12 things to do in Dorset in 2012: Part 2 July to December

Whatever the time of year, there’s always something interesting and fun to do in Dorset: Last week we looked at suggestions for January to June in our 12 things to do in Dorset mini-series: here’s Part 2 - July to December

July – see the Dorset countryside from a steam train

The Swanage Railway runs regular steam and diesel train services that will take you through spectacular Dorset scenery. It’s a great way take a trip to Corfe Castle, or to Swanage beach for a day at the seaside. Don’t forget to pack a picnic hamper with plenty of sandwiches and lashings of ginger beer :-)

August – be thrilled by the 2012 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.

This promises to be a fantastically exciting and inspirational time in Dorset, and even if you don’t have a ticket you can still view the Olympic events from Weymouth Beach. The Dorset 2012 website has 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.

September – enjoy a great day out at the Dorset County Show

The Dorset County Show is a significant event in the Dorset calendar with over 450 trade stands & 6000 animals, plus events such as the Dog and Duck Sheepdog Demo, dog agility demonstrations, sheep shearing, carriage driving, falconry, and a fun fair.

October – have a fangtastic Halloween half-term

There are always plenty of Halloween activities to enjoy in Dorset – many of them especially organized for the school half-term break. Here’s a short list of some of the locations offering suitably spooky Halloween fun and games…

• Abbotsbury Children’s Farm.
  


• Portland Castle 25th and 27th October –
  


• Candle-lit Halloween Ghost Walks at haunted locations in Bridport.
  


• Lyme Regis Ghost Tour
  


• Haunted Harbour Tour and Smuggling Tour in Weymouth.
  

November – visit some of Dorset’s wonderful nature reserves

Dorset is a wonderful country for scenic country walks, woodland walks, nature walks, and bird watching, and we have some wonderful nature reserves for you to visit:

Radipole Lake nature reserve

Alder Hills reserve

The Isle of Portland, and the Portland Bird Observatory

Kingcombe Meadows Nature Reserve

Kilwood Coppice and Meadows

Powerstock Common Reserves

Durlston Country Park and nature reserve

December – get festive at Dorset’s Christmas markets and fairs

Lots to choose from – here are just a few…

• Bournemouth Christmas Market.
  


• Bridport Christmas Festival and Late Night Shopping
  


• Lyme Regis Christmas Market at The Town Mill
  


• Putlake Farm Christmas Market , near Swanage
  


• Sherborne Antique and Fleamarket
  


• Wyke Christmas Fayre, Wyke Regis
  


• Shaftesbury Christmas Market Street Fair
  

We hope this mini-series has given you a small taste of Dorset life. Each month in 2012 we’ll continue to post lots more information about interesting and exciting things to do in Dorset, so please check back regularly for up-to-date suggestions and information.

And please contact us to book accommodation in Dorset and find out more about our eco-friendly self-catering accommodation in Dorset. We look forward to welcoming you here in 2012.

12 things to do in Dorset in 2012: Part 1 January to June

We thought it would be fun to look ahead a little and choose an activity or event for each month of the year for 2012. We can’t possibly do Dorset justice in these short posts, so this is just something to give you an idea of the diverse range of activities that Dorset has to offer throughout the year :-)

So, without further ado, here’s Part 1 of our 12 things to do in Dorset in 2012 – January to June. July to December will follow next week.

January – get your hiking boots on

Walking or rambling in Dorset is just perfect for blowing away those winter cobwebs and keeping fit, and seeing the beautiful Dorset countryside in all its glory.

Beaches, coast paths, fossil cliffs, panoramic views, nature reserves, unspoilt countryside, historic towns, beautiful villages – Dorset has it all and Chesil Beach Lodge is perfectly located as a base for exploring Dorset on foot.

February – catch the ferry from Sandbanks and explore Brownsea Island Nature Reserve

After a break for the winter, the beautiful Brownsea Island Nature Reserve will be open again for weekends in February 2012.

The Reserve has lakes, woodland, lagoons, cliffs and beaches, and it’s a very important habitat for overwintering and summer breeding birds. It’s also one of the few places in southern England where it’s possible to see a thriving red squirrel population.

March – come and see the spectacular spring flower displays at Forde Abbey and Sherborne Castle

4th to 11th March 2012 is Crocus Week at Forde Abbey, an elegant former Cistercian monastery with 30 acres of award winning gardens. Forde Abbey Plant Fair is on Sunday 4th March 2012.

Sherborne Castle has a fabulous display of spring flowers at its Spring Bulbs & Daffodils Weekend on the 17th and 18th March 2012. Stroll around the 42 acres of peaceful and tranquil gardens and enjoy the beautiful spring flowers.

April – don your wellies and do a little fossil hunting

Try and find your very own Jurassic Coast fossil on a Guided Fossil Hunting Walk.

Lyme Regis Fossil Walks - let Brandon Lennon, local Lyme Regis professional fossil collector with 20 years’ experience, and his father Ian, a geologist, take you on a guided tour along part of Lyme Bay’s famous Jurassic Coast.

Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre - runs guided fossil hunting walks as well as countryside and marine discovery activities along the coastline.

May – join in with some unique May Day traditions

Here in Dorset we have an unusual May Day celebration – the ancient ritual of dancing at the site of the Cerne Abbas Giant as dawn breaks. The Cerne Abbas Giant is a 180 foot man carved into chalk rock and is believed to be an ancient fertility symbol with the power to help childless couples to conceive.

