With a stunningly beautiful coastline and utterly quintessential English landscapes that recount the mysterious tales of our island’s ancient history, Dorset is a place like no other that’s full to bursting with landmarks and beautiful locations known the world over.
Having so much on offer, we’ve shortlisted our top 10 Dorset locations everyone needs to tick off their bucket list. So, what are you waiting for? Get out there and #DiscoverDorset!
1. Durdle Door
Arguably the county’s most famous landmark, you’ll be hard pressed to think of the Dorset coast without this natural wonder instantly coming to mind. The rocky arch is located halfway between Weymouth and Swanage on the Jurassic Coast, and the shingle beach here is a fantastic place for picnics, strolls, and splashing about in the waves. This monolithic door is an absolutely unmissable gateway to the Dorset coast.
2. Gold Hill
The incredibly picturesque town of Shaftesbury sits at the head of the leafy Blackmore Vale in the heart of Hardy Country – named after the county’s most celebrated writer, Thomas Hardy, who immortalised the surrounding countryside in his world famous Wessex Novels. Offering up superb views across the Vale, the town’s Gold Hill is a must-visit location. Does this cobbled lane look familiar? That’s because it featured in the iconic Hovis bread TV advert in the 1970s, with the young boy riding his bike down the hill.
3. Golden Cap
This gargantuan, rocky outcrop juts dramatically out into the ocean waves. Enjoy a walk or a Dorset dog walk and end here where an unrivalled panorama can be seen from the cliff top, it’s no wonder this has been a beacon point in times of war since time immemorial. Part of the Jurassic Coast, England’s only natural World Heritage Site, the beach below is a fantastic place to hunt for fossils, and the surrounding Golden Cap estate is simply a walker’s dream location.
4. Corfe Castle
The romantic ruins of Corfe Castle crowning the Purbeck Hills look like something straight out of a fantasy story. A fortress has stood here for over a millennium, and these stones have plenty of bloody tales to tell. After being besieged during the Civil War, an Act of Parliament had the castle obliterated by gunpowder. However, this violence only has only served to add to the awe-inspiring beauty we see today.
5. Cranborne Chase
Made up of chalk grasslands and downlands, glittering river valleys, rolling hills, and deep woodlands, this unique AONB lies for hundreds of square miles, crossing Wiltshire, Hampshire, and Somerset, as well as Dorset. The landscape has remained almost completely untouched for centuries. As well as its natural splendour, it has several castles and Neolithic hill forts to discover, and with it being recently revealed as one of England’s darkest locations, the shimmering magnificence of the Milky Way is easily perceivable in the night sky here.
6. The Cobb
No one knows exactly where its name comes from, by this distinctive harbour has existed since at least the 13th century and is an instantly recognisable feature of the Lyme Regis waterfront. The wall even has cultural acclaim: Meryl Streep is seen walking along the Cobb in a stormy scene in The French Lieutenant’s Woman, whilst Jane Austen’s character, Louisa Musgrove, leaps from the steps here in the critically acclaimed novel, Persuasion.
7. Portland Bill
This craggy promontory at the southern end of the Isle of Portland, wth it’s famous red and white lighthouse, stretches way out into the English Channel. Beacons for seafarers, warning them of the danger of this rocky shore, have been lit here since Roman times and visitors can visit the Edwardian lighthouse for views along the Jurassic Coast and outwards across the formidable waters of Portland Race.
8. Lulworth Cove
This scenic cove was formed over 10,000 years ago and is a picture-perfect location that embodies the perfection of the Dorset Coast. Its pebble beach hugs the crystal clear waters in a pleasingly perfect semi-circle, providing an inviting sanctuary that simply begs to be explored.
9. Cerne Giant
There’s certainly no missing this landmark. The well-endowed fellow in question is carved into a chalk hillside at Cerne Abbas, and despite the origins of his creation being obscured by the mists of time, it’s believed the carving may date from the Iron Age. The giant stands 180ft tall, making him England’s largest chalk figure. Given his – ahem! – sizeable presence, locals have always associated him with ancient fertility rites, and Morris Dancers still come to the site each year to celebrate May Day.
10. Chesil Beach
This unique stretch of pebble beach runs for 18 miles between Portland to West Bay and is separated from the mainland for much of its length by the shallow waters of the Fleet Lagoon. The stony causeway is perfect for long walks and the beach plays a significant role in Ian McWwan’s compelling novel, On Chesil Beach.
Looking for accommodation worthy of an unforgettable Dorset bucket list trip? Our range of cottages in Dorset is perfect for an iconic stay in this beautiful part of the world.
Image attribution: Cerne Giant via flickr – cc.2.0