Dorset Christmas fairs and markets for 2012

With Christmas fast approaching, and shopping still to be done, here are some dates for your diary for opportunities to support local crafts and tradespeople, and buy unusual and unique gifts for friends and family. 

15th November 2012 to 2nd January 2013 - Bournemouth Christmas Market. “Held in the heart of Bournemouth in the Town Square and surrounding streets this festive extravaganza will be bursting at the seams with Christmas ambience. It will be beautifully dressed with Christmas lights and snowy decorations and animated figures, truly a wonder to behold.”

24th to 25th November - Macmillan Christmas Craft Fair at Kingston Mauward, Dorchester. Sat. More than 40 stalls selling a wide range of quality gifts. Saturday 10am to 4pm, Sunday 10am to 3pm. Entry £4.00. Coffee, tea & wine served all day, and homemade soup at lunchtime.


24th November - Bridport Craft Fair, Bridport Town Hall, from 9am - 3pm.

24th November - Grand Christmas Bazaar at Frampton Village Hall, Dorchester Rd, Frampron. Cookery demonstration and tasting at 1pm. Christmas Bazaar from 2pm to 5pm. Craft stalls by local Artists and crafts people. Refreshments are available, together with delicious Mulled Wine. Entry £1 adults, children free.

1st December to 2nd December - Christmas Craft & Gift Fair at Highcliffe Castle. he Castle's annual craft and gift fair returns to the Castle for this two day show. The fair is a popular event with a beautiful range of high quality crafts and gifts from local artists and suppliers displayed in the Castle’s heritage rooms. It is an ideal opportunity to purchase unique Christmas presents. The Castle's Library galleries will also be open for visitors to enjoy our art exhibitions. Adult admission £1. Accompanied children under 16 free. 11am to 4pm.

1st December - Christmas Makers Market, Eype Centre for the Arts. Lots of ideas for gifts from talented local makers, bakers, growers, potters, painters, quilters, beaders, and photographers. 10am-4pm. Refreshments all day. Free entry and parking.

5th December Bridport Christmas Festival and Late Night Shopping with crafts, food and charity stalls, farmer's market, Santa's Grotto, and entertainment. The Mayor will be switching on the Christmas tree lights at 6pm, and then Father Christmas will arrive.

9th December - Wyke Christmas Fayre, Old Wyke Square, Weymouth There will be mulled wine under the Christmas tree, music and singing, childrens' fancy dress, bells ringing in the tower, a roundabout, and much more.

15th December - Putlake Farm Christmas Market, near Swanage

16th December - Shaftesbury Christmas Market with the Anonymous Travelling Market.

If all this talk of Christmas markets and fairs has ignited your Christmas spirit, why not pop along to your local markets with your Christmas shopping list and support your local businesses, wherever you live.

And if you’re thinking of booking accommodation in Dorset for Christmas we would love to welcome you and your family and friends here. Please contact us to find out more, or to book accommodation.

Dorset Wildlife Trust’s Winter Woodland Project

It’s good news for Dorset’s trees this month as essential restoration work begins on several woods and wet woodland areas. The work will help to protect rare animal and plant species, and preserve the rich diversity of landscapes and habitats.

You can help Dorset Wildlife Trust to restore Dorset’s woodlands by making a donation to their Restore Dorset’s Woodlands appeal. They need to raise £13,000 for their vital woodland conservation work in Dorset this winter, and this work needs additional funding which will be used to secure a much larger amount in grants.

Dorset’s trees are certainly a treasure worth protecting and preserving, and there are many places to see spectacular autumn colour in Dorset. We should all get our walking boots on and get out and about this autumn and really appreciate the beauty of the trees and wildlife of our local woodlands.

Chesil Beach Lodge is perfectly located as a base for exploring the beautiful Dorset countryside and we offer a choice of luxurious eco-friendly accommodation in Dorset. Please contact us for more details, or to book accommodation.

Stir-up Sunday

We know that Christmas puddings should be given plenty of time mature before being eaten, but a Christmas pudding found last year in the back of a Dorset kitchen cupboard really does take this to the limit :-) The pudding is believed to be the oldest in the world and was originally one of many sent to Royal Navy personnel fighting in the Boer War in 1889.

If you’re thinking about making your own Christmas pudding this year, Stir-up Sunday on the 25th of November is traditionally the day for making it; giving it a whole month to mature before Christmas.
According to tradition, everyone in the family should stir the pudding and make a wish while stirring; and the pudding should have 13 ingredients to represent Christ and his disciples, and be stirred from east to west in honour of the three Kings who travelled from the East to see Jesus.

Here’s a recipe for an alcohol free child-friendly Christmas pudding from Annie’s Dorset Kitchen; and (via the Guardian) Granny Jane’s Christmas pudding from Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall of the famous River Cottage in Dorset.

The Great Pudding Stir takes place on the 8th December in the Victorian kitchen at The Priest's House Museum, Wimborne Minster. Visitors are encouraged to help stir the pudding, make a Christmas wish, and taste the final product. Admission is adults £1.50; children £1.

