Dorset has some beautiful places to visit both along the coast and inland. With that in mind you’d probably thing that coming up with my top five favourite spots around Dorset would be quite difficult, you’d be wrong. Each place has something different to give, something different to reflect and something completely different about it.
1 – Kingston Lacy
A place packed full of history and for many years the only place I ended up going on primary school trips that wasn’t Hengistbury Head. It still holds the keys to Corfe Castle and was owned by the Banks family for many years. It’s a place that changes with the seasons and is beautiful all year round. Weekend walks around the woodlands are my favourite, taking in nature, reflecting with friends or family and enjoying a nice hot drink down in the old allotments. I’ve been around the house so many times that unless I go with someone new I tend not to go in, but at Christmas I sometimes make an exception.
2 – The Great Globe
You’ll find this place at Durlston Country Park in Swanage. It’s a bit of a steep incline down and a killer to walk back up but it’s so worth it! Made from Portland stone The Great Globe is magical. It’s a place we would spend most weekends parking near and walking the Jurassic Coast. The views across the water to nothingness are breath taking in any weather. It’s a place as a child I’d go around the globe and point to places I’d love to travel. Safe to say one of those places I did point out all those years ago did happen, maybe not the exactly country but the correct part of the world.
3 – Poole Harbour
This is home. I think that says it all really doesn’t it? Poole harbour is one of the biggest natural harbours in the world and there are so many places around Dorset that you can see it from. You may think oh she means Poole Quay or Sandbanks, but they are just a glimpse of this amazing harbour. To truly see it you have to travel around it and Studland and Arne have some amazing views from the other side. It also harbours (excuse the pun) nine islands.
4 – West Bay
A place for foodies, walkers and sightseers. Most people will probably know this place due to it being the filming location for the hit ITV series “Broadchurch”, however I’ve known it long before then. We used to camp down this end of Dorset and go into West Bay for the day. With its numerous food kiosks your spoilt for choice on what to eat, however I nearly always opt to eat somewhere inside due to the sheer fear of Seagulls! The main reason I adore this place is of course the famous cliffs. I could sit on the pebbled beach and people watch under them all day. Sadly since my photo was taken below a landslide has taken out some of the cliff edge you see. It’s a reminder that our coastline is ever changing and places like this won’t look the same in years to come.
5 – Winspit Quarry
This place can be found from walking down the south west coastal path from Worth Matravers. It’s an old quarry which is open to the public; however this is not why I love it. The views of the Jurassic Coast from this point are spectacular. With hidden caves and blue sea its breath taking in its own right.
So there you have it, my top five Dorset Spots. Safe to say I think I’m drawn to the sea or just the coast for that matter, but the woodlands at Kingston Lacy will always have my heart.
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