Winter Breaks in Dorset
Winter is the perfect opportunity to enjoy a relaxing break, with Dorset at its most peaceful and tranquil. Enjoy the world-class coastline and beaches (practically to yourselves!), with walks along the coast path, beautiful sunrises and sunsets, delicious meals at award-winning restaurants & pubs and starry night skies. It’s also a great time of year to bring your dogs on holiday, with almost all the beaches in Dorset being dog-friendly at this time of year.
If this sounds like your perfect Winter break, we have accommodation available at two of our award-winning parks, Highlands End and Golden Cap, as well as pitches for touring caravans, campervans and motorhomes available at Highlands End. These are available all-year-round, including over the festive period! Availability of park facilities varies, please read on to see more information.
All of our Winter Breaks are available to book online.
Highlands End Holiday Park
Highlands End Holiday Park is in a spectacular location for Winter breaks, with exhilarating clifftop walks, a leisure club with sauna and steam room (charges may apply) and bar & restaurant with log burner. See opening dates below.
Winter breaks are available all-year-round in luxury lodges, Gold Glamping Pods, apartments and bungalows, as well as on hard-base or gravel pitches for motorhomes, touring caravans and campervans.
The South West Coast Path runs straight past the end of the park on the clifftop, with walks down to Eype Beach (dog friendly all-year-round) and West Bay in the other direction, with its harbour, beaches, fish & chip kiosks and cafes.
Holiday Accommodation
The Lodges, Apartments and Bungalows are available throughout the Winter with arrivals days of Friday, Saturday or Monday. Gold Glamping Pods are also available, with arrival days of Friday or Monday. Short breaks are 3 nights from a Friday or 4 nights from a Monday.
Highlands End
Apartment
2 Bedroom
Sleeps 4
Not Dog Friendly
Friday, Saturday or Monday Arrivals
Bed Linen Provided
Highlands End
Apartment
4 Bedroom
Sleeps 8
Not Dog Friendly
Friday, Saturday or Monday Arrivals
Bed Linen Provided
Highlands End
Bungalow
1 Bedroom
Sleeps 2
Dog Friendly (£, max 3)
Max of 3 & charges apply
Sea View
Decking Area
Highlands End
Gold Pod
Sleeps 2
Dog Friendly (£, max 3)
Max of 3 & charges apply
Friday or Monday Arrivals Only
Bed Linen Optional (£)
Charges apply
Duvet & Pillows Provided
Highlands End
Gold Pod
Sleeps 2
Not Dog Friendly
Friday or Monday Arrivals Only
Bed Linen Optional (£)
Charges apply
Duvet & Pillows Provided
Highlands End
Gold Pod
Sleeps 2 Adults & 2 Child
Not Dog Friendly
Friday or Monday Arrivals Only
Bed Linen Optional (£)
Charges apply
Duvet & Pillows Provided
Highlands End
Gold Pod
Sleeps 2 Adults & 2 Child
Dog Friendly (£, max 2)
Max of 2, charges apply
Friday or Monday Arrivals Only
Bed Linen Optional (£)
Charges apply
Duvet & Pillows Provided
Highlands End
Lodge
1 Bedroom
Sleeps 2
Dog Friendly (£, max 3)
Max of 3 & charges apply
Decking Area
Friday, Saturday or Monday Arrivals
Highlands End
Lodge
2 Bedroom
Sleeps 4
Dog Friendly (£, max 3)
Max of 3 & charges apply
Decking Area
Saturday Arrivals Only
Highlands End
Lodge
2 Bedroom
Sleeps 4
Not Dog Friendly
Sea View
Decking Area
Highlands End
Lodge
2 Bedroom
Sleeps 4
Dog Friendly (£, max 3)
Max of 3 & charges apply
Sea View
Decking Area
Highlands End
Lodge
3 Bedroom
Sleeps 6
Not Dog Friendly
Sea View
Decking Area
Highlands End
Lodge
3 Bedroom
Sleeps 6
Dog Friendly (£, max 3)
Max of 3 & charges apply
Sea View
Decking Area
Highlands End
Lodge
3 Bedroom
Sleeps 6
Dog Friendly (£, max 3)
Max of 3 & charges apply
Sea View
Decking Area
The Pitches
Hard-base Pitches
The hard-base pitches have a concrete base, gravel area for awnings and a grass parking space and are suitable for touring caravans, motorhomes and campervans up to 7.5 metres (24.6 feet) in length.
