Escape The Everyday

Discovery…Freedom To Explore…Treat Yourself…

Escape the everyday with a holiday in Dorset this Autumn or Winter. We may be biased, but we think there is no greater holiday location than Dorset! At this point, certain popular and much-visited locations may spring to mind, like Cornwall, Wales or perhaps the Lake District. While these are beautiful places, why not escape the crowds, discover somewhere new and keep reading to find out what makes Dorset such a diverse, unique and special place to make memories with friends and family.

Enjoy a holiday that will exceed your expectations with breath-taking countryside, incredible coastline, unforgettable experiences, award-winning food & drink, top quality attractions, sweeping beaches and of course superb accommodation and facilities.

Discovery…

A holiday in Dorset is all about the experiences and Dorset is famous for many memorable holiday activities.

Fossil Hunting

When you’re holidaying on a UNESCO World Heritage Coastline (the UK’s only natural World Heritage Site) and one of the best places in the world for discovering fossils, a guided fossil hunt has to be high on the itinerary. Luckily, we have that covered and have teamed up with Jurassic Coast Guides who offer their experience and expertise to help you find your very own piece of the Jurassic Coast to take home with you!

Fossil hunts take place from Charmouth Beach and you can learn more about the geological history and fossils of this world-famous coastline. Jurassic Coast experiences can be tailored to suit all ages and abilities and they’re led by a qualified, insured and experienced mountain leader. Walks, tours, excursions and fossil walks can be arranged for invividuals, couples, families or groups.

The ‘Three Peaks’ Challenge

Three of our four Holiday Parks are located within a few miles of each other in West Dorset and this is an incredible section of coastline with two of the highest peaks on the south coast of England – Golden Cap and Thorncombe Beacon. We’ve designed a fun challenge and a circular walking route that incorporates these clifftops, as well as the iconic Colmer’s Hill, another of Dorset’s most recognisable landmarks. Enjoy a leisurely walk around the 9 mile route or take part in our challenge and see if you can join the leaderboard for walking or even running this challenge we have called the West Dorset ‘Three Peaks.’

Stargazing

The coast and countryside here in West Dorset has some of the darkest night skies anywhere in the UK, thanks to our rural location and the lack of light pollution from big towns and cities. This means that on clear nights, you can see so many of the beautiful stars, comets, planets, satellites the International Space Station and more!

The Milky Way is visible from the end of February until the end of October and even from your own accommodation including our pitches for touring and camping, glamping and our lodges which are available all year round!

Other fantastic experiences you can enjoy in Dorset include paddleboarding from West Bay beach, a thrilling boat trip across Lyme Bay with Lyme Bay RIB Charter, a visit to the enchanted illuminations at Abbotsbury Sub-Tropical Gardens, a cycling trip through the scenic Bride Valley countryside and much more!

Freedom To Explore…

The Jurassic Coast

The Jurassic Coast is an incredibly unique and astounding place to visit with so many places to explore including beaches, landmarks and geological formations including arches, sea stacks, rocky cliffs, landslides, headlands and more. Some of these you may well have heard of, including the ever-popular Durdle Door and Lulworth Cove, but head off the beaten track and there are so many more places to discover. Some of our favourites include the amazing barrier beach of Chesil Beach, the rocky outcrop of Portland Bill, the ‘ammonite pavement’ just east of Lyme Regis and the jigsaw-like stacks of Old Harry Rocks near Bournemouth.

Not only is their 95 miles of world-class coastline, but much of the surrounding countryside further inland is designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and there is an array of pretty, peaceful and enchanting villages to walk round, as well as 3,000 miles of footpath across the county.

Beaches

Dorset has sweeping golden sandy beaches, hidden and secluded coves and everything in between! There is 100 miles of coastline across the county, from the ammonite pavements of Monmouth Beach at Lyme Regis in the west, to the sandy beach of Highcliffe in the east. With such a variety, you are bound to find what you are looking for , whether that’s a safe place to paddle with the kids, a remote spot for an early morning swim, or a place to have a picnic and build sandcastles.

