Green New Year’s resolutions

We strive to be as green as we possibly can, and we are committed to providing unique sustainable holiday accommodation in Dorset. This means that recycling, reducing waste, supporting local enterprise and businesses, and buying and using organic and locally sourced products, is very much a part of our life at Chesil Beach Lodge.

If you’re resolving to have a greener 2011, here are few suggestions to help you make your Green New Year resolutions:

• Drive your car less – walk when you can, or ride a bike. It’s not only good for the planet, but also ideal if your other New Year resolutions include getting fitter or losing weight J


• Avoid air travel when you can. Travelling by train is more environmentally friendly;


• Grow your own vegetables (also an excellent way to keep fit);


• Compost your kitchen and garden waste;


• Plant a tree;


• Set aside a ‘wild’ area of your garden, and garden organically;


• Use ‘a bag for life’ and reduce your use of plastic bags and unnecessary packaging;


• Buy organic and local produce;


• Recycle and reuse as much as possible – e.g. mobile phones, clothes, paper, plastic bottles and glass;


• Swap clothes with a friend, or a group of friends;


• Save water – don’t run taps unnecessarily and make sure there are no dripping taps or leaks (here are lots more tips on saving water at home from WaterWise);


• Save energy e.g. use energy saving light bulbs and appliances, don’t leave appliances on standby and turn off lights when you leave a room, and make sure your home is well insulated;


• Use environmentally friendly cleaning products;


• Use recycled paper products;


• Sign up for paperless / online bills and bank statements;


• Stop receiving junk mail (the Mailing Preference Service has some useful information and advice on how to do this);


• Book sustainable holidays J


• Open a bank account with an ethical bank.

Contact us to find out more about our eco-friendly bed and breakfast and self-catering accommodation in Dorset. A warm welcome awaits you at Chesil Beach Lodge so make your holiday in 2011 a sustainable one.

Christmas holiday activities for children

Staying with this month’s theme of Christmassy things to do and see in Dorset, we thought we’d suggest just a few of the many exciting and fun things for keeping your children happy and occupied over the Christmas holidays.

Lulworth Castle comes to life this Christmas with its Christmas Castle Fun activities. From the 19th to 31st December your children can enjoy storytime by the fireside, magic shows, quizzes, Castle games and things to make and take home. Children go free with a voucher which can be downloaded from their web site. The castle is closed on 24th and 25th December.

Learn all about teddy bears, and how they’re made at The Fascinating Story Of Teddy Bears at 2.30pm on 18th December at the Lyme Regis Museum, Bridge Street, Lyme Regis,

For the morning of 18th December the streets of Bridport around Bucky Doo Square become Bethlehem, complete with a live outdoor nativity, drama and songs. Apparently there will also be a llama or two.

The Lyme Regis Museum Christmas Family Fun Day on the 29th December has lots of creative Christmas activities for all the family. Drop in between 11am and 3pm and get creative with museum curator Mary Godwin.

Pantomimes

Cinderella at the Pavilion Theatre, Bournemouth, from the 4th December to the 2nd January.

Peter Pan at The Lighthouse, Poole, from the 10th December to the 9th January.

Peter Pan at The Pavilion, Weymouth from the 14th December to the 3rd January.

Further afield: Aladdin at the Salisbury Playhouse from 8th December to 8th January

At Chesil Beach Lodge we have delightful self-catering family friendly accommodation that’s perfect for your family holiday. To book family friendly sustainable accommodation in Dorset please contact us as soon as possible: we very much look forward to welcoming you and your family here.

Christmas Shopping in Dorset

Dorset is full of interesting and exciting shops and markets for your Christmas shopping; and if you’re on the hunt for places to buy unusual and locally sourced Christmas gifts and supplies, here are a few suggestions to inspire you:

Inspired by traditional German markets, the Bournemouth Christmas Market is decorated with Christmas lights, decorations and animated figures, and has approximately 50 festive alpine chalets offering authentic seasonal gifts and traditional food from across the UK, as well as from further afield inEurope. Attractions include a Victorian carousel, carol singing and a beer garden selling mulled wines. The market is open from 28th November to 21st December, 10am to 6pm (Sunday 11am to 5pm).

The Lyme Regis Christmas Market is open from the 10th to 12th December, at Town Mill, Mill Lane. Lots of choice for a unique quality handmade gift, including pottery, wood, glass, textiles, jewellery, paintings, photography, prints, and metalwork. The market is open on Friday 10th 5-9pm (with mulled wine and mince pies), Saturday 11th 10am-5pm and Sunday 12th 10am-4pm.

Or how about the Affordable Art for Christmas exhibition, at Town Mill, Lyme Regis? They have original prints and paintings, in a variety of media, by members of Morcombelake Art Group. The exhibition runs from the 4th December to the 4th January.

The Dorset Art & Craft Show has over 50 exhibitors with unique arts and crafts for sale. The show is on Saturday 12th December, at The Corn Exchange, Dorchester from 10am - 4pm. Admission is free.

The Bridport Feast of Christmas sounds wonderful: local food producers and small specialist food businesses with lots of delicious foods made and sourced locally, all at the Arts Centre in Bridport on Saturday 18th December, 9am to 1pm.

If you’re visiting Dorset for Christmas or New Year, don’t forget to book bed and breakfast accommodation in Dorset or self catering accommodation in Dorset as soon as possible.

What’s on in Dorset: December

Hello from an unusually cold and wintry West Dorset!

A blanket of snow on the countryside really is a delight to see, but we hope it hasn’t caused you too much trouble with your work, travel and daily life.

We’re looking forward to Christmas very much and, as you would expect, Dorset has lots of events to help you get into the festive spirit, from the traditionally seasonal, to the more unusual, and here’s our pick of what’s on in December:

The Sherborne Christmas Tree Festival, in Cheap Street Church, takes place from the 4th to the 12th of December. You can see Christmas trees decorated and exhibited by organizations from around Sherborne. The church is open daily from 10am – 4.30pm and there is a carol service on Sunday 12th at 6.30pm. Entrance is free, but donations are invited for the Sherborne & District Disabled Ambulance, and the Zambian School Project.

On the 7th December (weather permitting), there’s the wonderfully evocative sounding Christmas Carol Special steam train from London to Sherborne, with the Steam Dreams

company. A journey through snow covered countryside in a steam train decorated for Christmas, followed by a carol service in Sherborne Abbey, sounds perfect. Tickets are from £65 for adults and from £55 for children.

From the 7th to 15th December there will be 65 illuminated and decorated trees to see at the 13th Annual Bridport Christmas Tree Festival, in United Church, East Street. The church is open weekdays from 10am (Sunday 2pm) and admission is free.

Bridport’s Late Night Shopping evening is on the 8th December, from 6pm. Most shops will be open so there will be lots of opportunities to purchase Christmas gifts and supplies from them, and from the many craft, food and charity stalls and the Farmers’ Market. Santa will also be making an appearance in his ‘Santa’s Grotto’ and there’ll be music and entertainment from the St. Swithuns Band and the Symondsbury Mummers.

For all you amateur sleuths out there, how about an evening of murder and mayhem with the Murder in the Museum evening ‘The Slayer of Casterbridge’, at the County Museum, Dorchester on the 10th December? Tickets are £20 and include a buffet meal. There will also be a bar. Telephone 01305 262735.

At the glorious Sherborne Abbey on 13th December, is the Abbey’s gift to the town, The Sherborne Christmas, a family concert with the Sherborne Abbey Choir, the Sherborne Town Band, the Sherborne Young Singers and The Gryphon School Choir. The concert starts at 7.30pm. Admission is free.

If you’ve been inspired by the fabulous dancing on Strictly Come Dancing, or you’re already a dream on the dance floor, there’s the Christmas Ballroom Dance at the Marine Theatre, Church Street, Lyme Regis, on the 15th December from 7.30pm to 11pm. Dances include Ballroom, Latin and Popular Sequence. Please bring a plate of food for an American Supper (there will also be a licensed bar). Reserve your table and book your tickets at the Theatre Office 01297 442394.From the 17th to 22nd December, Monkton Wyld Court has a residential Winter Work Week

(£75). Monkton Wyld Court is a centre for sustainable living near Dorset's Jurassic Coast that provides workshops and family weeks for learning skills for sustainable living, including: beekeeping; permaculture; eco-building; green technologies; sustainable land use and environmental crafts. For Winter Work Week they are: “inviting friends and supporters to join us in sprucing up the house this December. Chores will include sanding floors, preparing and eco-painting walls, stenciling in bedrooms, making new lampshades and baking goodies for the impending yuletide. We also expect a bonfire or two, a winter's walk to the seashore, and with any luck a good bit of caroling. If you love Monkton and aren't afraid of a little hard graft, do come down and help us apply a little Christmas TLC.”

