Visit Dorset for Autumn Colour

Not wanting to wish away the summer, but looking ahead a little to autumn in case you want to plan your autumn break, this week we thought we’d share a few of the best places to see autumn colour in Dorset.

Lakeside Gardens, Sherborne Castle – “one of the finest examples of Capability Brown you will see.”

Minterne House, an English Heritage Garden with sensational autumn colours, open until 9th November, and open every day from 10am to 6pm.

And here are some areas of broadleaved woodland that can be relied on to produce wonderful displays of glorious autumn colour:

• Thorncombe Wood and Duddle Heath near Dorchester


• Fifehead Wood near Shaftebury


• Powerstock Common Reserves


• Duncliffe Wood west of Shaftesbury


• Lewesdon Hill, the highest point in Dorset

Why not book ahead and book an autumn break for you and your family or friends in one of our stunning eco-friendly self-catering apartments? There’s nothing quite like an autumn stroll or hike through all the beauty of autumnal colour to inspire and invigorate. And at the end of your walk you’ll love returning to your warm and inviting apartment at Chesil Beach Lodge, and settling down with a hot drink or glass of wine to enjoy the panoramic views over Lyme Bay from your apartment windows.

We offer a warm welcome and a sustainable holiday in the beautiful county of Dorset, so please contact us and find out more about our eco-friendly self-catering accommodation in Dorset.

The Dorset Pliosaur

The giant jaws of a new species of pliosaur, one of the largest sea predators ever unearthed, are on display at the Dorset County Museum.

The pliosaur bones are around 155 million years old and were originally discovered by amateur collector Kevan Sheehan when they appeared after a landslide on the Jurassic Coast at Weymouth Bay. The skull is a massive 2.4 metres long and is thought to belong to a creature up to 18 metres long.

The fossil was unveiled on the 8th July by Sir David Attenborough and will be on permanent display for locals and visitors.

Chesil Beach Lodge is situated right on the Jurassic Coast: a World Heritage Site consisting of 95 miles of amazing coastline stretching from East Devon to Dorset, with rocks spanning the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous periods.

You can find detailed and fascinating information and resources about all the different areas on the Jurassic Coast on the Jurassic Coast website.

If you fancy having a go at finding your very own fossil, you can take part in guided fossil walks from Lyme Regis.

Our self-catering accommodation on Dorset’s Jurassic Coast is the perfect base for exploring all that this amazing area has to offer. Please contact us to book accommodation, or to find out more.

Beach holidays in West Dorset

For three weeks this coming autumn, London’s Euston Road will echo with the sound of the waves breaking on Chesil Beach. The sound of the sea will be relayed live, and it’s hoped that it will turn one of Europe's nosiest and most polluted roads into a live seascape with breaking waves and crunching pebbles competing with the sound of buses, lorries, taxis and commuters. The project starts on 22nd September, so if you’re on Euston road at any time during those three weeks, listen out for the evocative sounds of Chesil Beach.

Here at Chesil Beach Lodge, we’re so lucky that we have only a short walk to reach Chesil Beach, and our visitors are able to enjoy the real thing. If you and your family and friends enjoy beach holidays, there are lots of wonderful beaches to choose from in West Dorset, including:

• West Bay – a safe, wide sandy beach with plenty of facilities including pubs, restaurants and shops.


• Bowleaze Cove – two miles west of Weymouth, a pebbly, safe family beach, easily reached from the South West Coast Path and by bus from Weymouth. Facilities include café, shop, pub, toilets and an amusement arcade.


• Hive Beach – a long, clean sandy beach east of Burton Bradstock. The sea here is clean for swimming, but visitors need to be aware of strong tides and currents. Facilities include the Hive Café on the beach, and toilets.


• Lyme Regis – the old town of Lyme Regis is full of character and The Cobb is famous for appearing in The French Lieutenant’s Woman starring Meryl Streep. The beach is flat and sandy, and is popular with families.


• Church Ope Cove on Portland – a pebbly very sheltered beach, overlooked by Rufus Castle. The cove itself is safe for swimming, diving and snorkelling. (Steps to the beach make access difficult for families with pushchairs.)


• Weymouth – a safe and clean beach with shallow waters, lots of facilities including Punch and Judy, sand sculpting and a helter skelter, and a backdrop of fine Georgian houses. The beach hosts several major events including the International Beach Kite Festival and International Volleyball.
  

And, last but certainly not least, the wild unspoilt beauty of Chesil Beach: a shingle ridge stretching 17 miles from Portland to West Bay, and separated from the mainland for much of its length by a shallow area of salt water called the Fleet Lagoon.