Read about the best family beaches in Dorset, fossil hunting on the Jurassic Coast and which beaches across the county are dog friendly.

Villages

If the coast isn’t your thing, Dorset is home to some of the most picturesque countryside in the UK. Dotted across the meadows, woods, lanes and rivers are small and charming villages with thatched cottages, village pubs, tea rooms and pretty flower displays.

Some of the prettiest villages close to our parks include Abbotsbury with it’s sandy coloured cottages, tearooms, galleries and attractions (including a sub-tropical gardens, swannery and St Catherine’s Chapel), Burton Bradstock with it’s popular village pubs, village green, river walks and 16th and 17th Century cottages and Puddletown in the Piddle Valley, with it’s period properties, thatched cottages and the nearby Athlehampton House & Gardens.

Treat Yourself…

Food & Drink

Dorset is famous for its tasty and high-quality local produce and welcoming and award-winning pubs, restaurants and cafes. Treating yourself and enjoying delicious food and drink it a very important part of any holiday. You will find some of the freshest seafood from Lyme Bay and great produce from the fertile soils of the Dorset countryside in the many local establishments that pride themselves on supporting local producers, farmers and fishermen.

Close to our parks, you will find regular markets and farmer’s markets in Bridport, Dorchester and Weymouth. There’s a great selection of farm shops nearby, such as Felicity’s at Morcombelake, Washingpool in Bridport, Modbury in Burton Bradstock, Duck’s Farm Shop in Portesham and Kate’s Farm Shop in Owermoigne. Our very own Martin’s Bar & Restaurant at Highlands End Holiday Park, supports over 20 local businesses and uses local produce wherever possible.

Some of our favourite places to eat include Rise at West Bay, The Three Horseshoes at Burton Bradstock, The Anchor Inn at Seatown, The George Inn at Chideock, The Pymore Inn in Bridport, The Seaside Boarding House in Burton Bradstock and The Frampton Arms near Crossways. During the year, there are various events focused on food, including the Bridport Food Festival, the Nyetimber Dorset Seafood Festival, the Dorset Knob Festival, Abbotsbury Food Fair, the River Cottage Food Fair, the Great Dorset Chilli Festival and the Spring Tide Food Festival.

Shopping – markets, farmers markets, local product, independent shops

Independent shops is one of the best things about a holiday to Dorset. With a lack of big cities in the county, most of the shopping experiences in the county involve quaint and small shops on traiditonal high streets, such as Lyme Regis, Bridport and Sherborne, selling fashion, antiques, art, gifts, homewares, books and food. The rural towns of Shaftesbury, Poundbury and Wimborne are also worth a visit.

For a bigger choice and a more modern shopping centre type of experience, Bournemouth has a largely pedestrianised high street with many of your well-known retailers, as well as Castlepoint Shopping Centre. Brewery Square in the market town of Dorchester and the town’s high street offer a number of options for big name shops and restaurants – in fact, there are over 400 shops and businesses in this bustling market town.

Luxury Accommodation

After days spent exploring new places or enjoying activities like shopping, walking or cycling, you’ll want to return to somewhere comfortable with everything you need to relax and unwind. Each of our Holiday Parks in Dorset are different with something to offer everyone.

Highlands End is a 5 star park set on the Jurassic Coast clifftop with amazing views and facilities, Golden Cap has a beautiful location just a couple of hundred metres from Seatown Beach and the coast path, Graston Copse has a secluded countryside setting just a short walk from the village of Burton Bradstock and Hive Beach and Sandyholme is located between Dorchester and Wareham, just 5 miles from the coast and surrounded by rivers, meadows and forests.

Accommodation varies by park, but we have luxury lodges, deluxe caravans, caravans, apartments, bungalows, glamping (5 different options) and pitches for touring and camping. Escape the everyday by making a booking online today and start planning your holiday or short break to Dorset.