Are you brave enough for a winter dip in the sea?! How about The Christmas Day Harbour Swim across Weymouth Harbour, or The West Bay Wallow charity fancy dress swim at midday on Boxing Day, from East Beach, Bridport? Brrr!!!

And to end 2010 and welcome in the New Year in style, there’s The Great Big New Year's Eve Dance with The River Coly Jazz Band, on 31st December 8pm to 1am at The Marine Theatre, Lyme Regis. Tickets are £12.50.

At this time of year, our cosy Chesil and Fossil self-catering apartments with their wood burners, plus central heating, really come into their own. All of our self-catering and bed and breakfast accommodation is cosy and luxurious, with everything you need for a relaxing holiday, plus spectacular sea views from every room. We are open all winter, right through Christmas and New Year, so to book bed and breakfast and self-catering accommodation in Dorset, please contact us.

Celebrate New Year in West Dorset!

Our family-friendly self-catering accommodation in Dorset is perfect for your New Year holiday and celebrations.

Celebrate the New Year and welcome in 2011 while staying in a stunning apartment by the sea with spectacular sea views; breath taking winter walks on the nearby beaches and coastal walks; mouth-wateringly delicious home cooked and locally sourced meals, and easy access to many excellent local restaurants and attractions in the beautiful Dorset countryside.

Why not make it an extra special New Year and invite your wider family or circle of friends? We have three delightful centrally-heated one bedroomed self-catering apartments available to book for New Year. They all include a 4’sofa bed in the lounge and sleep up to four people. Our Jurassic apartment has wonderful views over Burton Bradstock and the Jurassic Coast, and our Chesil and Fossil apartments have stunning coast and ocean views, and wood burners for supplemental heating.

Our Lyme Bay self-catering apartment has two bedrooms and a 4’ sofa bed in the lounge, and sleeps up to six people. It has a fully fitted kitchen, central heating, a large conservatory, direct access to the patio and garden and spectacular sea views.

All our apartments have digital Freeview TV and DVD player, and free WiFi. Well behaved dogs are welcome by prior arrangement, and we have lots of off-road parking.

To book accommodation in Dorset for New Year, please contact us as soon as possible. We very much look forward to welcoming you here and celebrating the arrival of a new year with you.

A Writer’s Dorset

The Dorset County Museum, in Dorchester, has a fascinating gallery exhibition exploring the lives and work of Dorset’s authors, poets and playwrights – all of whom were inspired by Dorset’s landscape and people. Authors’ work explored in this exhibition includes that of Thomas Hardy, Sylvia Townsend Warner; Dorset poet William Barnes, novelist John Meade Falkner; Jane Austen, William Wordsworth and Sir Walter Raleigh.

Thomas Hardy was born and raised in Dorchester and is perhaps the most well-known and celebrated of Dorset’s authors. The exhibition includes a reconstruction of Thomas Hardy’s study from his home at Max Gate, complete with his furniture, personal possessions and the pens he used to write Tess of the D’Urbervilles and Jude the Obscure.

From the 11th October to 11th December, the Dorset County Museum also has a brand new and very interesting exhibition, Thomas Hardy on Stage and Screen, which explores Thomas Hardy's relationship with dramatic adaptations of his novels and stories for stage, screen and TV.

Many of Hardy’s works have been adapted for film and television and the exhibition has displays of posters, photographs and film clips, as well as previously long-lost footage of some early adaptions of his work.

The New Hardy Players were formed in 2005 to celebrate the works of Thomas Hardy. Recent performances include The Mayor of Casterbridge and The Distracted Preacher. Norrie Woodhall (who is 104 years old) is their “guide, inspiration and President”: she is one of the last people who knew Thomas Hardy and she was a member of the original Hardy Players, an amateur dramatic group which performed Hardy's works between 1908 and 1924.

If you’re visiting Thomas Hardy country 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.

10 tips for a Sustainable Christmas

Here at Chesil Beach Lodge in Dorset, we are very proud of our eco-credentials and our sustainable holiday accommodation. We are firmly committed to reducing the impact of tourism on the environment, of course; but we are also committed to doing our best to be eco-friendly in every area of our lives.

We love Christmas, but there’s no doubt it’s potentially one of the most wasteful and un-environmentally friendly times of the year! We might not be guaranteed a white Christmas this year, but here are some of our favourite tips for helping to make your Christmas a green one.

• Have a living Christmas tree. A tree in a pot can be re-used for several years, or planted in your garden if you have space. Why not try something completely different this year and rent a Christmas tree?! Dorset’s Christmas Tree Rental Company will deliver a tree of your choice to your door (with simple instructions on how to take care of it). After Christmas, on a date specified by you, they will collect your tree and look after it until next Christmas. You can even have the same tree back the following Christmas.


• If you’re not saving your Christmas tree for another year, check out your local council for chipping services and use the resulting mulch on your garden.


• Make your own Christmas cards.


• Make your own gifts: make special food products, knit a jumper, paint a picture, take a photograph of a favourite place and frame it, make a quilt, grow a plant or bulbs – the list is endless. If you have a skill why not share it and offer a few hours’ gardening, a massage, a makeover, or help designing a personal web site? What skills do you have that someone else would appreciate?


• Buy locally made and locally sourced products as presents.


• Find gifts that are recycled wherever possible. Jaxson’s Gifts in Bridport, Dorset offers a quirky and fun range of recycled gifts: from flat glass bottle clocks and flat champagne bottle platters; to recycled beer bottle fridge magnets and stationery made from recycled maps.


• Use recycled wrapping paper, or use imaginative alternatives such as fabric remnants or left-over rolls of wallpaper, pages from old magazines and newspapers, or your children’s pictures or paintings,


• Find alternatives to battery powered toys. Myriad Natural Toys and Crafts near Cranborne in Dorset has a wide range of environmentally friendly wooden toys, plus natural play products and art and craft materials.


• Minimise your use of outside electric lights and decorations or, even better, don’t use them at all.


• After Christmas, recycle or reuse your Christmas cards, wrapping paper and packaging. Recycle your cards via the Woodland Trust and they pledge to plant more trees.
  

We are open over Christmas and New Year and are taking bookings for eco-friendly Christmas holiday accommodation in Dorset. We would love to welcome you here for Christmas so please contact us to book self-catering and bed and breakfast accommodation, or for more details.

What’s on in Dorset: November

We hope you had good October. Now that November’s here, and the days are growing ever shorter and the weather is distinctly chilly; it’s sometimes very tempting to stay indoors in the warm. However, there are many things to do in Dorset in November, and the crisp sunny days we’ve been having recently are perfect for enjoying the autumn colour, and wrapping up warm to venture out and enjoy all that Dorset has to offer.

Here’s our pick of some of the best for November….

On the weekend of the 21st November, you can take part in Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre’s ‘Fossil Fantastic Weekend’ - a whole weekend of fossil hunting and activities. Booking is essential. Telephone 01297 560772.

The Corn Exchange in Dorchester is presenting A Christmas Carol on the 11th to 13th November (adapted by John Mortimer from the story by Charles Dickens). The performance starts at 7.30pm. Tickets are £8 (£9 on the door), under 18's £5, and are available from Words Etecera, Dorchester. Telephone 01305 257694 (www.dorchesterdrama.org.uk)

The Dorset Art and Crafts Show takes place on the 20th – 21st November at Woodmead Halls, Hill Road, Lyme Regis, 10am - 4pm. You can see over 20 exhibitors selling & demonstrating original arts & crafts – and perhaps make a few early Christmas present purchases? Refreshments are available and admission is free. Telephone 07730 557090.

How about the wonderfully titled Fur, Feathers, Footprints & Faeces course at Kingcombe Environmental Studies Centre on the 27th November? “Learn how to become a nature investigator and identify the signs that animals leave behind of their presence. You will learn a range of field craft skills that will enable you to call birds from the trees, and track animals. You may even spot signs of our local otter!” Telephone 01300 320684.

