Distance from our Holiday Parks
- 42 miles from Highlands End / Eype House
- 44 miles from Golden Cap
- 48 miles from Graston Copse
- 40 miles from Sandyholme
The New Forest, Hampshire
The New Forest is a National Park covering 566 square kilometers of unspoilt heathland, moorland, woodland and river valleys and a haven for wildlife lovers, walkers and cyclists. It’s a great place to visit in all seasons, from the flowers of Spring and Summer, to the colours of Autumn and the frosty and misty mornings in Winter.
Deer, ponies, cattle, donkeys and even pigs roam free across many areas of the National Park. Get your walking boots on or take your bicycles and discover the many miles of footpaths and off-road cycling routes and come across a variety of animals roaming the heathland, including deer, ponies, cows, donkeys and even pigs!
Discover the cobbled streets of some of the towns and villages around the National Park, as well as the beautiful coastline or places like Barton-on-Sea, Lymington Quay or Hurst Castle (find out more below!). Try delicious food in country pubs, tea rooms, farm shops and restaurants, as well as some of the many events taking place. We recommend visiting one or more of the the traditional villages of Beaulieu, Lyndhurst, Burley and Brockenhurst.
Distance from our Holiday Parks
- 51 miles from Highlands End / Eype House
- 53 miles from Golden Cap
- 50 miles from Graston Copse
- 32 miles from Sandyholme
Beaulieu Motor Museum
Beaulieu in the New Forest is a marvellous day out. The National Motor Museum is the most popular attraction, featuring 280 vehicles and 140 years of engineering genius! The museum tells the story of motoring in Britain and displays include sporting motors, motorbikes, rally cars, F1 vehicles, classic cars and features such as the cars that broke the land speed record, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and some favourite moments from Top Gear.
The National Motor Museum is one of five leading National Motor Museums across Europe, who have joined forces to display over 1,500 classic cars for enthusiasts to admire. There is a monorail ride through the roof of the museum for a better view! Also in Beaulieu, you can visit the Palace House, Beaulieu Abbey and Little Beaulieu – a play area for all ages.
Distance from our Holiday Parks
- 72 miles from Highlands End / Eype House
- 74 miles from Golden Cap
- 70 miles from Graston Copse
- 52 miles from Sandyholme
Hurst Castle, Hampshire
Hurst Castle is one of the best days out in the New Forest, with great views of the Isle of Wight and steeped in military history. The castle is an artillery fortress at the end of a sea spit at the entrance to the Solent. Access is via a ferry ride from Keyhaven, or a 2 mile walk along the shingle spit.
Highlights of the castle include the Tudor Fort, the Tudor Keep, the views from the roof across the Needles Passage, the basement used for storage of weapons and gunpowder, the Bastion used to protect the castle entrance and two casemates.
Visit the Hurst Castle website
Distance from our Holiday Parks
- 62 miles from Highlands End / Eype House
- 64 miles from Golden Cap
- 60 miles from Graston Copse
- 44 miles from Sandyholme
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