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.