With a coastline full to the rock stacks with incredible sights and beautiful beaches, Dorset has much to offer when it comes to great days out. Fill your stay with all your favourite activities, whether you love nothing more than hitting the South West Coast Path in search of a perfect picnic spot or exploring an ancient castle as you walk in the footsteps of kings and queens.
Dorset is also home to a fun-filled collection of museums, historic homes, and adventure destinations, ensuring every age and holiday taste is well and truly catered for. From sprawling gardens that promise breathtaking displays of flowers to mud runs and lake-based obstacle courses that will leave you breathless in other ways, Dorset is the perfect place to spend a fun-filled holiday.
Here are just some of our favourite things to do in Dorset to get your wanderlist started…
Durdle Door
Known for its coastline, one of Dorset’s most famous landmarks is picture-perfect Durdle Door, which promises drama, romance, and an endless supply of holiday snaps. From the iconic archway to the azure waters and golden sands that make it hard to believe you’re still in the UK, this stunning (and totally dog-friendly) beach is always high on our to-do lists when visiting Dorset.
The beach itself is a popular swimming spot, while the surrounding coastline offers some of the best walks in the county – nearby Man O’ War Beach and Lulworth Cove are must-visit destinations in their own right! There isn’t much in the way of facilities, but with a backdrop such as this, it’s hard to resist settling down for a picnic full of Dorset Knobs and apple cake (when in Dorset, after all).
Fossil hunting
With the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site on your doorstep, Dorset is one of the best fossil hunting spots in the UK, with Lyme Regis as the flagship destination. Not only does this seaside town boast a rich history of palaeontological finds, which it celebrates during its annual Fossil Festival, but the surrounding beaches promise pre-historic treasures hidden in the sands to this day.
The most common finds are ammonites and belemnites, two fascinating fossilised molluscs. Head to Lyme Regis, Charmouth, and Kimmeridge Bay for fossil-hunting exploits and keep your eyes peeled!
Tunnel Tree Tops
Want to get that adrenaline pumping? Take to the skies at Tunnel Tree Tops as you encounter a series of action-packed courses that are sure to delight and entertain. Throughout the course, you’ll take on aerial obstacles, whip through the air on zip wires, and test your balance, all while having the time of your life.
It’s a great family-friendly activity, with the lush woodland creating a rather scenic setting for your aerial adventures. Charmouth and the Jurassic Coast are nearby, so you can keep the adrenaline going with a breathtaking cliff-top ramble.
Monkey World
Home to over 250 rescued and rehabilitated chimpanzees from all over the world, Monkey World is a wonderful combination of education and family fun. Adventure playgrounds keep the kids well and truly entertained, while the exhibits enlighten all about the hardships these incredible creatures have gone through, highlighting the amazing work this charity does.
Alongside rescued chimpanzees, Monkey World is also home to a selection of other animals, including orangutans, gibbons, monkeys, and prosimians such as lemurs and slow loris. Stroll around the centre and discover these incredible creatures for yourself or book a guided tour with one of the education officers for even more facts about the primates before you.
Corfe Castle
One of many fascinating castles in Dorset, Corfe Castle’s silhouette is instantly recognisable. A thousand years old and shaped – like any castle – by many battles, the ruins of this once great fortress are a fascinating day out for the whole family. A rich history of murder, miracles, and everything in between permeates the site, which is run and maintained by the National Trust.
Walk around the historic site, spotting murder holes and crumbling walls as you go, and imagine what the castle must have looked like when it was founded by William the Conqueror. Boasting a rather impressive position in the hills, the views alone are worth a visit! When you’ve soaked up your share of historic beauty, head into the pretty village of Wareham where you can enjoy a cup of tea overlooking the romantic castle ruins.
Dorset Adventure Park
One of the best family-friendly days out in Dorset, the Dorset Adventure Park promises a whirlwind of fun for all ages. The waterpark boasts a torrent of laughter and splashes as you battle the floating obstacle course, while the 2km mud trail encourages you to get hands-on while tackling an assortment of obstacles that are sure to leave you beaming and oh-so muddy.
