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There’s no reason to hibernate in the winter! We have accommodation available all year round with our lodges, apartments and bungalows at Highlands End Holiday Park and our lodges at Golden Cap Holiday Park, so you can enjoy winter breaks in Dorset. Please note there may be limited opening hours of the facilities on the park, including Martin’s Bar & Restaurant at Highlands End Holiday Park. Highlands End Leisure Club is open all year round except a short period of time over Christmas and New Year.
There are plenty of things to see and do during the winter in Dorset – take a look at our 20 things to do in Dorset this winter blog. There are also many pubs, restaurants, cafes and takeaways open all year round – take a look at our places to eat this winter blog.
Read on to find out our 10 top reasons to enjoy a winter break in Dorset…
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.
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. 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. 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 and where better to try it 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.
Crisp winter days
There’s nothing better than a cold, clear winter day to explore the coast and countryside, recharge the batteries and blow away the cobwebs.
This is the perfect time to get your camera out and keep an eye out for the wildlife, such as robins, deer, herons and owls.
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.
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!
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!
Snow place like Dorset!
If you’re very lucky, you may get to see the Dorset coastline covered in a blanket of snow! While this is a rare experience, further inland on hilltops and in the north of the county, this is a more likely event.
Visit some of the highest hills in Dorset, all close to our parks, such as Eggardon, Pilsdon Pen and Lewesdon for your best chance of snow and some great places for sledging!
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Why choose us?
Stunning locations
Each of our Parks have unique features and different locations, so you are bound to find your perfect holiday
Quality accommodation
We have a great range of accommodation from luxury lodges and pitches for motorhomes to safari tents and caravans
Great facilities
Each Park has a range of facilities, whether you want to be at the heart of the action or somewhere peaceful and quiet
Family Run, Family Friendly
Owned by the Cox Family, West Dorset Leisure Holidays have been providing memorable family holidays for 50 years!
Best Rated
Each of the parks are highly rated by our guests and have achieved various awards including Tripadvisor Certificates of Excellence
Jurassic Coast
Explore the incredible and unique UNESCO World Heritage Jurassic Coast, ranking it alongside the Grand Canyon and Great Barrier Reef