Each pitch has a water connection point, a 16 amp electric hook-up and a waste water drain and there will be 37 pitches available, some with partial countryside and coastal views towards West Bay and beyond.
Gravel Pitches
The gravel pitches have a gravel base, with a gravel area for awnings and a grass parking space and are suitable for touring caravans, motorhomes and campervans up to 10 metres (32.8 feet) in length.
These pitches have a 16 amp electric hook-up, tap points are available nearby and there are many gravel pitches available, some with partial sea views – please note, we may close certain areas of these pitches during quiet times.
Toilet & Shower Facilities
The toilets, showers, motorhome service point, chemical disposal point, disabled toilet, dishwasher, washing up sinks, laundry room and iron & ironing board are available throughout the winter, including the festive period.
Christmas & New Year Breaks
Over Christmas and New Year, it is not possible to arrive on the 24th, 25th, 26th and 31st December and 1st January. There is a minimum of 4 nights for all stays between 23rd December and 2nd January.
Dog friendly
Dogs are welcome with all touring bookings and we are able to welcome 3 dogs per booking. Dogs and are charged at £1 per dog, per night (low season) and £3 per dog, per night (mid season). There is a 3 and a half acre enclosed meadow for exercising dogs off the lead. The dog shower at the other toilet block may be unavailable at times. There is a large outdoor children’s adventure play area nearby.
Highlands End
Gravel Pitch
Units up to 10m
(32.8 ft)
Dog Friendly (£, max 3)
Max of 3 & charges apply
Use of Leisure Club (£)
Charges apply
Wifi Available (£)
Charges apply
16 Amp Electric Hook-Up
Highlands End
Hard-Base Pitch
Units up to 7.5m
(24.6 ft)
Dog Friendly (£, max 3)
Max of 3 & charges apply
Use of Leisure Club (£)
Charges apply
Wifi Available (£)
Charges apply
16 Amp Electric Hook-Up
Park Facilities
The swimming pool, sauna and steam room at Highlands End Leisure Club as well as The Little Fire Station Soft Play will be closed from the 6th December until the 2nd January due to important maintenance work. Charges apply for use, except for Lodge, Bungalow and Apartment bookings where entry is complimentary.
The Park Reception / Spar Convenience Store opening times will be limited between Christmas and New Year. A park warden will always be available on the emergency out-of-hours phone number. Gas bottle exchange will be available when the Spar is open (subject to availability).
Martin’s Bar & Restaurant is closed from late November until late January. There is however, a wide choice of pubs, restaurants, cafes and takeaways within a few miles of the Park, that are open throughout the winter.
Dorset Foot Golf is open on the days that the park SPAR shop is open. Our Park Nature Trail and WDLH Three Peaks Walk are open.
Golden Cap Holiday Park
Golden Cap Holiday Park offers winter breaks in stunning 3 bedroom lodges, just a stone’s throw from Seatown Beach on the Jurassic Coast. Many of the lodges have sea views and the others have views of the surrounding hills and valley.
The South West Coast Path runs right past the park entrance and there are 2 village pubs within a short walk, The Anchor Inn at Seatown and The George Inn at Chideock. The nearby village of Chideock has a Spar Convenience Store and a bus stop for the X53 ‘Jurassic Coast’.
The Park is in a convenient location, no more than 15 minutes drive from great places to visit on the Dorset coast, such as Charmouth Beach, Lyme Regis, Bridport and West Bay.
Holiday Accommodation
The 3 bedroom Lodges are available throughout the Winter with arrivals days of Friday, Saturday or Monday. Short breaks are 3 nights from a Friday or 4 nights from a Monday.
