Horse riding in Dorset

There are approximately 1700 bridleways in Dorset, and exploring Dorset’s beautiful countryside on horseback is a perfect way to enjoy the wonderful views and the peace and beauty of country lanes and countryside, wildflowers and wildlife, woodland and sandy beaches.

The Dorset For You website has useful information about Dorset’s trailways that have access for horses and riders, including:

The Castleman Trailway in East Dorset – approximately 29 kilometres of trailway taking you past important heathland, through forestry plantations and across rivers

The North Dorset Trailway – a gentle route along the route of the old Dorset and Somerset railway line that takes you through beautiful countryside and some of North Dorset’s lovely villages and towns

The Wessex Ridgeway - a ridge-top route with stunning views that crosses rural Dorset; starting at Tollard Royal and taking in chalk downs, hill forts, pretty villages and rolling farmland before ending at the seaside town of Lyme Regis

The Studland Riding Stables offers a wonderful variety of beach, forest, heath and coastal ridge riding experiences, and you can find details of other stables offering horse riding in West Dorset here.

Chesil Beach Lodge on the Jurassic Coast is ideally located as a base for exploring Dorset – whatever your means of transport J We offer you a very warm welcome and fantastic eco-friendly accommodation with amazing sea views, and with our local knowledge we can help you plan perfect days out for all the family. Please contact us and find out more about our eco-friendly self-catering accommodation in Dorset.

What’s on in Dorset: June

Welcome to the second of our posts covering some of the great events and attractions in Dorset this month. We hope you enjoyed the Jubilee weekend celebrations and, if you have children, that you all enjoyed the half term break.

16th June Siege of Lyme Thanksgiving Day, Lyme Regis. Join the re-enactment of the relief of the siege of Lyme in 1644. Join a parade through the town at 11am with the Taunton Garrison and townspeople as they relive one of Lyme’s proudest moments. Marching, drills, theatre and dance throughout the day at the Marine Parade Shelters.

16th June - Dorchester Carnival. Lots of fun for all with colourful stalls and live music all day, with the procession at 6pm and Soulside performing at 7pm.

22nd June - Who Saw Marjory Daw? at The Abbey House, Abbotsbury. A hilarious new summer play from The Rude Mechanical Theatre Company. Who Saw Marjory Daw is a "comic mystery" set in 1960s hippy London against a background of power politics, a dubious North African revolution and the Viet Nam war. Outdoor Theatre 7.30pm. Box Office 01323 501260.

23rd June to 1st July, the 17th annual Beaminster Festival – a festival of music and the arts. Festivities again take off with the popular Dancing in the Square on Saturday 23 June, to which everyone is invited, and continues with a programme of music, literary talks, open air theatre, exhibitions. and ends with The President’s Concert featuring the brilliant Academy of St. Martin in the Fields.

 23rd and 24th June, Axe Vale Gardening and Crafts Festival at The Showground, Axminster from 10am to 6 pm on Saturday 23rd and from 9.30 am to 5.30pm on Sunday 24th: floral marquee, horticultural show, live bands, crafts, and much more.

24th June, Coast to Coast Motorcycle Run: starts at 10am, Marine Parade, Lyme Regis. Westland Classic Motor Club's 23rd Annual Coast to Coast Run from Lyme Regis to Weston Super Mare.

27th June, Cold Comfort Farm performed by Bristol Old Vic Theatre Company at Digby Hall, Sherborne, 7.30pm. Tickets are available from Sherborne TIC. Telephone 01935 815341 for more information.

30th June, The Great Dorset Nettle Eating Competition, The George Inn, Chideock, between Lyme Regis and West Bay. Competitors have an hour to eat as many feet of stinging nettle stalks as possible – the winner is the person who has eaten the most! There will also be live music from The Mighty Bills, wood fired pizza and a host of other activities from midday right through till 11pm.

As always, Dorset will be packed full of exciting events and activities this summer so keep checking our blog for our regular updates on local events and activities, and don’t forget to book your family-friendly holiday in Dorset as soon as possible. We look forward to welcoming you and your family here.

Eco-friendly Father’s Day

Father’s Day is fast approaching so this week we thought we would give you a few suggestions for having an eco-friendly / green Father’s day with ideas for gifts and days out that won’t cost the earth.

How about an organic shaving cream from Dorset Health Shop, or a selection of natural skin care products such as aftershave cream, deodorant and shower gel from Anousta of Wimborne?