For the more energetic among you, the Dorset Adventure Races take place at Lulworth Castle on the 27th November. Events organised by Cumulus Outdoor Events include 15km running, walking, mountain biking and navigation challenges around Lulworth Castle and Estate,. The cost is £35 per person - 10% discount if you book early. Telephone 01929 426044. If this all sounds a little too energetic for a chilly November day, perhaps you could go along as an enthusiastic spectator J

Also on the 27th November, is the official ‘Switching On of the Christmas Lights’ at Lyme Regis.

We hope this gives you a small taste of the many interesting and entertaining events coming up in November. To book accommodation in Dorset for your November break, please contact us.

Art and the Arts events and exhibitions in Dorset

Dorset has a thriving and vibrant art and arts scene, with diverse and very talented local artists and performers. There are many galleries selling wonderful visual feasts of local artists’ work; plus regular exhibitions and live performances demonstrating a wide range of amazing creative and performing arts.

If you’d like to discover more about local arts events, the following sites have lots of interesting information, plus dates for upcoming performances and exhibitions.

The Dorset County Museum in Dorchester holds regular art exhibitions, as does the Lyme Regis Museum and the Town Mill Gallery in Lyme Regis.

Bridport Arts Centre has a fantastic programme of dance, music and theatre lined up for autumn; and the Dorchester Arts’ programme for the coming weeks includes puppet making and animation; dance and music workshops; children’s theatre; Blues nights and poetry.

The Electric Palace and the Eype Centre for the Arts in Bridport, both have a full programme of performances and events suitable for all ages; including drama, music, comedy, film and dance.

Artsreach is a rural touring arts organisation, giving rural communities all over Dorset the opportunity to see and participate in high quality arts events in their own villages. They also have a full programme of performances for the coming weeks, including The Wolves of Willoughby Chase.

If you’re visiting Dorset soon, don’t forget to book bed and breakfast accommodation in Dorset or self catering accommodation in Dorset as soon as possible.

Film and TV locations in Dorset

Dorset is a beautiful county with breathtaking scenery, picturesque unspoilt villages and charming historic towns; so it’s not surprising that it’s been used as the backdrop to many film and TV productions.

There are too many to list here so we have chosen an eclectic mix of just a few. How many of them have you watched, and did you realise Dorset was featured in them?

• Lyme Regis was the location for The French Lieutenant’s Woman starring Meryl Streep and Jeremy Irons;


• Durdle Door makes an appearance Nanny Mcphee;


• West Bay appears in the BBC TV series Harbour Lights starring Nick Berry;


• The 1960’s film The Damned, starring Oliver Reed and Shirley Ann Field, was shot around Weymouth and Portland;


• Lulworth Cove stars in Pirates of the Caribbean


• ITV’s Inspector Wexford series, starring George Baker, has scenes set in Dorset;


• Dorset was the location for the 1967 film Far From The Madding Crowd, based on Thomas Hardy’s book, and starring Julie Christie, Terence Stamp and Peter Finch;


• Much of Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall’s River Cottage series was filmed in a former gate keeper’s cottage at Slape Manor near Bridport;


• Claysmore School in Iwerne Minster was the location for the famous chandelier episode in Only Fools and Horses;


• A disused quarry at Moreton was used to film scenes for Tenko;


• And the Dorset countryside appears in the 2010 film Tamara Drewe.
  

Do you know of any other films or TV shows that feature Dorset?

To book eco-friendly accommodation in Dorset, please contact us.

Family friendly half-term accommodation in Dorset

Are you considering where to go for your family’s half-term break?

Here at Chesil Beach Lodge we have stunning self catering family friendly accommodation in Dorset that’s perfect for your family holiday.

We have four self-catering apartments including our two-bedroom Lyme Bay Apartment which sleeps up to six people; has a fully fitted kitchen including dishwasher and microwave; a 4’ sofa bed in the lounge; a family shower room; a large conservatory; direct access to the patio and garden; digital Freeview TV and DVD player, and free WiFi.

Our delightful one bedroom Jurassic, Fossil and Chesil apartments include a 4’sofa bed in the lounge, and all sleep up to four people. They are fitted out to the same excellent standard as our Lyme Bay apartment.

We have ample off road parking, and well behaved dogs are welcome by prior arrangement.

Children love exploring the amazing Jurassic coastline and local beaches and coves; and there are many family-friendly Dorset attractions open over half term, including: Kingston Maurward Animal Park and Abbotsbury Swannery and, nearby in Somerset, the Haynes International Motor Museum and the Fleet Air Arm Museum.

If you don’t feel like cooking after a busy day exploring, we’ll deliver a home-cooked meal to your apartment. Our menu includes delicious family meals such as:

• Chilli Con Carne with rice;


• Local Dorset beef lasagne with garlic bread and salad;


• Cottage Pie with seasonal vegetables;


• Roasted vegetable lasagne with garlic bread and salad;


• Chicken Casserole in a creamy mushroom sauce with seasonal vegetables and buttery mashed potato;

and wonderful puddings perfect for autumn days, including:

• Chocolate Truffle Torte with cream


• Lemon Meringue pie with cream


• Honeycomb and chocolate cream pudding

Please contact us to book unique sustainable accommodation in Dorset for half-term.

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

We look forward to welcoming you here.

What’s on in Dorset: October

It’s hard to believe it is October already. Autumn has arrived in style here in West Dorset: we’ve had some glorious sunny autumn days, and the leaves on the trees are turning myriad shades of gold. October also promises to have many fine days: perfect for long walks, and days out visiting some of the many local attractions and events. Here’s our pick of some of the best for October:

Sherborne’s Pack Monday Fair, on the 11th October, is a very popular annual street market: thought to date back to medieval times. Four of Sherborne’s major streets are lined with hundreds of stalls and street traders; and there’s lots of entertainment and a funfair. Pack Monday Fair starts with a noisy midnight procession through Sherborne’s streets, with participants blowing whistles and horns and making as much noise as possible!

There’s some doubt about the origins of Pack Monday Fair: some people say it has connections with the completion of building work on Sherborne Abbey, and gets its name from the day the workers ‘packed’ up their tools; others say that the midnight procession has its origins in the celebratory procession that once marked the completion of repairs to the Abbey following a fire. Another possible origin is the tradition of servants and farm workers gathering in their local market town in order to find employment; followed by a fair held to celebrate their new jobs.

Regardless of its now long-forgotten origins, it’s always a fun and entertaining day out.

In 2009 the Eat Dorset Food Fair was shortlisted in the ‘Best Countryside Event’ by Country Life Magazine. This event is on 16th to 17th October, at Parnham House, Beaminster, and offers two lively and packed days of hands-on sessions and demonstrations and talks from local food producers; as well as some of London’s top chefs. Children can get involved too and have lots of messy fun while they have a go at baking bread, decorating cakes and making chocolate.

For all the book lovers out there there’s the Eype Autumn 2010 Book ‘n’ Author Week, at the Eype Centre for Arts near Dorchester, on 18th to 22nd October. Book ‘n’ Author week is a literary festival featuring a selection of interviews, presentations and talks involving notable contemporary authors who write across a wide range of genres. Visitors are advised to book in advance for this popular event, via the Bridport Tourist Information Office: telephone 01308 424901

On the 30th and 31st October, Sherborne Castle holds its Autumn Colours Weekend. Sherborne Castle’s stunning Lakeside Gardens and ‘pleasure grounds’ were created by Capability Brown, and this is a wonderful opportunity to see them in all their autumn glory. Visitors can enjoy reduced price entry to the gardens and grounds on both days. Opening times are 11am to 4.30pm.

We hope this gives you a small taste of the many interesting and entertaining events coming up in October. To book accommodation in Dorset for your October break, please contact us.

It’s not too early to think about your Christmas break!

Yes, we know it’s only October, but we’re open right through winter, including Christmas, so it really isn’t too early to start planning your Christmas break and booking your sustainable holiday accommodation in Dorset.

You can stay in one of our four delightful self catering apartments, or book into our superior bed and breakfast accommodation – all with spectacular sea views.

