The World’s Hottest Chilli!

The Dorset Naga is said to be one of the hottest chillies in the world. It was cultivated and developed in a market garden in Dorset from a Bangladeshi landrace variety of chilli known as Naga Morich, which Joy and Michael Michaud bought from an Oriental food shop in Bournemouth.

The Dorset Naga was measured by BBC Gardeners' World at nearly 1.6 million SHU, which is the hottest measurement ever recorded for a chilli. According to Joy and Michael, this scorching heat level is backed up by a powerful aroma that imbibes any dish with a distinctively fruity flavour. The fruit are roughly cone shaped, and about 2 cm wide at the shoulders and up to 4 cm long, though they can be smaller.

Why not grow a few of your own and try them in this Chilli con carne recipe from the BBC Good Food, or this vegetarian chilli alternative? Unless you like your chilli scorching hot it might be wise to use them very sparingly because these peppers come with a health warning and anyone handling them is advised to wear gloves!

You can buy Dorset Naga seeds from Sea Spring Seeds, plug plants from Sea Spring Plants and, from late July / early August, fresh Dorset Naga chillies from Peppers by Post.

Please contact us to find out more about our eco-friendly holiday accommodation in Dorset, and to book one of our stunning bed and breakfast rooms or self-catering apartments.

May Day in Dorset

May Day in the UK is said to have started as a pagan holy day or festival celebrating spring and the end of the dark days of winter in the northern hemisphere.

Many villages across the country will be celebrating May Day with maypole dancing and the crowning of the Queen of the May. Here in Dorset we have our own truly unique May Day celebration – the ancient ritual of dancing at the site of the Cerne Abbas Giant to welcome in the spring.

The Cerne Abbas Giant is a 180 foot man carved into the chalk rock and he’s believed to be an ancient fertility symbol with the power to help childless couples to conceive.

As dawn breaks on the 1st May, people (including the Wessex Morris Men) will dance on the giant and then gradually wend their way down to the village of Cerne Abbas to dance in the village square.

The dancing at the Cerne Abbas Giant starts at approximately 5.15am and continues for about half an hour.

You can watch the Wessex Morris Men in the 2009 Cerne Abbas May Day procession on this video.

In Cattistock, on the 1st May, we also have another unusual and unique celebration – the world famous Dorset Knob Throwing competition! The Dorset Knob is a traditional type of Dorset bread, a bit like a biscuit. “The Festival will run from 10am until 4.00pm and besides Knob Throwing there will be additional fun knob attractions including Knob Eating, Knob Painting, a Knob & Spoon Race, Guess the weight of the Big Knob, Knob Darts and a Knob Pyramid. Other traditional entertainment will also be laid on to make this a really enjoyable day out with a difference.”

For a warm welcome and a delightful sustainable holiday in the beautiful county of Dorset, please contact us to book accommodation.

Rainy day Easter activities for all the family

Dorset is a fabulous location for a family holiday at Easter, whatever the weather, and here are just a few suggestions for rainy day activities:

Terracotta Warriors Museum in Dorchester is an exhibition of the Terracotta Warriors of the First Emperor of China's famous Terracotta Army. A small collection of warriors have been specially replicated by museum and conservation technicians in China, and skilled craftsmen and specialists of World Heritage. You can also see fabulous costumed recreations of the First Emperor of China, Qin Shih Huang di, himself and his uniformed officers. Dramatic audio and multi-media presentations bring the whole experience stunningly to life.

The Tutankhamun Exhibition in Dorchester is “a spectacular recreation of Tutankhamun's tomb and treasures” that has been extensively featured on television throughout the world. All the exhibits have been carefully crafted by meticulous reference to the original antiquities, photographic records and detailed measurements and diagrams, making the treasures shown in this exhibition identical as possible to the originals now in Egypt.

Weymouth Sea Life Park and marine sanctuary has indoor and outdoor enclosures with over 1,000 creatures, including baby crocodiles, leafy sea dragons and giant sea turtles. The park also has a new shark breeding centre; penguin, seal, otter and turtle sanctuaries, and an underwater walkthrough where you can see sharks and tropical fish. Crocodile Creek has an exciting log flume ride for children and Adventure Island has four fun children’s rides.

