Family days out in Dorset
Days out are some of our favourite things, whether it’s a weekend day popping out somewhere, or a day out while on holiday. I’m reliving my childhood visiting around the UK, near home and further away, and love sharing it with N. So if you’re looking for days out in Dorset, you’re in the right place.
This series of days out posts are based on round ups of places we’ve loved on our travels. Hopefully it’ll make them easier for you to find, especially if you’re looking for recommendations for places to visit. I’ll also be including recommendations from other bloggers, because if you’re looking for guidance on where to go you want to hear from local people as well as visitors to an area.
Museums, culture and history
The home of Camp Bestival, a small castle easy for children to get around, with a nice children’s toy area to see what old toys were like. (we found it hard to find the exit once we got back to the car)
For naval history buffs, a chance to see what the fort was like, hear the cannons and explore the underground tunnels. Beautiful views in the sun overlooking Chesil Beach and Swanage
Corfe Castle
We named it the Broken Castle, look out for event days and trails in school holidays
Etches Collection, Kimmeridge – celebrating fossils
Tank Museum , Bovington – For military and vehicle lovers
National Trust
Get free parking if you’re national trust, good facilities including boat hire, café, toilets, and a gentle beach into the sea for children.
Beautiful house and gardens, bringing history to life for children
Wildlife and nature
They added a Caribbean Cove play area in 2017. The café in the car park is cheap and ok for sandwiches if you don’t want to pay sealife prices
An oasis of calm off a busy road. Walk amongst the lily ponds, keep a watch on children as there’s no fences.
Swans galore where they return each year to nest and have their cygnets. It’s a bit hard to find (we failed)
Dorset Heavy Horse Centre
Get up close to the horses, join in harnessing and other activities. Chance for wagon rides, and meeting other animals
Monkey World Ape rescue centre, nr Wool
Learn about the different monkeys and the conservation work they do here
Farmer Palmers
Check out the deer safari as well as the other animals
Upton Country Park
Older children and adults can do Segway adventures
Kingston Maurward
Farm with seasonal open days, check the facebook page for information
Bournemouth Oceanarium
A real treat for penguin lovers as well as the usual aquarium species
Moors Valley Country Park
Just pay for car parking and enjoy various trails, adventure playground and the meadow. Pay for the miniature steam train and Go Ape
Beaches
Portland Bill and Chesil Beach
Remind yourself of your geography classes, take a windy walk over the pebbles at Chesil Beach, watch out for wildlife at the nature reserve and take cliff top walks at Portland Bill. There are height restrictions for climbing the lighthouse
Old fashioned seaside town. Good gently sloping beach for young children, complete with fairground rides, Punch and Judy shows and pedaloes. Watch out for seagulls if you’re eating on the beach – they steal food out of hands so take a beach shelter to hide the children under when eating
Charmouth for fossil hunting
Great tips for what to look for and where to find fossils at Charmouth
Picturesque cove complete with boat rides, with nearby Durdle Door just a walk away. It gets horrendously busy, so get there early or try out of season if you don’t want to see all the crowds
Other
Play crazy golf among dinosaurs, volcano and lava waterfall
Pecorama
For train lovers with a museum and steam train to ride. There’s also crazy golf, a playground and train themed soft play
Dorset Waterpark, Corfe
For over 6 years old, water inflatables course
Travel along the historic line. Choice of places to join or exit – we went to Corfe Castle by train.
Where to stay
Camp in comfort at this beautiful glamping site.
Complete with entertainment and pool
Where would you add to the list of must go’s in Dorset?
Why not take a look at these similar posts.
I’ve never been to Dorset but it sounds like there is so much to do and see there! I think we would be most likely to visit the beaches and the sealife centre if we were there on holiday! x #TheListLinky
It’s a lovely county, and there’s so many beaches and other things to do.
Loads of great ideas here! We love Moors Valley – seems like endless entertainment there
Country parks and places like that are always great for activilties. And usually nice and cheap to visit too