If you decide to eat in, we offer delicious home cooked locally sourced dishes that will either be put in your fridge ready for you to heat up or, at your request, we will deliver to you.

There are also lots of superb places to eat out in Dorset over Christmas and New Year; from top seafood restaurants, to ‘Gastro Pubs’, to a 300 year old thatched public house and restaurant with local real ales.

To book accommodation in Dorset for Christmas, please contact us as soon as possible. We very much look forward to welcoming you here.

Spend half-term at Chesil Beach Lodge in Dorset

If you’re looking for somewhere to spend half-term with the children, Chesil Beach Lodge, with its self catering and bed and breakfast accommodation, is the perfect option. There’s lots going on in Dorset in October and of course we’re right by the beach where all children love to explore and run around, whatever the time of year.

From the 13th to 31st October you can visit the Enchanted Floodlit Gardens at Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens – twenty acres of fabulous gardens filled with rare and exotic plants from all over the world. From Friday 29th October to Sunday 31st October there will be Halloween Fun Evenings from 5 to 8pm, with free face painting and free prizes for children in fancy dress.

For older children; how about the Sherborne International Film Festival? This event takes place from Friday 22nd to Sunday 24th October. As always, the festival gives you the opportunity to watch films you wouldn’t normally be able to see – an eclectic mixture of the profound, funny, subtle, sad and captivating. Film Certificates range from PG, to 12, 15 and 18.

On the 23rd and 24th of October, the Lyme Regis Museum is open free of charge for Mary Anning Weekend – two days of activities, fascinating exhibitions, and entertaining talks about dinosaurs and fossils. You can also meet the museum’s fossil experts, find out all about local fossils and rocks, and bring your own fossils for identification. In the Family Fun Make and Take

activities you can make your own fossil plaster casts and then take them home.

On Saturday 30th October teenagers can meet Urban Fantasy author Suzanne McLeod at Bridport Arts Centre, as part of the Bridport Literary Festival. “With Halloween looming, come and meet the creator to chill your bones. Suzanne McLeod writes books, hugely popular with teenagers, about seductive vampires, dangerous faeries, eccentric goblins, magic mayhem and murder! Come along if you dare!”

As always, this is just a small selection of what’s on offer in Dorset for half-term, and there’s much more to choose from to keep adults and children of all ages active, entertained and happy over the half term break.

To book your eco friendly half-term holiday in Dorset, please contact us.

Autumn walks in West Dorset

Dorset is a beautiful county at any time of the year and if, like many of our visitors, you love walking on the beach by the sea or along the coastal paths, then autumn is a particularly wonderful time to visit.

Our unique sustainable holiday accommodation at Chesil Beach Lodge is only a four minute walk from the beach - and a bracing and invigorating autumn walk on Chesil Beach is just perfect for blowing away those cobwebs!

The South West Coast Path runs almost right by our door and its cliff walks offer spectacular views of the sea, beaches and coves and take you past the famous fossil cliffs; past Golden Cap, the highest cliff in southern England; and past the much photographed Durdle Door (a natural limestone arch on the Jurassic Coast).

Well behaved dogs are welcome at our bed and breakfast and self catering accommodation, and with its spectacular views and wide open spaces the surrounding area is perfect for walking your dog. Some local beaches are closed to dogs during the summer months but, as September arrives, most beaches in the area are open to dogs once again. Click here for information on dog-friendly beaches in West Dorset.

After a wild and windy walk on the stunning Chesil Beach or the coast path, there’s nothing quite like coming back to our cosy Chesil and Fossil self catering apartments; throwing off your coat and boots, and toasting your toes in front of a wonderfully warm log fire burner.

Whatever the weather, Chesil Beach Lodge is welcoming, and warm and cosy. All of our B&B rooms and self-catering apartments have sea views, so on stormy days, over breakfast, your evening meal, or even over a Dorset cream tea, you can relax and enjoy the sight of the wind whipping up the waves in Lyme Bay.Please contact us to book accommodation in Dorset for your autumn break.

What’s on in Dorset: September

Well, another summer seems to have whizzed by; the local children are back at school, and September has heralded its arrival with a bit of a nip in the air. We hope you enjoyed your summer.

Our thoughts are now turning to autumn and, while we might have seen the best of the summer weather, there are still plenty of fine autumn days to come, and plenty of things to do in Dorset in September. Here’s our pick of some of the many events and attractions for this month.

The 8th to 16th September sees the annual event, Dorset Architectural Heritage Week. Dorset has a rich architectural and cultural heritage and during Architectural Heritage Week the public have free access to many properties that are normally closed to the public or that charge for entry. Properties you’ll be able to explore include a Wesley Memorial Church, a rare example of a 17th century Quaker Meeting House, the magnificent Grade 1 Listed cliff-top Highcliffe Castle, a WWII Pillbox overlooking the River Stour, and the 300 year old Sturminster Newton Mill which is still in full working order.

The Lyme Regis Arts Fest starts on the 25th September and finishes on the 3rd October. A packed programme offers open studios where you can meet artists and find out about their work; art exhibitions; street theatre; busking; drama, film and dance. And if you fancy learning a new skill there are workshops where you can learn or develop skills in mixed media, stained glass, poetry, photography and painting. It promises to be a fantastic programme of events for all the family and well worth a visit.

This is just a small sample of what’s on offer and if you plan to visit Dorset in September for any of these events, don’t forget to book accommodation in Dorset as soon as possible.

Visit Lyme Regis

The historic seaside town and fishing port of Lyme Regis is situated in South West Dorset. This beautiful part of Dorset is world famous for its geology and fossil finds and has been awarded World Heritage Site Status.

Be sure to pack a pair of wellies or walking shoes so you can take part in a fun and informative guided fossil walk along Lyme Bay’s famous Jurassic Coast. And if you’re not fortunate enough to find your own Jurassic fossil, Lyme Regis has many shops selling a fascinating variety of fossils of all sizes. Click here for a Fossil Walk timetable and to book a Fossil Walk.

Lyme Bay is ideal for water sports such as sailing, yachting, swimming, wind surfing and body boarding. Local charter boats take individuals and groups for fishing trips and diving trips.

Lyme Regis was the location of the 1981 film The French Lieutenant’s Woman starring Meryl Streep (and adapted from the novel of the same name by John Fowles). One of the most striking images from the film is the classic scene where Meryl Streep stands on The Cobb (the harbour wall) gazing out to sea: a pose which has been recreated in many holiday photos in the years since this popular film was made! The Cobb also features in Jane Austen’s novel, Persuasion.

The town and its coastline is very popular with artists and there are many art galleries selling local artists’ work. The famous American artist James Whistler visited Lyme Regis in the summer of 1895, when he painted two of his finest portraits: The Master-Smith of Lyme Regis and The Little Rose of Lyme Regis.

Lyme Regis is an essential destination if you’re visiting Dorset and if you’re looking for local accommodation, Chesil Beach Lodge is perfectly located. Click here to book our bed and breakfast and self-catering accommodation on Dorset’s Jurassic Coast.

How to have an eco-friendly holiday

As well as booking sustainable holiday accommodation, there are other ways in which you can help to ensure that your holiday is as eco-friendly as possible:

• Cycle, walk, go for a pony or horse ride, and visit nearby towns and attractions by bus or train whenever you can: make the most of the beautiful countryside and really see what the local towns have to offer. And fewer cars on the roads will make the holiday season better for everyone.


• When you’re about and about be careful not to leave your litter on the beach, or in the countryside.


• When you’re in your holiday accommodation turn off appliances that you’re not using and, of course, don’t forget to turn off the lights when you leave your rooms for the day.


• Take spare bags with you for your holiday purchases and, as you would do at home, refuse all packaging and bags that aren’t absolutely necessary. Check to see if your holiday accommodation has a recycling bin for your recyclable packaging.


• If you’re in self-catering accommodation, or camping, make the most of local farmers’ markets, farm shops and shops selling locally produced food.


• Buy ‘green’ gifts for family and friends back home. For example; help the local economy by buying locally produced food items. Perhaps the area you are visiting has traditional recipes or nationally recognized products: Dorset has Dorset Blue Vinny Cheese, Dorset Knob Biscuits, and Dorset Apple Cake.
  

These are just a few suggestions. Do you have any others to share?