Buy organic or locally brewed beer or cider, such as those sold by Dorset Wine.
Children could surprise dad with a cup of tea and a slice of delicious Dorset Apple Cake, or a scone and a dollop of Dorset clotted cream, all available from Jaxsons of Bridport.

Or how about spending some quality time together on a walk in the countryside with a picnic packed full of delicious local produce such as cheeses, meats, relishes, chutneys and biscuits?

Membership of a local conservation membership is a long-lasting gift that really helps the environment. Membership benefits of Dorset Wildlife Trust includes three issues each year of the Dorset Wildlife newsletter, Natural World the national magazine of The Wildlife Trusts, plus three 3 issues of their events guide - packed with details of forthcoming events such as walks, talks, Wildlife Watch activities and volunteer work parties.

And last, but certainly not least, treat the dad in your life to a green holiday or short break. Here at Chesil Beach Lodge we’re committed to providing sustainable holiday accommodation and, as well as reducing waste and recycling, we serve locally-sourced produce, use environmentally-friendly cleaning products, and use open fires and wood burners to supplement heating where possible.

For more information, or to book one of our self-catering apartments or bed and breakfast accommodation in Dorset, please contact us.

What’s on in Dorset: June

Welcome to the first of June’s posts on the Chesil Beach blog. We’ve been enjoying some really beautifully sunny days here in Dorset recently, and we hope you have too.

Are you looking forward to the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations? Later in this post we’ll be telling you about some of our wonderful local celebrations for this coming weekend, as well as some of the many other events and activities in Dorset in June. It’s a busy month this month so we’ll be posting our selections for the first half of June today, including activities suitable for keeping children busy and happy over half term, and then posting our suggestions for the second half of June next week. Later in the month we’ll be posting some suggestions for a green Father’s Day, plus some suggestions for exploring Dorset on horseback.

But first, here’s the first instalment of our suggestions for things to do in Dorset in June.

1st to 5th June - Dorchester Festival: “five amazing days of international music, street theatre, film, comedy and outdoor performances.” Activities and events include West African music, Griot storytelling workshop,Insect Circus Museum, African Dance workshop and a Create a Gigantasaurus Parade.

And on Tuesday the 5th June, Dorchester Festival joins forces with Dorchester Town Council to host a day of iconic music from the six decades of Queen Elizabeth’s reign, from the fifties to the noughties, with sounds and images of key international, national and local events that have taken place during the Queen's reign.

2nd to 5th June - Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Celebrations in Lyme Regis. Lyme Regis is celebrating in style with four days of celebrations which will include a civic parade, theatre shows, street parties, sporting events and a Jubilee Sunday lunch. See their Jubilee website for more details.

4th June - Queen’s Jubilee Special Country Fair at Sherborne Castle. Lots of activities for all the family, including a Local Food Hall, Dragon Boat racing, Big Top, Fair, rare breeds, sheep shearing, working horses, terrier racing and agility dog show. 10am to 6pm.

6th June – join the Dorset Wildlife Trust for a rockpool ramble at the best rockpooling site in Dorset. Short walk involved. Weather dependent. Meet at the WW2 Pillbox, Kimmeridge Bay (Map ref. SY 907792). Fee £1.50 children/ £3.00 adults. For more information contact 01929 481044.

7th and 8th June – children 8 years and over can learn and improve their climbing skills on the indoor climbing wall at Purbeck Sports Centre, Wareham. The 25ft wall comprises of 6 different climbs suitable for all ages and abilities.  1.30pm to 3.30pm, £7.90 (includes all equipment). Contact 01929 50 00 00 for more information.

8th June– a family event celebrating World Oceans Day with Dorset Wildlife Trust. Celebrate World Oceans Day and learn about responsible fishing and seafood preparation with a local fisherman. This is a free event on Poole Quay (11am to 3pm) with lots of activities for children, and seafood available to buy.

9th to 10th June - West Dorset Vintage Rally, Britt Valley Camping Ground, West Bay, from 9am to 5pm. Displays include vintage vehicle parades, ring displays, steam engines, market stalls and more. Bar and refreshments available.

9th to 16th June Dorset Wildflower Week – lots of guided walks and activities to help you identify and enjoy Dorset’s beautiful wild flowers in beautiful scenery.

10th to 17th June Bridport Food Festival – lots to choose from in this week-long event, including a seafood festival, a tour of Palmers Brewery, an Indian cookery master class, and Bridport Beer Festival.

A warm welcome and a sustainable holiday in the beautiful county of Dorset awaits you this summer, so please contact us and find out more about our self-catering accommodation in Dorset.