On the 15th December is The Great Lyme Regis Christmas Pudding Race, Marine Parade,Lyme Regis; in aid of Cancer Research UK. “The race will be open to teams of six who have to dress in Christmas costumes and complete an obstacle course carrying a Christmas pudding. And to add interest, team members have to build a Mr Potato Head face on the puddings and collect other Christmas trinkets as they negotiate the obstacles. The winning team will win the unique Lyme Regis Great Christmas Pudding Race trophy”. There’ll be lots of other entertainment including music, an appearance from Peppa Pig, and Santa's Grotto.

We offer a warm welcome and a sustainable holiday in the beautiful county of Dorset this autumn and winter, so why not contact us and find out more about our eco-friendly self-catering accommodation in Dorset?

What’s on in Dorset: November

Before we get on to our selection of things to do in Dorset in November, we’d like to let you know about our current SPECIAL OFFER. During the months of November and December you can book three nights in our bed and breakfast or self-catering accommodation for the price of two (Monday to Thursday). So, what are you waiting for?

Dorset is spectacular in autumn and wonderful for winter breaks, including Christmas time, and we would love to welcome you here for your autumn or winter holiday.

Later this month we’ll be posting about Dorset Christmas fairs and markets and Stir-up Sunday, the traditional day for making your Christmas pudding; so keep a look out for those. In the meantime, here’s our selection of November events and activities.

3rd November - Bonfire and Fireworks on the Beach at Lyme Regis. Fireworks start at 6.30pm.

3rd November - Bonfire and Fireworks Extravaganza at Sherborne Castle, Sherborne: entertainment, music, food from 5.00pm; bonfire at 7pm, fireworks 7.30pm.

3rd November - Bridport Round Table Annual Firework Display at Bridport Leisure Centre, Bridport. The gates will open at 7.00pm, and the firework display will start at 8.00pm.

5th November - Firework Display at Dorchester Rugby Club, Dorchester. Hog roast, BBQ, licensed bar and refreshments. Gates open at 6pm; fireworks from 7.30pm. Tickets: Family £10, Adult £4, Child £2.

8th November The Legends at The Regent Centre Christchurch. Poole and Parkstone's “highly acclaimed all-singing, all-dancing spectacular November show makes a return this year with a concert celebrating legendary musicals and their composers. We bring you the music of those writers whose shows have become musical phenomena, providing the spine tingling music which gives audiences the excitement, love and feel good factor that they anticipate from P & P's award winning performances.”

11th to 18th November - The 8th Bridport Literary Festival, Bridport. “The organisers of The 8th Bridport Literary Festival have planned lots of interesting, stimulating, revealing and entertaining talks for this autumn.”

20th November - Budapest Cafe Orchestra at the Electric Palace, Bridport. “The Budapest Café Orchestra play powerful and driving folk-based music from Eastern Europe inspired by the music of European gypsies. The richness and dynamism of Balkan music is on display here in all its untamable glory in a wide-ranging programme of impassioned Hungarian Czardas, tender Russian folk melodies, rollicking dances from Romania and Moldavia, bitter sweet Jewish laments, one or two electrifying compositions of the group's own making plus a few surprises along the way...”

21st November - That'll be the Day at Christmas at Weymouth Pavilion. Get ready for a party as the UK’s most successful touring Rock ‘N’ Roll production, the legendary That’ll Be The Day, returns with a Brand New 2012 Christmas Show

25th November - Norwich Puppet Theatre: The Pied Piper, The Marine Theatre, Lyme Regis. For children aged 3 to 7. “When the Pied Piper plays his flute the rats run, the greedy mayor rubs his hands and the children dance. Norwich Puppet Theatre's humorous and irresistible one person show combines a skillful mix of puppetry, foot-tapping live music and storytelling that will have audiences young and old entranced.”

30th November - Stand Up Comedy Night with Yianni Agisilaou at the Dorchester Corn Exchange. “Sharp social commentary to compare favourably with Woody Allen”. “Dynamic, dramatic, and funny. Catch him while you can!” 8.15pm (doors and bar 7.30pm). Tickets £8/ £6 concessions. May contain some adult content.

We hope this gives you a small taste of the many interesting and entertaining events coming up in November. A little later in the month we’ll be posting details of upcoming crafts fairs and markets in November and December – perfect for a bit of Christmas shopping.

To book accommodation in Dorset for your autumn or winter break, please contact us. We’re also taking bookings for self-catering accommodation in Dorset for Christmas so please contact us to discuss your requirements; or to book one of our cosy and luxurious apartments with panoramic sea and coastal views, and everything you need for a happy and relaxing holiday.

Indoor and outdoor activities for half term

Half term is fast approaching so here’s a selection of recommended activities to keep the whole family busy and entertained.

27th October to 4th November - investigate the superstitions, magic and folklore of 17th Century Witchcraft at Corfe Castle Model Village.

27th October – Flameburst 2012 “The ultimate family firework event” at The Fuzzy Bit, Bakers Farm Road, Verwood. You can expect a “vibrant atmosphere, spectacular fireworks and special effects, singing and dancing to the lively Flameburst stage show, and evening out with family and friends.”