Eco-friendly accommodation in Dorset

If you’re looking for eco-friendly self-catering holiday accommodation in Dorset, Chesil Beach Lodge is your ideal holiday destination. We offer a choice of four delightful self catering apartments; each with stunning sea and coastal views over Lyme Bay.

Our eco credentials

• Wherever possible, we use organic and locally sourced products: locally produced cheese and dairy products, locally baked bread, locally caught fish, and meat from our local butcher.


• In order to minimise waste we buy in bulk, avoid buying products that are over-packaged, and we compost our vegetable waste.


• In the day-to-day running of the house we use environmentally friendly cleaning products, energy efficient light bulbs, open fires and wood burners to supplement heating, and we line-dry the laundry in summer.


• We are committed to recycling and all our glass, plastic milk bottles, tins, clothes and cardboard is collected and recycled in Dorset. Unwanted household items and clothing are recycled via our local Oxfam shop.


• We believe in supporting local industry and we employ local staff and hire local trades people.


• We encourage our guests to explore the local area on foot or on public transport, and we have a wide range of maps and guides which guests are free to use.
  

Choose between one or two bedroom apartments, sleeping between four and six people.We provide everything you need to make your holiday as comfortable and relaxing as possible, but with minimum impact on the planet. All our self catering apartments have central heating (two are supplemented with wood burners), oven / hob, fridge, microwave, iron and ironing board, king size beds plus 4’ sofa beds, linen and towels for main bedrooms, and Digital Freeview TV and DVD player. We also provide free WiFi.

And if you don’t feel like cooking on your first evening on holiday, or after a busy day exploring Dorset and its many attractions, you can request a delicious home-cooked locally sourced evening meal to be delivered to your apartment or put in your fridge ready for your arrival.

A warm welcome and a sustainable holiday in the beautiful county of Dorset awaits you, so why not contact us and find out more about our eco-friendly self-catering accommodation in Dorset.

Visit Dorset Farmers’ Markets

If you’re planning to stay in Dorset, don’t miss the county’s marvellous markets. There are markets across West Dorset. Why not start with a Farmers’ Market?

Farmers markets are a sense explosion: beautiful smells of fresh cooked food and coffee greet you as you arrive. Many stall holders will offer samples, so you can taste before you buy. Your eyes will relish the colours of the beautifully arranged seasonal fruit, flowers and vegetables.

There is a wonderful range of fresh, local produce for sale at every Dorset Farmers’ Market across the county. You can find high quality ingredients for your dinner, or even home-cooked pies and quiches, perfect with some fresh salad leaves for the no-cook holiday meal. You can find gifts to take home and meet the farmers, producers and growers directly.

You know we support sustainable tourism in Dorset, so remember that when you shop at a farmers market you are supporting local producers too. Find Farmers’ Markets at the venues listed:


Bridport Farmers’ Market 2nd Saturday in each month – Arts Centre 9.30am-2pm

Dorchester Farmers’ Market 1st Saturday in each month at Poundbury, 9am-1pm

Sherborne Farmers’ Market 3rd Friday in each month – Cheap Street, 9am-1pm

What’s on in Dorset: August

Here’s our pick of some of the many Dorset events during August

Ship ahoy! Step back in time and sail on the spectacular Tall Ship ‘Earl of Pembroke’, a three masted wooden sailing ship whose film credits include Hornblower Series III, Treasure Island, Moll Flanders, Frenchman’s Creek, Shaka Zulu, Longitude and Wives & Daughters. The Earl of Pembroke will sail twice daily from Weymouth from the 1st to 7th of August (no sailings on the 4th August). Tickets are £40 per person. To book, or for further details, contact Square Sail 01726 70241 http://www.square-sail.com

The week of 7th to 15th August sees a fun packed programme of events for all the family at the 2010 Lyme Regis Regatta and Carnival Week. The itinerary includes a beach treasure hunt; balloon races; regatta races; sand sport; torchlight processions; a dog show; lifeboat display; pavement art; teddy bears’ picnic and teddy bears’ parachute jump; gymnastics, taekwondo and majorettes displays; Old Lyme ghost tour, the World Pebble Balancing Championship and much much more. All money raised all goes to local good causes. Telephone 01209 443696 for more information.

The Bridport Carnival Procession takes place on Saturday 21st August. As always, this will be a very colourful event with many floats and walking entries, plus a carnival fete and funfair at Asker Meadows. On Sunday 22nd August you can take part in the fantastic spectacle of the traditional torchlight parade and join hundreds of people walking from Bucky Doo Square in Bridport to West Bay, where there will be a bar and live band on the beach, plus a bonfire and amazing firework display. Telephone 07836 516763 for more details.

On 22nd August, you can also watch a thrilling search and rescue display given by the Weymouth Lifeboat, Lyme Regis Lifeboat and HM Coastguard's Portland Helicopter Rescue Team (weather and emergencies permitting), at the RNLI Fun Day at West Bay. There will also be plenty of activities and games for all the family on The Green.

If you are interested in traditional crafts, the countryside and conservation, and you would like to learn more, the Stock Gaylard Oak Fair on the 28th August promises to be a very enjoyable day out. There will be over 100 different activities, stalls and demonstrations by traditional crafts people, including blacksmiths, hurdle makers, wood carvers and more, plus fun and inspiring activities for children.

Dorset is packed full of exciting events and activities in August so don’t forget to book your self-catering accommodation in Dorset, or bed and breakfast in Dorset, as soon as possible.

Chesil Beach Lodge: Sustainable Food

Chesil Beach Lodge offers unique sustainable holiday accommodation in Dorset. As part of our aim to be sustainable and minimise use of resources, we use local produce wherever possible and always opt for Organic if we can. When you are staying with us you can enjoy:

• Locally caught fish


• Bacon and sausages from our local butcher


• Locally baked bread


• Locally produced cheese


• Local dairy products

What’s more, if you are self catering we offer a choice of delicious home cooked locally sourced dishes that can be put in your fridge, ready for you to heat up. Just place your order 24 hours in advance and you could be enjoying dishes like:

• Chilli Con Carne with rice


• Local Dorset beef lasagne with garlic bread and salad


• Cottage Pie with seasonal vegetables


• Roasted vegetable lasagne with garlic bread and salad


• Chicken Casserole in a creamy mushroom sauce with seasonal vegetables and buttery mashed potato
  

• Chocolate Truffle Torte with cream


• Lemon Meringue pie with cream


• Honeycomb and chocolate cream pudding

Main courses cost £8.95, puddings £3.25, or you can book a 2 course meal for £11.50. Find out more about our delicious catering service here.

Lifeboats – a Lifeline for the Dorset Coast

The RNLI provide 24-hour lifeboats and seasonal lifeguards dedicated to saving lives at sea. It is largely supported by volunteers. Last year lifeboats around the coast of the UK and Ireland launched 9,223 times.

If you want to find out more while you are visiting Dorset, take part in Lyme Regis and Charmouth Lifeboat Week. From Sunday July 24th to Sunday August 1st you can expect day after day of displays, exhibitions and fun in the sun for the youngsters.

Once again it will be Super Wednesday on July 28th with a first visit from the Royal Navy’s Black Cats helicopter display team. On the same day there’s the return of the spectacular RAF Falcons parachute display team.

Among the many highlights is the tug of war with the RNLI lifeboat crew taking on the coastguards across Lyme Regis harbour mouth (losers get wet); a bath tub race; sand castle competitions; a beach treasure hunt; the grand duck race; a childrens’ crab fishing contest and much, much more.

A glossy, 48-page programme with full details of all the week’s activities is now available throughout Lyme Regis and Charmouth, including the lifeboat shop at the harbour in Lyme, price £1.50.

24-31 July Lyme Regis Lifeboat Week http://www.rnli.org.uk

If you’re visiting Dorset, don’t forget to book self catering accommodation in Dorset or bed and breakfast in Dorset as soon as possible as the summer months are a busy time.

What’s on in Dorset: July

Here’s our pick of some Dorset events during July. You can choose from Jazz by the sea in Lyme Regis, or take part in a maritime festival in Weymouth and Portland. Air fans shouldn’t miss the annual Yeovilton Air Day. Don’t miss the Tolpuddle Martyrs Festival and remember that it can be very busy so book your Dorset accommodation early.

