Welcome in the New Year in Dorset!

Here in Dorset we like to welcome in the New Year in style, and Lyme Regis certainly has its own unique approach to this!

Around a hundred hardy souls in fancy dress will be taking part in the Lyme Lunge on New Year’s Day, and taking a quick dip in the not so balmy waters of Lyme Bay! But it’s all for a good cause and this year they are raising money for ShelterBox and the RNLI. If you don’t fancy a freezing cold lunge on New Year’s Day, you can come along as a spectator and join in the fun by cheering on the lungers.

Before the Lyme Lunge is the traditional New Year’s Day Duck Race down the River Lym. The race starts at midday along Windsor Terrace and finishes at Jordan Flats. Everyone follows the ducks on the river path and the ducks are helped on their journey by volunteers from the RNLI Lifeboat crew. Anyone who’s quackers enough can join in – ducks are £1 and proceeds go towards the Christmas Lighting Fund.

Chesil Beach Lodge is the perfect location for your New Year holiday and celebrations and we invite you to celebrate the New Year and welcome in 2012 in one of our stunning apartments with their spectacular sea views.

You can blow away those cobwebs and burn off a few Christmas calories with walks on the nearby beaches and coastal paths, and at the end of a fun-filled days in the beautiful Dorset countryside come back to a cosy apartment and delicious home cooked and locally sourced meals.

Why not make your New Year extra special this year and book accommodation in Dorset for New Year? We very much look forward to welcoming you here and celebrating the arrival of 2012 with you and your family and friends

Christmas Trees: Real or Artificial?

Have you ever wondered which is more environmentally friendly: a real Christmas tree; or an artificial one? It’s an issue often discussed and debated at this time of year and we don’t claim to have the definitive answer, but here are a few thoughts on the issues surrounding the choice of real or artificial tree this Christmas (and a couple of suggestions about where to get your tree this year).

Artificial trees can seem to be a good option because they can last for many years, and avoid the need for a living tree to be cut down. On the other hand, artificial trees require large amounts of energy in the production process, which also results in by-products that can be harmful to the environment. Many artificial trees are also imported to the UK and travel large distances, adding to their use of energy resources. They are also not bio-degradable and when disposed of will add to potential landfill problems.

Providing they come from local managed woodlands, real Christmas trees are a carbon-neutral environmentally friendly renewable resource. However, not all Christmas trees are grown organically, and pesticides and herbicides are most definitely not environmentally-friendly!

You can make your Christmas even more environmentally friendly by buying a living Christmas tree in a pot. These can be re-used for several years and you can even plant your tree in your garden if you have room.

If you’re not saving your Christmas tree for another year, your local council is bound to offer chipping services and you can use the resulting mulch on your garden.

Dorset’s Christmas Tree Rental Company will deliver a live tree right to your front door. You tell them which tree you would like; they deliver it to you, and then come and collect it after Christmas. The idea is to rent the tree for the Christmas period so that the tree can return to its field to help combat carbon dioxide emissions, thus helping the environment.

Bailey Ridge Christmas Trees, near Sherborne, is a small family-run business that offers home grown trees from their sustainable plantation. You can wander among the trees and choose your perfect Christmas tree. For every tree they cut, they plant a further 6 trees in their plantation. They will deliver your tree to your home, and can recycle it after Christmas if you wish.

We are open over Christmas and New Year and are taking bookings for eco-friendly Christmas holiday accommodation in Dorset. We would love to welcome you here for your Christmas or New Year break so please contact us for more information, or to book your accommodation.

Christmas Markets and Fairs in Dorset

Local markets and fairs are wonderful places to buy unique and unusual gifts for Christmas, at the same time as supporting the local community and local businesses.

Here are a few of the many that Dorset has to offer…

Bournemouth Christmas Market - Inspired by the “Weihnachtsmarkt” traditional German Markets. Lots of alpine chalets decorated with Christmas lights and offering authentic seasonal gifts and traditional yuletide foods from German, British and other European crafts people. There’s also a traditional Victorian-style “Gallopers” carousel, animated figures, Christmas karaoke, school choirs, carol singing, church bands and dancing. Open until 3rd January – see their website for daily opening times.

Bridport Christmas Festival and Late Night Shopping, 7th December, Bridport Town Centre. Most shops in the town centre will be staying open until late (from 6pm). There will be a farmers’ market, and craft, food and charity stalls, Santa's Grotto, and entertainment. The Christmas tree lights will be switched on by the Mayor at 6pm and then Father Christmas will arrive to join in the celebrations.

