Dorset Day Itineraries

This is the classic Dorset family day — a National Trust beach with shallow water, a ruined castle that children actually get excited about, and a traditional seaside town to finish. It works for toddlers and teenagers alike, which is rare.

The stretch of coast between Charmouth and Lyme Regis is the best place in Britain to find fossils. After winter storms, ammonites and belemnites wash out of the cliffs onto the beach. This itinerary combines fossil hunting with the best coastal walk in West Dorset and a proper Lyme Regis afternoon.

Sherborne is arguably the most beautiful town in Dorset — possibly in England. Two castles, a medieval abbey, independent restaurants, and a market town atmosphere that hasn't been ruined by tourism. This itinerary is designed for couples who want history, good food, and somewhere that feels genuinely special.

Dorchester is one of the most historically rich towns in England — Roman amphitheatre, Thomas Hardy's birthplace, a world-class county museum, and a proper market town high street. This itinerary works perfectly on a wet day because almost everything is indoors or covered.

This is one of the finest coastal walks in England — and dogs are welcome on every section of it. The path runs along the clifftops between Lyme Regis and Charmouth with views across the Jurassic Coast. Do it one way and get the bus back, or do the full 8-mile return if your dog has the energy.

Weymouth is a proper British seaside town — Georgian terraces, a working harbour, a sandy beach, and fish and chips that are genuinely excellent. It's unpretentious and good value, which makes it one of the most enjoyable days out in Dorset.

The Blackmore Vale is the part of Dorset that tourists miss — a wide, green, agricultural valley of dairy farms and ancient market towns. Thomas Hardy called it the 'Vale of Little Dairies'. This itinerary takes you through the best of it, starting at Shaftesbury's famous Gold Hill.

Portland is unlike anywhere else in Dorset — a limestone peninsula that feels like a different country. The quarries supplied stone for St Paul's Cathedral and the UN headquarters. The Bill is the southernmost point of Dorset, where the tidal race creates some of the most dramatic seas in Britain. This is a day for people who want something genuinely different.

Bournemouth and Poole sit either side of the mouth of Poole Harbour — and the journey between them along the beach is one of the great Dorset days out. You can walk the whole 7 miles along the sand, or take the ferry across the harbour mouth at Sandbanks. Either way, you end up in one of the most beautiful natural harbours in the world.

Wimborne Minster is one of the most underrated towns in Dorset — a proper market town with a magnificent Norman minster, a famous outdoor market, and a model town that children genuinely love. It's best on a Friday or Saturday when the market is running.