3-16 July - ‘Spirit of the Sea’ Maritime Festival, Weymouth & Portland www.spiritofthesea.org.uk

10 July - Yeovilton Air Day Tickets from your local TIC

If you are interested in the History of Trades Unions, or simply want to understand about the lives of six farm workers who formed the first ‘union’ to protest about their pay, visit Tolpuddle this summer. Every July thousands of people come to Tolpuddle to celebrate trade unionism and to remember the sacrifice made by the six farm workers of the village. The tiny Dorset village has been a place of pilgrimage for trade unionists and socialists ever since the Martyrs' came home in triumph. The festival is a popular mix of political discussion and speeches, great music to suit all tastes, entertainment for all the family and the traditional procession of banners, wreath laying and Methodist service.

16-18 July Tolpuddle Martyrs Festival www.tolpuddlemartyrs.org.uk

In August, watch out for:

7 – 13 August Marine Week, Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre
7 – 15 August Lyme Regis Regatta and Carnival Week
21 August Bridport Carnival
26 August Melplash Show, Bridport

If you’re visiting Dorset, don’t forget to book self catering accommodation in Dorset or bed and breakfast in Dorset as soon as possible as the summer months are a busy time.

Visit Sherborne Castle

If you’re planning to stay in Dorset, don’t miss one of the county’s finest attractions, Sherborne Castle. The castle was built by Sir Walter Raleigh around 1594. The Digby family took residence in 1617 and the castle has remained with them to the present day.

When you visit you will see that the Castle reflects various styles from the Elizabethan hall to the Victorian solarium. You will enjoy the collections or art, furniture and porcelain, plus the grounds landscaped by 'Capability' Brown. Sherborne Castle has hosted a range of eminent guests, including Prince William of Orange in 1688 and George III in 1789 and played a starring role in the ITV series, 'A Tale Of Two Castles'.

If you’re planning a visit you can view three floors of the Castle and 30 acres of beautiful lakeside gardens. Sherborne Castle is open all year round, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, Saturday and Sunday from 11 am. Last admission to the Castle and Gardens is at 4:30pm. You can enjoy morning coffees, light lunches and afternoon teas in the tearoom. There is also a gift shop. Find out more at the Sherborne Castle website.

For self-catering holidays Dorset and B&B accommodation in Burton Bradstock, Bridport, Dorset

Chesil Beach Lodge: Sustainable Travel and Transport

Chesil Beach Lodge offers unique sustainable holiday accommodation near Bridport in Dorset. As part of our aim to be sustainable and minimise use of resources, we support you to use public transport and leave the car at home.

We encourage guests to arrive by public transport. Whether you drive or not, once you arrive we make it easy for you to leave the car. We keep a wide selection of local maps and guides, which you are free to borrow: walking is a great way to explore beautiful Dorset.

The CoastLink X53 is our regular local bus service. It passes our door and provides a partial tour of the Jurassic coastline as well as a local service into Lyme Regis, Bridport, Weymouth and towns further afield from Exeter to Poole. It runs approximately every two hours, and you can find timetable details for the CoastLink X53 here.

Thomas Hardy Anniversary

If you are on holiday in Dorset in June, take time to commemorate the 170th anniversary of the birth of one of Dorset’s famous sons, Thomas Hardy. The author of Tess of the D’Urbervilles and Far from the Madding Crowd was born at Higher Bockhampton, a hamlet in the parish of Stinsford to the east of Dorchester.

Cinnabar eco creative has organised two Art Walks to celebrate his birthday on Wednesday 2nd June, with the support of Dorset’s Countryside Ranger Service. Both will take place in Thorncombe Woods, close to Hardy’s childhood home, and will focus on interpreting Hardy’s relationship with nature through a series of creative activities.

Art Walk Two will run from 10am till 1pm and Art Walk Three will start at 7pm and continue through to 10pm. The cost of the walk will be £10 with 10% donated to the Dorset Ranger Services work with schools. Find out more by calling 07925175872. The Thomas Hardy Society has further events.

What’s on in Dorset: June

Here’s our pick of some Dorset events during June. We’re focusing on Dorset Art Weeks which take place from 29th May to 13th June. It is a great chance to view one or more of the 370 studios which open their doors to the public to showcase artwork.

You can see work from photography to ceramics, wood crafts to print making and visit special events throughout the weeks including an Art Market at Bridport Arts Centre.
It is a great event for all the family: there are interactive exhibitions and a Creative Creatures Treasure Trail where you can hunt for the clues hidden around the Avon Heath Country Park, decipher the riddles and claim a chocolate prize. The trail is open between 11am and 3pm and costs £2.50.

At the Courtyard Gallery and Workshops, Wareham, you can see local artisan Matt Wilding, from Winterborne Bakery providing a series of creative performances of all things 'bread'. On Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th June between 10am and 3pm Matt will use a specially built outdoor wood-fired oven, and you will be able to see and participate in a range of traditional bread making activities. There is an exhibition throughout the fortnight from Simon Thomas Pirie, the renowned furniture designer and maker, Liz Tyler - jewellery, Aline Johnson - glasswork and Martyn Brewster – painter and printmaker, as well as sculptor Martin Debenham, The exhibition is open everyday 10am till 5pm including lunchtimes, throughout the event.

If you’re visiting Dorset, don’t forget to book self catering holidays in Dorset or B&B in Dorset as soon as possible.

Supporting Local Business

Chesil Beach Lodge offers unique sustainable holiday accommodation in Dorset. As part of aiming to be sustainable and minimise use of resources, we support local enterprise and always aim to use products and services from local businesses. We employ local staff and invest in the local economy by hiring local trades people to do building, plumbing etc. If you opt for bed and breakfast or book for our home cooked meals to be delivered to your self-catered accommodation you’ll be pleased to know that we use local food and other products. Read more about food from Dorset here and find out about our eco friendly holiday in the UK here.

Half Term in Dorset

Dorset has lots going on to keep the kids happy over half term. Half – term comes right at the end of May. Remember that some events may be busy. Always call to see if you need to book in advance.

• 30 & 31 May What The Romans Did! Roman Town House, Dorchester, 10.30am - 5pm. Free. An opportunity to be creative at the Roman Town House. The Ancient Wessex Network will display art & craft inspired by the Romans and demonstrate techniques using clay, metal and textiles. www.ancientwessex.net


• 31 May Sherborne Castle Country Fair, Sherborne Castle 10am - 6pm. A spectacular annual lakeside event celebrating rural skills, both traditional and modern, from dog shows and agility dog displays to dragon boat racing, arena displays to heavy horses, stalls, crafts and food hall! Saver tickets available from Sherborne TIC 01935 815341 www.sherbornecountryfair.com


• 31 May National Family Week Picnic, Roman Town House, Dorchester, 12 - 2pm. Join in the World Record breaking attempt for the biggest picnic ever. 01305 22824 www.romantownhouse.org

If you’re visiting Dorset, don’t forget to book your self catering accommodation in Dorset or bed and breakfast in Dorset as soon as possible.

Can you Throw a Dorset Knob?

I went to Dorset for the first time as a small child, and LOVED Dorset knobs. Described by Wikipedia as a ‘hard dry savoury biscuit’ they don’t sound that appetising, but they taste great with butter or cheese.

What I didn’t know is that you don’t just eat Dorset knobs, you can also throw them! On the 2nd of May as part of the Frome Valley Food Festival you can take part in the world famous Dorset Knob Throwing competition in Cattistock Try the Knob & Spoon Race, Paint a Knob as well as Knob Throwing. Find out more about the events at www.dorsetknobthrowing.com

If you’re thinking of visiting Dorset for the food festival or two throw a knob or two, click here to book accommodation in Dorset.

Here’s our pick of some Dorset events during May

We wrote about fossils in Dorset a few weeks ago. Don’t forget to check out the Lyme Regis Fossil Festival which takes place between 30 April and 2 May. See www.evolutionrocks.net for more.

Music lovers might like to book a stay in Dorset between 30 April and4 May. The Sherborne Abbey Music Festival 2010 www.sherborneabbey.org is packed with events including such exciting names as:

• Lesley Garrett performing songs and arias from well known operas and musicals


• The Tallis Scholars with their programme Missa Solemnis


• Emma Johnson with her programme Romantic Clarinet


• Sherborne Festival Chorus performing The Kingdom


• An exciting new jazz group called Zum, classically trained soloists enticing you with a programme of sophisticated jazz which magically glides into wild gypsy fiddling and Celtic lament which slips into hot blooded Arabic melody.