Lyme Regis Christmas Market at The Town Mill, Mill Lane, Lyme Regis, from the 9th to 11th December. Quality handmade gifts including: wood, pottery, glass, jewellery, paintings, photos, prints, and metalwork. Friday 5pm - 9pm, Saturday 10am-5pm, Sunday 10am-4pm.

Putlake Farm Christmas Market , near Swanage, Saturday 10th December 3pm to 6pm. There will be craft stalls, local produce, Christmas trees, wreaths, music, Santa’s Grotto and lots more.

For something a little different, why not try the Sherborne Antique and Fleamarket? Saturday 10th December 8.30 am to 4pm at the Digby Church Memorial Hall, Sherborne. There will be a large number of stalls selling vintage items including china, silver, jewellery, pictures, books, textiles, and furniture.

Wyke Christmas Fayre, Old Wyke Square, Wyke Regis, on Sunday 11th December, from noon to 4pm. Admission is free. Lots of local crafts and food including hot chestnuts and candy, Hundred-Aker-Wood Pottery, Clayford Farm Sausages, Woodland Preserves, Dorset Seafood, and Barrie's Pictures (old photos of Dorset, Devon Somerset).

Shaftesbury Christmas Market Street Fair, High Street, Shaftesbury. 18th December -10am to 4pm. With the colourful Anonymous Travelling Market and live music, and stalls selling items ranging from homemade felt, jewellery, glass, pottery, vintage clothes and china. to cheese, bread, paella, fresh oysters, tapas, hog roasts and much more.

A warm welcome and a sustainable holiday in the beautiful county of Dorset awaits you this winter, so why not contact us and find out more about our eco-friendly self-catering accommodation in Dorset. We look forward to welcoming you here.

What’s on in Dorset: December

Hello from an unusually mild West Dorset - it’s difficult to believe that this time last year we were enjoying cold wintry days and snow!

Before we give you our list of recommended activities and events in Dorset this month, we would like to remind you about a very special offer for visitors to Chesil Beach Lodge.

During December (up until Christmas) you can book three week nights for the price of two (Sunday to Thursday inclusive): making this a perfect time to book a winter break in Dorset!

Our accommodation is welcoming and cosy, with spectacular sea and coastal views, and it’s perfectly located for beach, cliff and countryside walks, or a little Christmas shopping and activities and events to get you and your family in the Christmas spirit.

Here’s our selection of just a few of the events in Dorset during December…

8th December – Loose Cannons at the Dorchester Film Society, The Corn Exchange, Dorchester. “An amusing film about secrets and lies in a family who own a successful pasta-making business.” 7.30pm. Founded in 1959, the Dorchester Film Society is a community cinema dedicated to showing its members the best of British and Worldwide Cinema.

14th December – Songs of Christmas Past at Highcliffe Castle. “La Nova Singers return to the Castle for this festive concert. The singers will be performing in the Castle's Great Hall with the magnificent Jesse window as a backdrop. La Nova Singers formed in 2004 and have become a highly acclaimed ensemble of female singers. They are directed and conducted by Michelle Nova, follow the discipline of the Bel Canto tehnique and have become well known for their unique sound, clarity, diction and eclectic mix of music. Mulled wine and mince pies will be available for purchase at the interval.” Box Office 01425 278807.

21st to 31st December - A Lyme Regis Christmas Shantymime – Griselda’s Grandad at The Marine Theatre, Lyme Regis. “Griselda's boring holiday unravels in a boring old house full of boring old books and boring old stories. But from behind the commemorative plates and between the drafty floorboards come tales of Christmases past. Is Grandad as boring as he seems? Will Griselda get more than she bargained for? Join Shanty at the Marine Theatre this December as they tell local tales from a time gone by and take a journey to the real heart of Christmas.”

22nd December - Noel Noel –The Bournemouth Sinfonietta Choir at The Corn Exchange, Dorchester. 7.30pm for 8pm. A festive celebration of Christmas music and readings including the Fantasia on Christmas Carols by Vaughan Williams. Tickets are £12 (including refreshments) and areavailable from Dorchester Tourist Information Centre 01305 267992.

22nd December - Winter Solstice at Studland Beach and Nature Reserve from 7.15 to 10 am. Experience the sunrise on the shortest day of the year at Old Harry Rocks: followed by cooked breakfast at Knoll Beach Cafe. Bring a torch. Booking is essential so please contact Knoll Beach Visitor Centre on 01929 450259. Adults £10, children £6.

At this time of year, our cosy Chesil and Fossil self-catering apartments with their wood burners and 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 wonderful winter holiday. 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.