No wonder the Dorset Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty covers the majority of the county. The towns and villages tend to small but full of historic buildings and beautiful traditional thatched cottages can frequently be found.
The coast is stunning with a gradual change in geology as you travel from west to east. All along the coast there are sheltered bays, impressive rock formations and long shingle and sand beaches. You have everything from quiet traditional harbour towns at Lyme Regis to lively seaside resorts at Bournemouth and Weymouth. Much of Dorset towards the east is covered in heathland. This is now a rare habitat but in Dorset the majority is accessible as National Nature Reserves and comprise some of the most extensive heathlands in Europe. Dorset is a walker's paradise with a network of footpaths and long distance walking trails across the county and coast. Poole, Christchurch and Portland provide watersports hotspots and there are plenty of cycle trails to be followed.
The Jurassic Coast Dorset and East Devon World Heritage Site is the first natural World Heritage Site which extends 95 miles from Exmouth in Devon, through into Dorset at Lyme Regis and extending to Studland. It is such a special coastline in that it tells a continuous story of how the Earth was formed spanning 185 million years! You can pick up the South West Coast Path that will take you by some of the amazing rock formations and fossils that make up the Dorset Coast.
The towns and villages along the coast are geared up to help you find out more about the coast and the particular sites of interest nearby. You'll find helpful Tourist Information Centres and Museums displaying artefacts found in the area. You can also pick up boat trips for a sea level view of the rocks and coastline. The coast has a string of camping, caravan sites and Dorset cottages with the CoastlinX53 bus providing an excellent service for those without cars and walkers who may want to walk a section of the coastline and get a bus back.
Bournemouth has been a popular seaside resort ever since the Victorians decided to take the sea air for their health. For years Bournemouth has been a great family seaside destination, but recent years has seen the growth of modern attractions, a revamped shopping centre and, soon, a specially designed surf reef at Boscombe. Bournemouth is geared up for all types of entertainment with an excellent choice of Bournemouth hotel accommodation. The Bournemouth International Centre hosts exhibitions and conferences from all over the world as well as international rock and pop acts. Across the way is The Pavilion Theatre where entertainment includes comedians, rock, pop and classical concerts including those performed by the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra.
Around Bournemouth are the watersports capitals of Dorset - Poole to the west and Christchurch to the east - where you can try your hand at sailing, surfing, windsurfing, kite surfing and powerboating. There are also long stretches of family-friendly beaches string along the coast from Sandbanks in Poole all the way along to Highcliffe east of Christchurch.