Golden Cap
Lodge
3 Bedroom
Sleeps 6
Dog Friendly (£, max 3)
Max of 3 & charges apply
Decking Area
Friday or Monday Arrivals Only
Golden Cap
Lodge
3 Bedroom
Sleeps 6
Dog Friendly (£, max 3)
Max of 3 & charges apply
Sea View
Decking Area
Golden Cap
Lodge
3 Bedroom
Sleeps 6
Dog Friendly (£, max 3)
Max of 3 & charges apply
Sea View
Decking Area
Golden Cap
Lodge
3 Bedroom
Sleeps 6
Not Dog Friendly
Sea View
Decking Area
Golden Cap
Lodge
3 Bedroom
Sleeps 6
Dog Friendly (£, max 3)
Max of 3 & charges apply
Decking Area
Saturday Arrivals Only
Golden Cap
Lodge
3 Bedroom
Sleeps 6
Not Dog Friendly
Decking Area
Friday or Monday Arrivals Only
Booking Information
- Holiday Accommodation – Check in from 4pm, check out by 10am
- Deposit of £100 per week required for holiday accommodation. If it is less than 70 days until arrival (holiday accommodation), or the value of the booking is less than £100, the full amount is required upfront at the time of booking.
- Wifi is complimentary with Lodge bookings.
- Routine maintenance and projects will be taking place across the Park over the winter period.
- Please note that bonfires and fire pits are not permitted anywhere on the park. BBQs must be raised off of the grass using bricks provided.
Why visit Dorset in the Winter?
There’s so many great reasons to visit Dorset in the Winter, which you can browse below. If you need further inspiration, we’ve put together a blog with 20 different ideas for things to do, places to visit and activities to try during a winter holiday in Dorset and all of them can be done throughout the winter period from November to February!
You can also visit the Things To Do section of our website, which lists over 250 of our favourite attractions, beaches, places to visit, places to eat and more. This is also available on our WDLH App, alongside various walking routes that we recommend and would be perfect during a Winter break.
Events
Highland’s Maker’s Market
The annual Highland's Maker's Market takes place at Martin's Bar & Restaurant
Saturday 15th November, 2025
at 9:30am
A Dorset Christmas
A festive day out at one of Dorset's top attractions
Sunday 16th November, 2025
at 12:00am and 1 future dates
Abbey Farm Christmas Fair
A much-loved fair at the start of the festive season
Sunday 30th November, 2025
at 11:00am and 1 future dates
Dorset Winter Cheer Food Fair
The perfect place to buy tasty treats ahead of the winter season
Sunday 9th November, 2025
at 10:00am and 1 future dates
Poundbury Christmas Market
Over 100 stalls at this outdoor Christmas market
Saturday 29th November, 2025
at 10:00am
Groves Christmas Market
A festive market in a popular local garden centre
Thursday 20th November, 2025
at 3:30pm
Bournemouth Alpine Market & Christmas Tree Wonderland
A traditional alpine market with great light displays
Sunday 4th January, 2026
at 11:00am and 50 future dates
Abbotsbury Firework Display
A firework display in a traditional Dorset village
Saturday 8th November, 2025
at 6:00pm
Carols By The Coast
Get in the festive spirit with traditional carol singing
Saturday 6th December, 2025
at 5:00pm
Candles On St Catherine’s Hill
A candlelit celebration for St Catherine
Sunday 23rd November, 2025 - All day and 1 future dates
Weymouth Elf Parade & Light Switch On
A world record attempt is taking place in Weymouth!
Saturday 29th November, 2025 - All day
Chase The Pudding 5k Beach Run
Guaranteed to be a race you'll remember!