27th October – Magical RNLI Steam Train Experience, Swanage. Join the RNLI team at Swanage Railway to take a magical steam train ride to Harman's Cross to join in the RNLI Family Fun Day. Tickets are limited availability - details at Swanage RNLI shop or email Selina_Taylor@rnli.org.uk.

27th October to 4th November - Skulls, Skins and Gory Things Trail at Avon Heath Country Park. Everyday; anytime between 11am and 3pm.

27th October Family Sleepover: Dinosaurs and Pliosaurs at the Dorset County Museum, High West Street, Dorchester. 5.30pm onwards. Dinosaur-themed museum sleepover with plenty of family activities and a midnight feast.

28th October - The Mysterious Vanishment of Pobby and Dingam at the Marine Theatre, Lyme Regis. “Pobby and Dingan are Kellyanne’s best friends, maybe her only friends. Her brother Ashmol hates them. They’re invisible and they make her act weird. And it’s no fun having a fruitloop for a sister. Then Pobby and Dingan go missing and Kellyanne becomes heartsick. It’s up to Ashmol to find them before she fades away completely, but where do you start looking for something you can’t even see?” For everyone aged over nine years.

31st October – The Big Draw at the Dorset County Museum. 10.30am to 12.00pm. A "Make and Do Family Activity" for the autumn half-term Holidays and part of The Big Draw nationwide initiative. £3 per child. Adults admitted free but must remain with their children during the activity. Up to two children per adult.

Please see our previous post for Halloween half-term activities.

Contact us to find out more about our family-friendly holiday accommodation in Dorset for half term, and to book our stunning bed and breakfast rooms, and self-catering apartments.

And don’t forget we’re also taking bookings for self-catering and bed and breakfast accommodation in Dorset for Christmas.

Chesil Beach Café

There are many places to eat in Dorset where you can enjoy delicious food in fantastic locations. Not far from Chesil Beach Lodge, and with the same passion for local, sustainable food, is the Chesil Beach Café at the Chesil Beach Centre, Portland Beach Road.

The centre is run by Dorset Wildlife Trust on behalf of a partnership including Weymouth and Portland Borough Council and the Fleet and Chesil Bank Nature Reserve, with the help of local volunteers.

This wonderful café has been included in Coast Magazine’s 10 Best New Places to Eat By the Sea. The food is sourced and prepared with strong emphasis on sustainable and locally sourced ingredients, including conservation grade beef from Dorset Wildlife Trust's nature reserves and seafood as approved by DWT's Great Dorset Seafood campaign.

Surrounded by fascinating habitats, geology and wildlife, the café is the perfect place to stop off for a meal or for tea and cake. It’s open every day 10am to 4pm for brunch, lunch, tea, coffee and cakes; and open for dinner Tuesday to Saturday 6pm until late.

If you’re visiting the beautiful Jurassic Coast this autumn and winter, don’t forget to book bed and breakfast accommodation in Dorset or self-catering accommodation in Dorset as soon as possible. We look forward to meeting you.

Tips for Geener Car Driving

Owning and driving a car is something that many of us find a necessity, but there are ways to make your car journeys greener with much less of an impact on the environment.

• Get rid of the rubbish in your car boot. Less weight equals less fuel used.
• Unless absolutely necessary; don’t drive with a roof rack or bike rack etc. They add extra weight and create wind resistance, increasing fuel consumption.
• Make sure your tyres are correctly inflated – you’ll use less fuel if they are because under-inflated tyres create more resistance and increase your fuel consumption by up to 3%.
• Find out if you could work from home on one or two days a week and thus save long commutes to work.
• Avoid accelerating or braking hard – both involve using more energy, and of course using less energy means using less fuel.
• Plan your routes in advance to ensure you take the shortest route.
• Slow down. Driving above 60 miles per hour decreases your car’s fuel efficiency.
• Consider using alternative fuels.
• Consider driving a smaller more fuel-efficient car.
• See if a neighbour or work colleague can share car journeys with you.
• Reduce the number of car journeys you make by taking the bus or travelling by train when you can.
• Avoid leaving your engine running.
• And avoid using the air conditioning unless you feel you really need it.

We encourage guests at Chesil Beach Lodge to leave their cars behind and explore Dorset on foot, by bicycle, and by train and bus. We have a wide selection of local guides and maps for you to borrow.
Dorset has three mainline train services and a heritage line serving over 20 stations across the county. Swanage Railway offers a busy timetable of heritage steam and diesel train services, and visitors can experience a unique journey on a steam train through six miles of beautiful scenery passing the magnificent ruins of Corfe Castle.

The South West Coast Path, with its spectacular sea views, runs almost right by our door, as does a regular local bus service that will take you to Lyme Regis, Bridport, Weymouth and further afield.

See our post with suggestions for walking in Dorset

If you’re considering visiting Dorset this autumn, please contact us to book sustainable accommodation in Dorset. We know the local area well, and we are always happy to help you plan excursions and activities.