A local attraction: Athelhampton House and Gardens

Athelhampton House and Gardens, near Dorchester, was built in 1485 and has been in private ownership for over 500 years. The house, with its fascinating Tudor architecture, and its gardens with a variety of woodland scenes, formal architecture, river walks along the River Piddle, wonderful pyramid shaped Yew trees and an ancient dovecote, are all open to the public.

There’s free parking, a gift shop and the licensed Topiary Restaurant which offers informal lunches, morning coffees and afternoon tea. On Sundays the Long Hall restaurant is open for private dining.

Tucked away in the attic of the East Wing of the house is the 75 seater Athelhampton Cinema which shows a wide variety of interesting and unusual films – some of which were filmed in the Athelhampton house and gardens. A wheelchair lift is available, as is a hearing aid loop.

Coming up in January and February is a packed programme of films, including: –

• the Academy and BAFTA Award winning film Frida: the film of the life of Mexican painter Frida Kahlo.


• Is Anybody There? – the story of a ten-year-old boy who lives at an old people’s home and who becomes obsessed with finding evidence of the afterlife. Michael Caine stars as an elderly ex-magician in the early stages of dementia.


• Modigliani - a film recounting the turbulent life of the artist Modigliani, including his rivalry with Picasso.


• Sleuth - The 1972 film adaptation of Anthony Shaffer's award winning play, filmed at Athelhampton and starring Michael Caine & Laurence Olivier.


• The Glenn Miller Story - the 1954 Academy Award winning biopic of musician and band-leader Glenn Miller, starring James Stewart & June Allyson.
  

Tickets are available to purchase online or by telephone.

Athelhampton even has an outdoor theatre. On summer evenings visitors bring their own low-backed seats, or a picnic rug (complete with picnic), and are entertained in the wonderful Athelhampton gardens by experienced travelling theatre groups

Nearby, and over seen by Athelhampton House and Gardens, is The Martyrs Inn in Tolpuddle, which guarantees a warm welcome to children and families, and well behaved dogs (as well as walkers with muddy boots!), and provides range of real ales and a menu consisting of seasonal meals prepared with locally sourced meats and fresh fish.

If you’re considering visiting any of our many fine local attractions, please contact us to book accommodation in Dorset.

February and March Special

Three nights for the price of two during February and March Monday to Friday only). Enjoy a stay in one of our self-catering apartments or the luxury of breakfast served to you in one of our B&B rooms.

A New Year and a New Hobby?

Have you made any New Year resolutions?

The arrival of a new year often inspires many of us to embark on new challenges, learn new skills or take up a new hobby. Dorset boasts a wealth of talented artists, authors and performing artists and this is reflected in the many venues offering classes and workshops in an eclectic mix of creative, energetic and unusual activities and skills; so why not try something new this year and discover your inner artist and express yourself through the medium of sculpture or paint, or get your dancing shoes on and learn ballroom dancing? You can even have a go at making your own garden furniture?

To inspire you, here’s a small selection of what’s on offer:

• Guy Mallinson’s woodland workshops are a range of two and five day courses set in woodland near the Jurassic Coast. You can learn how to carve a bowl or a totem pole, or how to making a coracle, a chestnut gate or a chair from a tree, as well as learn pottery skills. The courses are suitable for everyone: from complete novices to experienced green woodworkers. They also offer one day courses for children from aged 8 years. The courses are available from April to November and booking is essential.


• The Marine Theatre in Lyme Regis offers Ballroom dancing classes from 5th January. Classes are £4 each and take place every Wednesday from 11am to 12pm. Beginners and improvers are all welcome.


• The Monkton Wyld Court centre for sustainable living is presenting a very wide range of courses for 2011, including Introduction to Beekeeping, How to Set Up a Low-Impact Smallholding, Wild Food and Medicinal Plants, and Permaculture Design.


• The Dorset Guild of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers is open to all, and both informal and formal teaching takes place at their monthly meetings and workshops. They meet on the last Saturday in the month at the Youth Association Hall in Lubbecke Way, Dorchester. Admission is free.

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

Explore Dorset on foot

Our unique sustainable holiday accommodation at Chesil Beach Lodge is only a four minute walk from Chesil Beach, and we’re very lucky to have the South West Coast Path, with its spectacular sea views and famous fossil cliffs, running almost right past our door.

At this time of year, a brisk walk on the beach or coast path is guaranteed to blow away those cobwebs and burn off a few of those Christmas calories! Many authors and artists have found inspiration in the Dorset countryside, so if you’re in need of a fresh start and a little inspiration and motivation for 2011; we think there’s no better place to find it than the surrounding countryside and coastline at Chesil Beach Lodge, and no better place to stay than our beautiful and comfortable self-catering and bed and breakfast accommodation, with its wonderful location with access to fine walks and stunning panoramic sea views.

Dorset has many walking groups, including: the Dorset Long Distance Walkers Association which offers monthly walks, occasional social events, and two challenge walks each year; the Ramblers’ Association; the Dorset Young Walkers (a group of walkers, aged from their 20s to 40s) and The Swanage Walking Group. You don’t have to be a member of these groups to join them on their explorations of the beautiful Dorset countryside.

The walking in Dorset web site has lots of information on walking in the Dorset countryside, including information on walking groups, descriptions of walks and maps.

Exploring Dorset on foot is a great way to walk your way to fitness and gain new friends along the way. If you would like to book accommodation in Dorset for your walking holiday, please contact us as soon as possible. We very much look forward to welcoming you here.

What’s on in Dorset: January

Hello, and welcome to our first post for a brand new year! We’re looking forward to welcoming new visitors and old friends to Chesil Beach Lodge in 2011, and we’d like to wish you all a very happy and peaceful new year.

As always, here’s a selection of a few of the activities and events in Dorset in January:

13th January - A lecture from the Sherborne Historical Society entitled “A History of the Quakers in Industry”, with special reference to the West Country, by Dr. M Atkinson. Digby Hall, Hound Street, Sherborne, 8pm. Telephone 01935 873535 for more information

13th January - An Evening of Jazz, Swing and 60s Music at The Big Hall, Sherborne School. Tickets cost £6 from Sherborne TIC. Telephone 01935 815341 for more information.

15th January to 30th April Georgian Faces: Portrait of a County, an exhibition of portraiture featuring many works from collections rarely on public display, at the Dorset County Museum, Dorchester. Monday to Saturday 10am – 4pm.

15th January to 27th February - The Illusory and The Real, an exhibition by textile artist Pat Hodson, exploring the interaction between the between the suggested marks and colours we can create on computer with the hand drawn marks and patterns created by traditional textile processes. Walford Mill Crafts, Stone Lane, Wimborne. 10am to 5pm. Admission is free.

19th January - Volunteer Conservation Task at Lorton Meadows. Dorset Wildlife Trust, Lorton Meadows, Lorton Lane, Weymouth. Practical work to restore the habitats important for local wildlife. Tools, gloves and drinks supplied, bring lunch. 10am to 2pm.

Saturday 22nd January, Dorchester Antique Fair, at the Corn Exchange, High Street, Dorchester. 10 am – 4pm. Admission 60p.

28th January - A Night of Romantic Opera from Swansea City Opera Company, at Brownsword Hall, Pummery Square, Poundbury, 7.30pm. A wonderful evening of arias and ensembles performed by singers from major opera houses. Tickets are £12 in advance from the Garden Centre of Stitchinghouse Design Poundbury, or £15 on the door. Telephone 01305 751815 for more information.

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