We hope that’s given you an idea of the variety of beaches in West Dorset. There’s something to suit everyone - whether you’re looking for traditional and family-friendly with lots of facilities; sheltered and quiet, or wild and remote.

At Chesil Beach Lodge we have delightful self-catering family-friendly accommodation that’s perfect for your holiday in Dorset. Please contact us to find out more, or to book accommodation: we very much look forward to welcoming you and your family and friends here.

What’s on in Dorset: August

The summer holidays are well and truly upon us! We hope July was a good month for you, and that the summer weather has been kind to you.

STOP PRESS

Before we share a few of the many activities and events happening in Dorset this August, we have some Stop Press news: due to a late cancellation, we have a self-catering apartment available for the week commencing 27th August. Please contact us for more details.

So, without further ado, back to the events in and around Dorset for August:

1st – 5th August Holiday Adventure Days for 8-12 year olds at Woodberry Down Activity Centre, Lyme Regis, from 9am – 4pm. Activities include beach games and beach art, campfire cooking, circus skills and bush craft.

4th August Family Fossil Day - Jurassic Seafood at Lyme Regis Museum, Bridge Street, Lyme Regis, 11am – 3.30pm. “Fossil Hunters Paddy Howe, Chris Andrew and Brandon Lennon are in the museum all day to talk about the small invertebrate fossils. Come to the rock-splitting sessions and see how fossils are hidden within stones. Cut and polish ammonite to keep. There will be impressive fossils on dispay including spectacular finds made earlier this year. Handle fossils, ask questions and bring your own fossils for identification.” Free admission.

6th -14th August Lyme Regis Regatta & Carnival – this packed week of events includes the carnival procession, balloon races, sailing races, family dog show, limbo dancing, mass Chinese lantern launch over Lyme Regis, World Pebble Balancing Championships, sandcastle competition, sand sports and pavement art.

8th August - the pleasure steamer the SS Balmoral is setting sail for a cruise along the Jurassic Coast. Book your place at Bridport TIC or via Waverley Excursions.

13th -14th August - a Dalek Invasion at the Fleet Air Arm Museum, RNAS Yeovilton. “Only the brave should venture to the Fleet Air Arm Museum on the weekend of August 13th and 14th as an army of Daleks accompanied by Davros, Miss Hartigan, Cybermen, Ice Warriors, Pig Slaves, Weeping Angel and more will invade the Museum. To add to the fun and terror of the day, children are encouraged to wear Sci-Fi Fancy Dress.”

14th August - Pirates Day at West Bay, 12pm to 5pm: lots and lots of pirate-themed events and games for all the family including best dressed pirate competition, walk the plank and face painting.

14th – 20th August: Burton Bradstock Festival of Music and Art. The exhibition of paintings, textiles, pottery and woodwork opens at 10 am on Sunday 14 August in the village hall and will include work by some of the finest artists in the South-West including Terry Unsworth, Jake Winkle, John Rabbitts and Lynda White. Visitors will be able to buy work priced from £30 to £300, as well as prints and greeting cards featuring original designs. The art exhibition will be open daily 10–7pm until Friday 18th, then Saturday 20th 10–4 pm and Sunday 21st 10–12 noon.

Music events include orchestral concerts, evening and lunchtime recitals, jazz and World music, intimate late evening performances, and an art exhibition. Most of the concerts take place in Burton Bradstock’s exquisite 16th century church.

18th August – Smugglers, Lyme Regis Museum, Bridge Street, Lyme Regis, at 2.30pm. “Thea Hawkesworth presents the facts about smuggling in the West Country in the 17th and 18th Centuries. Small fishing communities supplemented their incomes this way, and famous local smugglers such as Jack Rattenbury made their living transporting contraband. Lively true stories for all ages.”

20th – 21st August: Bridport Carnival and Torchlight Procession. The Bridport Carnival includes a grand procession and carnival fete, plus a fun fair at Asker Meadows. The traditional torchlight parade, on 21st August, makes its way from Bucky Doo Square in Bridport down to West Bay for a bonfire and firework display, and dancing. The procession begins around 9pm.

25th August Melplash Agricultural Show.

31st August to 4th September, the Great Dorset Steam Fair, South Down, Tarrant Hinton, Nr Blandford – a huge variety of exhibitions and attractions covering 600 acres.

This is just a small sample of what’s happening in August and if you plan to visit our beautiful county for your summer or autumn break, please book your accommodation in Dorset as soon as possible. We have a range of luxurious bed and breakfast and self-catering accommodation available for bookings, and we look forward to sharing the delights of Dorset with you and your family.