Half-term activity ideas in Dorset

Now that September’s drawing to a close, what better time to think about planning a half-term break and activities for your family? Here’s a small selection of some of the fun events and activities in Dorset to keep your family happy and busy over autumn half-term:

• There’s a week of family fun planned at Swanage Railway, with regular steam and diesel train services through spectacular scenery, brake van rides at Swanage, colourful face painting at Corfe Castle and lots of on-train entertainment.
• Adventure Wonderland’s indoor play centre, maze and theatre are transformed into a world of spooks and skellys with some fangtastic events thrown in for their Halloween half term week.
• Batty about Bats at Brownsea Island – batty fun for all the family with a spooky bat trail around the island plus the chance to make your own spooky bouncy bat! 29th and 30th October, 10.30am to 4.00pm.
• 22nd to 23rd October – a dinosaur sleepover at Dorset County Museum! An evening full of dinosaur activities, followed by a sleepover in the museum.
• Halloween Fun Evenings in the Enchanted Floodlit Garden at Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens.  27th to 30 October 5pm to 8.30pm. Free scary face painting and free prizes for children in fancy dress.

When you’re planning your autumn half-term holiday activities, you couldn’t choose a better located and more convenient place to stay than Chesil Beach Lodge. Please contact us to find out more about our family-friendly holiday accommodation in Dorset, and to book our stunning bed and breakfast rooms, and self-catering apartments.

And don’t forget we’re also taking bookings for self-catering and bed and breakfast accommodation in Dorset for Christmas.

The 2012 Olympics in Dorset

The sea around Weymouth Bay is a world class sailing destination and, according to the Royal Yachting Association, the best in Northern Europe. It’s no surprise then that the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy will be hosting all the sailing events for the 2012 London Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The Olympic village at Osprey Quay will host up to 400 international athletes, and thousands of visitors are expected to watch the Olympic and Paralympic sailing events.

The Olympic sailing competitions will be at Weymouth and Portland from the 27th July to 12th August 2012, and the Paralympic competitions will take place between the 29th August and the 9th September: you can see the full schedule here.

If you have a ticket for any of the Olympic sailing events you will be able to view them from Nothe Fort and Gardens; those without tickets will be able to view the Olympic events from Weymouth beach.

2012 is going to be an exciting and inspirational time in Dorset: not only will you be able to watch the thrilling Olympic events; but there will also be a packed programme of vibrant events and activities for all the family including spectacular outdoor performances; amazing visual arts; dance, choirs and bands.

Please see Dorset 2012 for up-to-date news about Dorset’s 2012 Olympic events.

If you would like to discuss or book accommodation in Dorset for the 2012 Olympics, please contact us. We look forward to welcoming you here at this unique and exciting time.

Smuggling in Dorset

Take a walk in one of Dorset’s sheltered coves or along the coast path, on a day when the mist swirls in from the sea; or in the dead of night when the clouds scud across the sky momentarily revealing rocky outlines in the moonlight; and it’s easy to imagine you can see a ship waiting quietly at sea for a signal, or hear the hushed voices and stealthy footsteps of smugglers. Dorset’s coastline was once a hive of activity for smugglers and their illicit trade. The hedges, ditches, coastal cottages, heathland and beaches would all have once provided ideal hiding places for their contraband, and local Churchyards bear witness to this history with the graves of many smugglers and their relatives.

Popular contraband included tea, tobacco and spirits. The fascinating book Dorset Smugglers by Roger Guttridge describes some of the ingenious ways tea and tobacco was smuggled into Dorset in the 18th century:
Tea cases were fitted between the vessel's timbers and were made to resemble the floors of the ship.
18lbs of tea could be hidden under the cape or petticoat trouser worn by the fishermen and pilots of the vessels.

Cotton bags made into the shape of the crown of a hat, a cotton waistcoat, and a cotton bustle and thigh pieces carried in all 30lbs. of tea.

Tobacco was made into ropes of two strands, it was coiled with the real rope in the lugger, and was even put into a special compartment in casks of imported bones which were used for manufacturing glue.
The wooden fenders slung over the sides of a ship were hollowed out and filled with tobacco.