• Fay Weldon talking about her life and her new book Chalcot Crescent.


• A UK premiere of Verdi's Requiem for piano and organ: Matteo Galli (organist at S.Maria presso S.Satiro Basilica in Milan) joins with Francesco Attesti (internationally renowned pianist) for this very special performance.


• Ruth Rogers and Morgan Szymanski running workshops for violin and classical guitar before performing in the abbey

On the 3rd of May enjoy the Bridport May Fair on Millennium Green, Mountfield, Bridport, 12 noon to 4pm. See maypole dancers, crowning of the May Queen, and enjoy stalls and music. 01308 456722 for more.

If you’re a railway enthusiast, make sure you put the 8th of May in your diary for the Sherborne Railway Celebrations. Sherborne 150th Railway Celebrations which take place in the Railway Station and Pageant Gardens, Sherborne. You can enjoy a Victorian parade, brass band, dancing, children’s entertainment, murder mystery dinner, competitions and more. Find out more on 01935 815341

If you live in Dorset, 17 – 23 May is Dorset Residents’ Week. This event aims to raise the profile of local attractions by offering amazing discounts for local residents. Details on attractions participating will be printed in Your Dorset or call into your local Dorset Tourist Information Centre.

More for music lovers, this time for Vinyl enthusiasts. If you want to track down a classic platter, go to Bridport on the 22 May to join with thousands of other enthusiasts for Vinyl Saturday. Record fairs, stalls etc in various venues around the town. www.vinylsaturday.co.uk 0788 239 2508

If food is more your thing, visit the French Market at the Top of Cheap Street, Sherborne, 10am - 4pm on the 23rd of May. Le Marche de France returns to Sherborne - oh la la! 07594 805013 www.sherbornechamber.org.uk

If you’re visiting Dorset, don’t forget to book your self catering accommodation in Dorset or bed and breakfast in Dorset as soon as possible.

Visit Dorchester

Dorchester is a great town to visit if you are holidaying in Dorset. You can wander amongst elegant 18th century houses and broad walks, visit museums with collections ranging from Dinosaurs to Teddy Bears, and feel like you are back in Thomas Hardy’s 'Casterbridge'.

Dorchester’s history is recorded back to Roman Times, and the Durnovaria Town Walk takes you on a walk around Dorchester, following the boundary of the fortified town back then. The walk takes in lovely views and shows you notable attractions along the way, such as The Borough Gardens and Salisbury Fields. You can download the route from Durnovaria Town Walk.

Museums in Dorchester:

Dorchester is packed with museums. The county museum holds events and exhibitions: check out what is on offer when you are visiting at their website, www.dorsetcountymuseum.org. And if you have more specialised interests you can find museums with collections as follows:

• Tutankhamun


• Terracotta Warriors


• Keep Military Museum.


• Teddy Bear House


• Dinosaur Museum

For more info, call or pop into Dorchester Tourist Information Centre, Antelope Walk, Dorchester. Tel: 01305 267992 or go to visit-dorchester.co.uk. or click here to book accommodation in Dorset.

Making a Holiday Record

If you’re on holiday it can be fun to create a record of your break with the kids. Technology has opened up your options for how you do this too.

Make a scrapbook

Nothing beats an old fashioned scrapbook. Buy one before the holidays: it is easy to pack it flat in a suitcase together with a pencil case that includes scissors, glue and tape.

Then, each day collect bits and pieces. If you go to visit a theme park or stately home, save tickets and leaflets and brochures. If you visit the beach or go for a picnic collect scraps from nature: a feather or leaves and flowers to press. Take photos too– you can leave space for these.

At the end of each day set the kids the task of writing up what happened and sticking in their scraps.

Go high tech

If your kids are a little older, and you have a laptop, creating a holiday blog might be more to their taste. Use a digital camera to take pics and, if you have the facility, short video clips. Make sure you remember the right cables so you can download their recordings each day.

Use blogger or Wordpress to set up a blog: make sure it is passworded if you don’t want everyone to see what the family is up to. Then each evening you can pour yourself a glass of wine and relax while your tweens and teens create their daily blog.

If you are visiting Dorset, follow the links to find Self catering accommodation in Dorset and Bed and Breakfast in Dorset.

Unique Sustainable Accommodation in Dorset

Have you changed your holiday plans because you want to make sure that any break you book has a low impact on the planet? If you’re forgoing flights to the sun and want a sustainable holiday this year, read on to find out a little more about how the day runs at Chesil Beach Lodge to make sure that your holiday is eco-friendly.

Starting the day with a great breakfast? You’ll be pleased to know that we source as much food from the local area as possible.

While you’re off out and about, we’re cleaning up. Once we’ve cleaned your room with eco-friendly products we put used towels and sheets into wash ... with eco-friendly laundry liquid. And it is all hung out to dry on the washing line in the summer.

We recycle waste and separate out glass bottles, tin cans, paper and plastic bottles for roadside collection. We provide re-cycling bags in self-catering apartments.

And as the evening draws in, we switch on energy efficient light bulbs and we encourage guests to switch off TV’s rather than leave on stand-by.

Reduce, Recycle, Reuse: three key ideas to help save the planet that are a key part of what goes on at Chesil Beach Lodge as part of our efforts to ensure that you have an eco friendly holiday in the UK.

Here’s our pick of some Dorset events over the Easter holidays.

With Easter coming up, have your children’s minds turned to Easter Eggs? There are a number of Easter themed events on this month including Egg hunts and Easter activities.

April 2nd to 5th Easter Egg Hunt at Adventure Wonderland theme park, near Bournemouth Airport.

April 2nd-5th - Easter Specials at Swanage Railway with a free hot cross bun for every passenger travelling on Good Friday and Easter Saturday OR a free hand-made Easter Egg for every child travelling on Easter Sunday and Monday.

Did you know that there is a nature reserve in central Weymouth? Over Easter, RSPB Radipole Lake and Arne is a great space to let the kids run wild. You can play bird bingo and hire wildlife explorer backpacks throughout Easter.

April 2nd to April 5th Bennetts Water Gardens is hosting an Easter Bunny Egg Hunt. Visit on Good Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Easter Monday for the Easter Bunny Egg Hunt, with a special Easter trail for children to follow around the gardens; find the clues to complete the trail and get rewarded with a chocolate egg. Children can also take part in the Easter colouring competition.

If you’re visiting over the Easter weekend, don’t forget to book your self catering accommodation in Dorset or bed and breakfast in Dorset as soon as possible.

Local Markets in Dorset

Visiting a market is a fun thing to do on holiday. You can snap up bargains, try local produce and get gifts to take home.

West Dorset is well supplied with markets in Bridport, Dorchester, Sherborne and Owermoigne. Try the farmers markets for the best range of food and drink from Dorset. If books or antiques are more your thing, go to Sherborne. Whatever you are after, remember to pack your shopping bag.

West Dorset Markets

Bridport

Weekly Market in the Town Centre every Wednesday and Saturday

Farmers’ Market 2nd Saturday in each month – Arts Centre 9.30am-2pm

West Dorset Country Market in the WI Hall, North Street every Saturday 9am-12 noon.

Dorchester

Weekly Market in Fairfield Car Park, Weymouth Ave 8am-3pm every Wednesday

Farmers’ Market 1st Saturday in each month at Poundbury, 9am-1pm

Country Market at The Corn Exchange every Friday (exc Easter) 8.30-11am.

Sherborne

Pannier Market on the Parade every Thursday and Saturday

Country Market in Church Hall, Digby Road, Thursday mornings, 9.15am-11.15am

Farmers’ Market 3rd Friday in each month – Cheap Street, 9am-1pm

Saturday Antiques & Flea Market – held the last Saturday every month (Jan-Nov), Church Hall, Digby Road. 9am-4pm.

Monthly Book Fair – held third Saturday every month, Church Hall, Digby Road. 9.30am-4pm.

Owermoigne

Monthly market in the village hall 2nd Saturday of the month, 10.30am – 12 noon. Homemade produce, bric a brac, plants, crafts, books.

If you are visiting Dorset, follow the links to find Self catering accommodation in Dorset and Bed and Breakfast in Dorset.