Changing rooms and a snack shack can be found on-site, allowing you to recharge after your adventures as you sit down with a refreshing drink and compare notes on how best to take on the fun-filled challenges.
Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens
Oh, we do love a day out in a beautiful garden, which is good, because Dorset has plenty to choose from! Full of colour, exotic displays, and incredible sculptures, Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens boasts a world of its own thanks to a dreamy microclimate and an almost unending supply of incredible plants.
Some of the rarer specimens have been growing here since the 18th century, with newer displays promising beautiful exotic plants and a heady mix of formal and informal displays. Dogs on leads are welcome, making this sweet-smelling garden a wonderful spot to stretch your legs and soak up the idylls of Dorset.
The Tank Museum
One for the historians, The Tank Museum welcomes all who love to delve a little deeper into wartime histories. Boasting over 300 tanks across nine fascinating exhibitions, you can explore some of history’s most incredible wartime inventions as you stroll around the museum.
Free talks and tours shine a light on little-known facts, while live demonstrations bring the past to life. There’s something for every age (including multiple play areas) and level of interest here, with excellent events running throughout the year to offer up-close insights, from riding in a tank to watching a tank’s power unleashed in jaw-dropping displays.
Brownsea Island
Home to an oh-so-adorable population of red squirrels, Brownsea Island is one of the best places to visit in Dorset for wildlife watching. An array of birds nest in the heathland and around the lagoon, while the woodland interior houses a flurry of furry critters. Ferries run from Poole Quay and Sandbanks throughout the year, or you can hire a kayak or paddleboard and explore the island under your own steam.
A series of natural play areas and free trails are perfect for families, while those who are not able to traverse the island themselves can join one of the fabulous guided tours of the National Trust shuttle buses. Pack a picnic and spend the day on Dorset’s beautiful island haven as you paddle in tranquil waters and relax in dappled shade.
Kingston Lacy
From historic grandeur to beautiful floral displays that fill the air with the sights and scents of summer, visiting a historic house and garden is always high on our list when exploring Dorset. Boasting one of the more fascinating homes, Kingston Lacy combines classic English elegance with a Venetian palace for a truly spectacular day out.
Tour the regal house and sprawling gardens for a touch of splendour or head into the rolling parkland and heathland for a wilder experience. Bluebells coat the ground in a wash of colour in the spring, while the surrounding trees take on a beautiful copper hue during the autumn months. There are multiple play areas and food and drink options here too, making it a wonderful place to spend a family day out.
Swanage Railway
They say the journey is just as important as the destination and when it comes to Swanage Railway, we would have to agree! Trundling through the stunning scenery around Purbeck, it’s wonderfully easy to explore Dorset’s incredible sights and sites with a relaxing ride in a vintage carriage.
You can climb aboard for a simple trundle through the countryside, or you can book onto one of the amazing events that happen throughout the year, including prosecco and cream tea, murder mysteries, and breathtaking sunset shuttles that bathe the scenery in a rosy glow as you tootle towards your destination.
Furleigh Estate
One for the wine aficionados, Furleigh Estate invites you to stroll through their stunning Dorset vineyard on the Jurassic Coast. Book one of the grand tours for a deeper look at the state-of-the-art winery and picture-perfect vineyard and to enjoy a tutored tasting of two of their lip-smacking wines.
If you’re short on time, or just fancy a refreshing round of delicious local wines, you can also visit for a tasting of three wines, including two still and one fabulous sparkling wine.
Isle of Portland
Another island that’s well worth a visit when exploring Dorset is the Isle of Portland, with its rugged coastline and collection of famous historic landmarks. Portland Castle and Portland Bill Lighthouse are two of the most iconic sights on the small island, with each boasting rich histories full of everything from piracy to folklore.
The island is also a popular base for many fun-filled activities, from walking and rock climbing to sailing and kite surfing. It even hosted the sailing events for the 2012 Olympics and Paralympics. The famously sprawling sands of Chesil Beach are right on the island’s doorstep, providing a stunning spot to stretch your legs before settling onto the golden shingles for one of the county’s best fish and chips.
Excited to explore everything this coastal county has to offer? Browse our beautiful holiday cottages in Dorset and start planning a memorable stay in this stunning corner of the South West.