Sunday 21st December, 2025
at 11:00am
Dorchester Christmas Cracker
A festive market with local stalls
Sunday 14th December, 2025
at 11:00am
Father Christmas’s Yuletide Express
A joyful festive adventure from Swanage Station
Wednesday 24th December, 2025 - All day and 10 future dates
Mapperton Christmas Market
A weekend of festive shopping and seasonal treats
Sunday 30th November, 2025
at 10:00am and 1 future dates
Illuminate at Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens
A beautiful outdoor winter light display
Wednesday 31st December, 2025 - All day and 24 future dates
Lyme Regis Christmas Light Switch On
The start of the festive season in Lyme Regis
Saturday 22nd November, 2025
at 5:00pm
The West Bay Wallow
A charity swim in icy cold waters at West Bay
Saturday 26th December, 2026
at 12:00pm and 1 future dates
Carols Round The Tree
Get in the Christmas spirit by singing carols
Tuesday 23rd December, 2025
at 7:00pm
Weymouth Christmas Day Swim
A charity swim on Christmas morning
Thursday 25th December, 2025
at 11:00am
Artisans On The Beach
A Christmas market located in traditional beach huts!
Sunday 21st December, 2025
at 10:00am and 13 future dates
Exhilarating coastal walks
The UNESCO World Heritage Jurassic Coast is dramatic and impressive on a warm summer’s day, so just imagine it during winter storms!
Wrap up warm and enjoy winter walks along the spectacular South West Coast Path and watch the power of the waves as they crash on the shoreline. It makes for some incredible photos!
Starry night skies
The night skies in Dorset are some of the best in the country. In the winter, the air is colder and drier with longer nights, which means more uninterrupted viewing hours.
Grab a blanket, a coat and a hot drink and view the night sky from the comfort of your holiday home decking or a nearby beach. A meteor shower can be an incredible spectacle, so check the forecast and get prepared!
Find out more about stargazing.
The golden hour
Sunrises and sunsets are even more spectacular in the winter, plus the sunrises are later in the morning and the sunsets are earlier in the evening so it’s easier to catch them without having to get up early!
Head to river valleys or the nearby Marshwood Vale to see magical displays of frost and fog on cold winter mornings.
For striking sunsets, clifftops such as Golden Cap, West Bay and Portland Bill are some of our favourite locations.
Fossil Hunting
Winter is the perfect opportunity for fossil hunting, with wind, rain and waves unearthing more fossils from the cliffs than at any other time of year. There’s no better place to look than on the beaches in Dorset, which are some of the best anywhere in the world! The Jurassic Coast boats incredible fossil-rich cliffs.
Visit the beaches around Charmouth and Lyme Regis, where winter storms wash fossils right onto the beach! Make yourself aware of the tide times and follow the fossil hunting code to be safe on the coastline.
Find out more about fossil hunting.
Avoid the crowds
With some of the best unspoiled countryside and iconic coastal landmarks in the UK, Dorset is becoming an increasingly popular destination for holidaymakers and day trippers.
The main advantage of winter of course, is that you can avoid the crowds and enjoy the space and solitude of these beautiful places at your own pace. There’s no worry about finding a parking space or getting stuck in busy summer traffic.
Attractions and events
Dorset has some great places to visit including stately homes and gardens, museums, National Trust locations, family-friendly attractions and award-winning places to eat. Many of these places are open year-round and there are many events during the winter months.
Visit the illuminations at Abbotsbury Sub-Tropical Gardens, Halloween events at Corfe Castle, fireworks at bonfire night celebrations and Christmas markets. Take advantage of great money-saving discounts and offers.
It’s a dog’s playground
Winter is the perfect time for a break with your dog. Many of the beaches in Dorset are dog friendly, with most restrictions lifted from October to March – see which beaches are dog friendly. Nothing could be better than an energising walk along the beach with your pooch excitedly chasing the waves and there is a great choice of dog friendly eateries to enjoy a meal or a warm drink afterwards.
We have dog friendly accommodation available all year round, welcoming up to 3 dogs!
Christmas and New Year
Dorset is an enchanting place to be in the run up to Christmas. See Santa at the Swanage Railway, watch a Christmas pantomime, try your hand at ice skating, visit the numerous craft and gift fairs and get into the festive spirit with light switch ons and late night shopping events.
New Year is also a great time to be in Dorset and make memories with friendly and family. Where could be better for a bracing New Year’s Day walk than on the Dorset coastline!