We also have the world-famous Dorset Knob Throwing competition. The Dorset Knob is a traditional type of Dorset bread. As well as Knob Throwing, there’s also Knob Eating, Knob Painting, a Knob & Spoon Race, Guess the weight of the Big Knob, and Knob Darts. All in all, a day out with a difference!

June – see hundreds of cygnets hatching at the Abbotsbury Swannery

Abbotsbury Swannery is a natural wildlife habitat located on the Dorset coast near the historical village of Abbotsbury. From the middle of May to late June, visitors are allowed to walk through the swannery and are treated to wonderful close-up views of nesting Mute Swans and hundreds of hatching cygnets. Visitors can also help hand feed hundreds of swans at the mass feeding sessions each day.

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.

15 New Year Resolutions to help you have a green 2012

Sustainable tourism is very important to us at Chesil Beach Lodge and we do our best to make sure our accommodation is as environmentally-friendly as possible.

The arrival of a New Year is a good time to think about what we can do to live as ‘greenly’ as possible, so here are some suggestions for a few green New Year’s resolutions:

• Walk, cycle or use public transport as much as possible instead of using the car


• Buy and use seasonal fruit and vegetables


• Buy more locally sourced products such as bread, dairy products and meat


• Grow some vegetables of your own if you have the space


• Try and buy in bulk where possible, and avoid products that are over-packaged


• Compost more


• Recycle more (products that can be recycled include glass, plastic, clothes, card and tins)


• Stop unwanted junk mail – the Mailing Preference Service has advice on how to do this


• Use environmentally-friendly cleaning products


• Turn the thermostat down on your heating system and wear more clothes to keep warm


• Wear eco-friendly clothes


• Hang your washing out to dry as often as possible rather than put it in the tumble dryer


• Unplug electronic devices when they are not in use and do not leave them on standby


• Change all light bulbs to energy saving bulbs


• Go paperless – pay as many bills as possible online.

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?

What’s on in Dorset: January

Hello, and welcome to our first post for 2012!

We hope you had a peaceful and happy time over Christmas, and we wish you all a wonderful and happy 2012. Here at Chesil Beach Lodge we’re very much looking forward to making new friends and welcoming back old friends in the coming year.

But first things first, here’s our pick of some of the activities and events in Dorset this month…

5th to 7th January – The Secret Garden at the Dorchester Corn Exchange, Dorchester. “To mark the centenary of Frances Hodgson Burnett’s endearing classic, Angel Exit unearth the dark heart of The Secret Garden, which sees Mary Lennox plucked from the bright vibrancy of India and transplanted to a big old house full of secrets on the grey Yorkshire moors.” Suitable for ages 6+. Co-produced by Dorchester Arts and Bridport Arts Centre, and commissioned by Activate and the Lighthouse, Poole.

7th to 8th January – Raptor Weekend at the RSPB’s Arne Nature Reserve. “10am-4pm. Price: Free. Just turn up! We'll have guides in hides and at special viewing stations looking out for all birds of prey. In winter Arne hosts kestrel, buzzard, sparrowhawk, peregrine falcon, merlin and short eared owls, but the real focus will be the majestic marsh harriers and hen harriers.”

11th January DNHAS Geology Lecture Series: Fossils Economics: Past, Present and Future at the Dorset County Museum. Richard Edmonds, Earth Science Manager with Dorset County Council's Jurassic Coast Team, considers 'fossil economics' and tries to calculate what fossil collecting is worth to the economy of the UNESCO Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site. Doors open at 6:30pm with the lecture starting at 7pm. Free Entry- a £3 donation is encouraged.

11th January Sherborne Flicks: "My Afternoon with Margeuritte" at the Church Hall, Digby Road, Sherborne, 7.30pm. Starring Gerard Depardieu. In French with English subtitles. Tickets £5 - available from Sherborne TIC or on the door.

15th January - Wassailing in Bridport Community Orchard. Come and join in the singing and dancing, with hot cider and apple juice around the fire. Song sheets are provided. Please bring torches/lanterns and small musical instruments to drive the bad spirits away. Starts at 3pm.

19th January - The Phoenix and the Carpet at the Bridport Arts Centre. “Join four children on their adventures as they are whisked around the world on their new magical carpet, with the help of a mysterious and fiery phoenix! This magical production, brought to you by the company behind the enormously popular Wolves of Willoughby Chase, features beautiful live music, incredible puppets and a wonderful winter atmosphere.” Everyone is welcome, but the story is recommended as being suitable for children aged 5+. The performance starts at 7.30 pm.

21st January - Book Fair at Church Hall, Digby Road, Sherborne, 9.30am - 4pm. Free admission. Telephone 01803 613356 for more information, or email colinbakerbooks@btinternet.com.23rd January - Enchanted Island: a Met Opera performance on screen at the Electric Palace Bridport. “In one extraordinary new work, lovers of Baroque opera have it all: the world’s best singers, glorious music of the Baroque masters, and a story drawn from Shakespeare. In The Enchanted Island, the lovers from Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream are shipwrecked on his other-worldly island of The Tempest. Inspired by the musical pastiches and masques of the 18th century, the work showcases arias and ensembles by Handel, Vivaldi, Rameau, and others, and a new libretto devised and written by Jeremy Sams.” Doors open 5.30pm, show starts at 6.00pm.

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 January for any of these events or activities, don’t forget to book eco-friendly accommodation in Dorset as soon as possible.

We have a special offer of three nights for the price of two (Sunday to Thursday inclusive) during January, and we look forward to welcoming you here for your New Year break.