1. Lulworth Cove.
Lulworth Cove is located near the village of West Lulworth, on the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site. The cove attracts approximately 500,000 visitors a year, due to its clear waters and the surrounding cove walls that form a pretty sun trap.
Coach parking is available in the village, and groups can explore the quaint seaside shops and grab lunch or an ice cream during a visit.
2. Abbotsbury Swannery.
This swannery is said to be the only managed colony of mute swans in the world. It’s a sanctuary for 600 swans, built on the site of an 11th-century monastery, and is very close to Abbotsbury Tropical Gardens; great for a combined day trip.
Don’t miss catching a swan feeding demonstration, during which hundreds of swans and other birds gather to feed on the lake – great for photography enthusiasts. Group entry rates are available for parties of ten or more.
3. Durdle Door, Wareham.
Durdle Door is a natural limestone arch on the Jurassic Coast near Lulworth. It is privately owned by the Welds, a family who owns 12,000 acres in Dorset in the name of the Lulworth Estate. The area is open to the public year round.
This is a free natural outdoor attraction on the beach and can be accessed by walking from the aforementioned Lulworth Cove or by parking at the top of the sea cliff and walking down.
4. Sherborne Castle and Gardens.
This is a view of the 18th-century landscape garden towards the lake at Sherborne Castle from the terrace. The gardens were designed by Capability Brown.
Groups can explore paths and trails around 30 acres of gardens and pleasure grounds commanding spectacular views of more than 1,000 acres of parkland. Discounted entry rates are available for parties of 15 or more for both the castle and the garden.
5. Swanage Bay.
Swanage is a coastal town in the south east of Dorset. The town, originally a small port and fishing village, flourished in the Victorian era when it first became a significant quarrying port and later a seaside resort.
Today Swanage remains a popular tourist resort, and groups visiting can enjoy the bay’s sandy beach, fish and chip shops, and other seasonal attractions.
6. Bournemouth’s gardens.
While Bournemouth is famous for its sandy beach, its Sealife Centre and its retail offerings, the lush green award-winning gardens that run from Bournemouth pier to town’s boundary with Poole are also worth a visit.
The lower, central and upper gardens are about three kilometers long and provide a range of beautiful scenery. The gardens are part of the Bourne Valley Greenway and are listed as Grade II in the English Heritage Register of Parks and Gardens.
7. Corfe Castle.
National Trust-owned Corfe Castle won’t fail to captivate your group; its hill-top ruins are awe-inspiring, and so are the views over the Purbeck Hills from the ruins themselves.
Groups can discover over 1,000 years of history, learn about Corfe’s role as a palace and a fortress; spot ‘murder holes’ and count arrow loops; spot wildlife in the now-abandoned brickwork, and take tea in the 18th-century tea rooms.
8. The south shore of Brownsea Island.
Also owned by the National Trust is Brownsea Island, located just off the shore of Poole Harbour. The island has played the role of the military stronghold and refuge for wildlife and was one of the first locations for the founding of the Scouts.
The island can be reached by a public ferry or by private boat – ferries leave every 30 minutes from Pool Harbour and Sandbanks. There is a wharf and a small dock near the main castle on the island, and plenty of wild areas to explore including salt marsh and forest.
Keep your eyes peeled for resident red squirrels – they’re native to the island and hard to spot elsewhere in the UK.
9. Heroes big or small can find fun at The Tank Museum.
Guaranteed to stop you in your tracks and tonnes of fun for all the family, the world-class Tank Museum in Bovington, Dorset is home to almost 300 vehicles. You can even see the world’s first ever tank – the Tiger Tank. Be in awe of the heavy artillery as you explore six powerful exhibitions spanning 100 years from the ‘Trench Experience’ to ‘Battlegroup Afghanistan’. Seasonal live Tank Action displays take place in the outdoor arena where visitors can even find out for themselves how it feels to ride in a tracked vehicle.
10 Purbeck on Dorset’s Jurassic Coast, which is said to have inspired Enid Blyton's books.
Enid Blyton absolutely loved her holidays in Dorset, particularly Purbeck, and visited three times a year for over 20 years.
Some of her best-known children's books were inspired by the real places and people she met in Dorset.
Embark on a Famous Five adventure in Dorset and travel back in time to the 1950s.
Climb aboard a steam train and travel past Kirrin Castle to the pretty seaside town of Swanage; take a trip to the mysterious Whispering Island and eat at old smuggling inns and hear stories of their dastardly tales.
Don't forget to pack a picnic of Ginger Beer and corned beef sandwiches to enjoy along the way!
Content provided by Visit Dorset