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.
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.