Dorset’s smugglers included many colourful characters, including the notorious Sir Isaac Gulliver (1745 – 1822) who had up to 50 men working for him (the White Wigs) and who amassed a large fortune and bought property and land with his spoils. You can read more about Isaac Gulliver here.

See this website to find out more about smuggling in West Bay.

Chesil Beach Lodge is on the Coast Road between West Bay and Abbotsbury, with direct access to the South West Coast Path and Chesil Beach, and we’re perfectly located as a base to explore Dorset’s fascinating maritime and social history and heritage. Our accommodation has spectacular sea views from every room and we can guarantee you a very warm welcome. Please contact us to book unique sustainable accommodation in Dorset – we very much look forward to seeing you here.

What’s on in Dorset: September

Well, the summer holidays are drawing to a close and it’s almost time for a new school year already. We hope you enjoyed your summer and, if you were lucky enough to have a holiday; that you were blessed with fine weather and good company. We can’t help noticing that the evenings are getting noticeably shorter, a sure sign that autumn is just around the corner, but of course that doesn’t mean there isn’t plenty of fine weather to come, and lots of activities to enjoy. Here’s our pick of what’s on offer in September.

7th to 15th September Dorset Architectural Heritage Week: an annual event raising public awareness of Dorset's rich architectural and cultural heritage by allowing free access to many properties that are normally closed to the public or that charge for entry.  

11th September - Eggardon Kite Festival , Eggardon Hill, Near Bridport, The famous kite festival on top of the magnificent iron age hill fort of Eggardon Hill.   Competitions and kite workshop - adults £1, children 50p. 10am to 4.30pm.  

16th to 18th September, the Bridport Hat Festival: lots to see and do at various venues throughout Bridport, including musical events, exhibitions, entertainers, workshops, food and drink, and competitions. It’s easy to take part; “simply wear a hat, whether you make one or buy one, and you’ll find you’ll make lots of friends on this splendid event celebrating hats and the people who wear them.”

17th to 25th September, Lyme Regis ArtsFest: a truly packed week offering you the opportunity to meet artists in their studios and find out about them and their work; follow the art trail through the town and enjoy a great variety of work displayed in over 100 shops and businesses; learn a new skill or develop an existing one by participating in a stained glass, dance, poetry, photography or painting workshop; and experience street theatre, stone-balancing, busking and much more at various venues throughout Lyme Regis.  

23rd September, The Whitetop Mountaineers at Dorchester Arts Centre, 8pm. “Hailing from Whitetop, Virginia, The Whitetop Mountaineers are Martha Spence (banjo, fiddle, and vocals) and Jackson Cunningham (mandolin, harmonica, banjo and vocals). They are also members of The Whitetop Mountain Band, one of the most popular bands in Southwest Virginia. Their show features country duet singing, up-tempo old instrumentals and Appalachian dancing. Support comes from local banjo and fiddle whiz Stompin’ Dave.”

24th September, 7.30pm, international pianist Sophia Lisovskaya at the Eype Centre for the Arts, near Bridport: “a solo recital by this immensely talented international pianist.” 

24th September, The Magic of Motown at the Electric Palace. “Direct from USA, the stage show that’s taken the country by storm is coming to town – it’s the Magic of Motown. The show includes songs by the Temptations, Diana Ross and the Supremes, Marvin Gaye, Martha Reeves, Smokey Robinson, and Stevie Wonder.” Doors open at 7pm, tickets £19.50 (concessions £16).

30th September, comedy at the Electric Palace with Jo Caulfield: a regular on TV comedy panel shows and star of It’s That Jo Caulfield Again on Radio 4. Doors open at 7pm, tickets are £10 in advance.

This is just a small sample of what’s happening in our area - there’s always a huge variety of activities to choose from so if you plan to visit Dorset in September for any of these events or activities, don’t forget to book eco-friendly accommodation in Dorset as soon as possible. We look forward to welcoming you here.