Bournemouth Aquarium is “a fun, friendly, all weather attraction situated on the seafront, next to the pier”. The aquarium is home to thousands of sea life creatures, from flamboyant clownfish and tiny terrapins, to stunning sharks and the infamous piranha, in ten spectacular recreated environments. Families are welcome and the site is pushchair friendly.

Do you have a budding fashion designer in your family? The Blandford Fashion Museum has a fascinating collection dating from the 1730s to the 1970s which provides a history of clothing and accessories, and charts the changes in fashion and in the manufacture of costume.

A little further afield is Haynes Motor Museum in Yeovil in Somerset - the largest international motor museum in Britain. The museum has one of the UK’s largest speedway collections, an outdoor military vehicle collection, and 11 stunning display halls with over 400 cars and bikes dating from 1886 to the present day.

They also have a themed adventure playground for children, with an activity room, soft play fun bus and activity packs. Children can discover the workings of an engine with the cut away car chassis, and operate interactive displays such as the Ghostbuster style ambulance with lights and sounds.

To book child-friendly self-catering accommodation in Dorset for the Easter holidays, please contact us as soon as possible. We very much look forward to welcoming you and your family here.

What’s on in Dorset over Easter

Well, another month has whizzed by and now we’re looking forward to welcoming visitors to Chesil Beach Lodge for the Easter holidays.

We’ve been very busy over the past few weeks and we’re delighted to announce that our new Hardy Studio is now available for bookings. The Hardy Studio is a self-catering studio style apartment with two sets of french doors which lead to balconies offering absolutely beautiful sea views. And of course the Hardy Studio is fitted out to our usual first-class standards.

If you’re planning a trip to Dorset for Easter or the Easter school holidays, here’s our small selection of some of the many attractions and events available.

Why not try something completely different and go on a Jurassic Safari? J “Sit back and relax on our Land Rover Safari as we take you off the beaten track for a taste of Dorset's secret beauty in the style and safety of the world’s leading 4x4. We aim to get you up close and personal to some of the most spectacular views and wildlife the Jurassic coast has to offer. Our carefully chosen routes include unspoilt country lanes, ancient byways and deep river crossings hidden and inaccessible to most people.” Suitable for families, and with discounts offered for families and groups of six.

Weymouth Whitewater offers a variety of scenic rides by boat; ranging from fast and furious to something a little more sedate – a perfect way to see the spectacular scenery of Weymouth Bay, Portland, Bowleaze, Ringstead, Durdle Door and Lulworth Cove.

Still on the nautical theme, Greenslade Pleasure Boats offer day trips around Poole Harbour and the Dorset coastline. The boats have both open and covered deck areas for all weather entertainment, and efficient heating so that you can enjoy being on the water all year round.

Train enthusiasts can experience a unique journey through six miles of beautiful scenery, passing the magnificent ruins of Corfe Castle, on the award-winning standard gauge preserved steam Swanage Railway.

Dorset Heavy Horse Farm Park and Rescue Centre has educational daily shows, plus free wagon rides, tractor and trailer rides, and miniature pony and cart rides - you even get the chance to drive a vintage tractor. The centre offers lots of hands-on activities with friendly farm animals, and you can meet mighty shires, miniature ponies, donkeys, kune kune pigs. miniature goats, sheep, chickens, ducks, llamas, alpacas, snow dogs and many more!

The Pottery Parlour in Blandford, is “a secret paradise of pottery wheels, glittering ceramics, creative freedom, and lots and lots of clay!” They offer two hour fun and dynamic workshop sessions during the Easter school holidays where families can ‘throw a pot’ and create a fully formed and decorated pot. Contact them to book a slot.

Here at Chesil Beach Lodge we offer a choice of delightful and sustainable bed and breakfast and self-catering accommodation in a stunning location on the Jurassic Coast, and within easy travelling distance of many fantastic local attractions.

Please contact us for more details, or to book accommodation.