Low Stress Holidays

Have you ever been away and taken days to unwind, just because packing and travelling to your destination was so stressful? If so, here are some tips to help you make the most of your time off and have a low stress holiday.

Where to go?

Think carefully about your destination. Choose somewhere that has something for everyone. Although you may want to get away from plans and timetables, a little planning in advance can make it easier to relax once you are there. If you have lots of family members coming on the holiday find somewhere that has something to offer everyone. Mum and Dad won’t get to relax if there’s nothing for the kids to do! And make sure that you have booked somewhere with the facilities you need for everyone to enjoy the trip. Enough sleeping space and some time off from cooking and clearing up can make a big difference.

Read reviews and websites

If you want to guarantee a good break, spend a little time reading round before you book your accommodation. There are lots of sites online with holiday reviews from people who have been there. Take time, too, to contact the local tourist office for helpful maps of the area, important places to visit and opening times. This will cut down on stress when you arrive.

How much can you spend?

This is another area where planning in advance cuts pain and stress during your break. Try to save a little each month to pay for your trip, and don’t forget spending money. If you know how much you can spend it makes it easier to plan activities that stay in budget. If you find it hard to stick to your budget, or if your kids keep pestering for more treats, try the ‘envelope’ system. Have an envelope with the day’s spending money in it so the family can see what you have to spend. Discuss what you’d like to do and how it will fit with the budget. In this way it is easier for the kids to see that if you spend all the money on ice-cream now, there won’t be money left for the afternoon activity or a fish and chips tea.

Relax

This is your holiday. Make the most of it. Plan and prepare in advance and then take it easy when you arrive.

If you are visiting Dorset, follow the links to find Self catering accommodation in Dorset and Bed and Breakfast in Dorset.

Unique Sustainable Accommodation in Dorset

Reduce, Recycle, Reuse: three key ideas to help save the planet that are a key part of what goes on at Chesil Beach Lodge as part of our efforts to ensure that you have an eco friendly holiday in the UK.

We reduce waste by:

1. Sorting out our rubbish for recycling


2. Putting vegetable waste in compost bins


3. Buying in bulk and trying not to buy products that are over packaged

We recycle:

1. Our recycling is collected every fortnight and is recycled in Dorset


2. All our glass, plastic milk bottles, tins, clothes and paper


3. Unwanted house items and clothing are recycled via our local Oxfam shop

At Chesil Beach Lodge, we make sustainability a key part of what we offer, both for the bed and breakfast and for our self catering accommodation. To find out more about how Chesil Beach Lodge offers sustainable holidays visit our website.

Here’s our pick of some Dorset events in the coming weeks.

The Dorset coast is a great place to find fossils. At Lyme Regis and Seatown when the tide is right you can pick up ammonites from the beach. It’s a great place to start children off on the fascinating hobby of fossil collecting.

Plus, you can get expert input to help you find fossils. Regular guided fossil hunting walks in Lyme Regis and Charmouth are run year round by experts. Times will vary according to the tides, so here is a list of those offering guided walks plus contact details. Get in touch before you visit to make sure you can take part.

Fossil walk contacts:

• Brandon Lennon 07944 664757 www.lymeregisfossilwalks.com


• Lyme Regis Museum 01297 443370 www.lymeregismuseum.co.uk


• Lyme Regis Fossil Shop 01297 442088


• Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre 01297 560772 www.charmouth.org


• Chris Pamplin 0845 00943757 www.fossilwalks.com

Between the 30th of April and the 2nd of May the Lyme Fossil Festival brings all kinds of activities, stalls, stands and activities to the town and experts will be available providing information. Last year the event included experts from the Natural History Museum, examples from the Jackson Collection of fossils from the National Museum of Wales and meteorites and fossils from the British Antarctic Survey. The event takes place over the first May bank holiday weekend so look for self catering accommodation in Dorset or bed and breakfast in Dorset sooner rather than later.

Visiting Bridport

Bridport is a West Dorset town, best known as the location for Channel Four's 'Return to River Cottage' series with Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall. It makes a great place to visit as part of a UK holiday.

The historic town’s roots can be traced back to the ninth century. You can see the oldest building in Bridport, The Chantry from the outside. It was the home of a priest back in 1368, and has a pigeon loft to allow the priest to support his diet and income. At that time Bridport was a key rope making centre. It’s position at the point where the rivers Brit and Asker meet also lead to the development of a net making industry. The Parish Church of St Mary dates in part from the 15th century although older remains can be seen.

Bridport is home to the Bridport Arts Centre which has a 200-seat theatre, three exhibition spaces, a café and a bar. It is home to the Bridport Literary Festival which takes place each November. Find out more about what’s on at the Bridport Arts Centre.

If you are visiting Bridport, follow the links to find Self catering accommodation and Bed and Breakfast nearby. Visit Dorset offer a free map of Bridport town centre (PDF, 301 kB) to help you find your way around the town, or you can find out more from Bridport Tourist Information Centre, 47 South Street, Bridport, Dorset DT6 3NY Tel: 01308 424901 Email: bridport.tic@westdorset-dc.gov.uk

Successful Holidays with Kids

If you have a young baby or toddler, your idea of a great holiday may have to change dramatically. A boutique hotel and city break no longer fits the bill. Instead, why not find a tranquil country retreat where you and the little ones can enjoy the outdoors?
Here are some tips to help you choose a great place to holiday for all the family.

How far can you travel? Think about how your kids cope with long car journeys. How far can they sensibly travel between breaks? Plan in stops at places of interest to make the journey part of the holiday and avoid spending more time than necessary in service stations.

What accommodation do you want? Weigh up the pros and cons of self catering accommodation and bed and breakfast. If you have a baby that wakes early you might prefer a cottage so you won’t need to worry about disturbing the people in the next room!

Where to eat? Mum might enjoy having meals provided and cleared away, but if you are thinking about bed and breakfast find out whether meal time will suit your family. Self catering accommodation owners may also be able to provide meals for some nights of your stay.

Safety first. When choosing any holiday accommodation, have a quick scout round on arrival for toddler hazards. Your home may have stairgates, but most holiday accommodation won’t.

Happy holidays. For your first few holidays with young children don’t over plan. If your child has a routine, aim to stick to it. Do most of your driving at nap times, take familiar foods with you and don’t forget favourite comforters. Pick a beautiful location so once the little ones are asleep you and your partner can relax with a glass of wine and enjoy the view.

If you are visiting Dorset, follow the links to find Self catering accommodation in Dorset and Bed and Breakfast in Dorset.

Unique Sustainable Accommodation in Dorset

If you are holidaying in the UK this year, this might be because you are concerned about sustainable tourism. At Chesil Beach Lodge, we’ve been making sustainability a key part of what we offer, both for the bed and breakfast and for our self catering accommodation. This week you can read a little about food in Dorset and how we use local produce wherever possible.

Dorset, being right on the coast, is a great area for fish. We use locally caught fish as far as possible. Almost all fish that swim in UK waters can be found along the Dorset shoreline. Depending on the time of year you may find whiting, turbot, bream, plaice, sole or dab.

We are well off for farms in Dorset too, so if you are holidaying here make sure you go home with some locally produced cheese. We aim to serve local meat, dairy products and bread and use organic products wherever possible.

To find out more about how Chesil Beach Lodge offers sustainable holidays visit our website.

What’s on In Dorset

Here’s our pick of some Dorset events in the coming weeks.

Coming soon for half term, there’s lots of fun at The Tank Museum, Bovington. You can see the world's best collection of tanks, and join in a free Top Ten Tanks Tour. Young visitors will enjoy the tank history trails or hearing a World War One Tommy will explain why the tank was invented. In the Discovery Centre, you can can learn what life is like for tank crews and elsewhere in the museum see tank model makers demonstrating their craftsmanship, and there will be opportunities for visitors to join in and make models of their own to take home.

On March 5th you can see Henry Dallal's 'Horse Warriors' at Cerne Abbas Village Hall. This is a multimedia show presenting the unique and only mounted regiment - the 61st Indian Cavalry. Last year’s show sold out so book soon. Tickets cost £8 and are available from Weldmar on 01305 215 315 to include a glass of wine.

If you are visiting Dorset, follow the links to find Self catering accommodation in Dorset and Bed and Breakfast in Dorset.