Halloween half-term fun

Half-term is fast approaching and that means Halloween will soon be here too. Here are a few suggestions for spooky Halloween fun in Dorset :-) Next month we’ll have more suggestions for activities for half-term.
Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens Halloween Fun at The Enchanted Floodlit Garden with free face painting (scary faces) and a prize for children in fancy dress. 26th to 31st October 5.00pm to 8.30pm.

Abbotsbury Children’s Farm Halloween half term fun for the little ones at Abbotsbury Children's Farm with face painting, fancy dress and a whole lot of spookiness. 27th October to 4th November.

Corfe Castle Explore the spooktacular castle this Halloween (if you dare!) Find the ghosts and pumpkins on the family trail and enjoy the other hair-raising activities on offer. 27th October to 4th November.

Nothe Fort, Weymouth. Bedlam and Broomsticks: Calling all budding wizards and scary witches to dress up and come and join the fun at the Nothe Fort. “Will your courage, blood curdling screams and nerves hold out? You will need to be there to find out”. Witch ‘Wanda Weatherwax’ will be guiding anyone who dares to travel along the Haunted Tunnel Walk, and will regale you with tales of ghostly goings on. If you should meet The Undertaker, Wanda will do her best to protect you from his spooky clutches! Wednesday 24th October, from 10.30am to 4.30pm.

Portland Castle is the place to go for spooky Halloween tales and fun activities over Halloween weekend. There will be Halloween games, with devilish prizes to be won; terrifying tales of times gone by, and spooky crafts. You also get to explore all the spooky nooks and crannies of the Castle (but be careful to keep a look out for the ghostly figures that might be lurking around corners!). 27th & 28th October 10am to 4pm.

If you’re visiting Dorset this autumn and you’re looking for local accommodation for these and many more half-term activities, Chesil Beach Lodge is perfectly located and equipped for a wonderful family holiday. Please contact us to book bed and breakfast and self-catering accommodation in Dorset for half-term.

A special Christmas in Dorset

Christmas in Dorset is a magical time and all the more special when you include a trip or two to a wonderful theatre show or pantomime. It’s important to book your tickets early so this week we thought we’d look ahead to just a few of the events you can look forward to in December.

8th December 2012 to 6th January 2013, Sleeping Beauty at Bournemouth Pavilion. A top cast in a traditional story; guaranteed to be lots of fun for all the family.

12th December Potted Panto at Bridport Arts Centre: eight classic pantomimes in eighty minutes by just two actors. “In a madcap ride through the biggest stories and best-loved characters from panto, our cast dash from rubbing Aladdin’s lamp to roaming the golden streets of Dick Whittington’s London. It’s unmissable fun, whether you’re six or 106.”

14th December Tango Siempre: Tangomotion at Bridport Arts Centre. Tangomotion features the UK’s leading tango dancers and musicians. “From virtuoso displays of traditional tango dance in stunning costumes to the exquisite tango music of 1930′s Buenos Aires and the powerful nuevo tango of Astor Piazzolla, Tangomotion is a breathtaking journey into the heart of Tango Argentino.

19th and 20th December A Christmas Carol presented by Ballet Theatre UK at Dorchester Arts. “Join Ballet Theatre UK on a magical journey to the dark and twisting streets of Dickensian London. With a cavalcade of colourful characters, including Mr Bob Cratchit, Jacob Marley, Tiny Tim and the comical Mr Fezziwig, A Christmas Carol is the perfect way to get you into the Christmas spirit. Filled with joy, laughter and heartbreaking moments Ballet Theatre UK’s new production combines traditional ballet with captivating theatre performed to a glorious classical score.”

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.

Beachwatch Big Weekend

Chesil Beach Lodge is in a wonderful location on the Dorset coast, and we’re so lucky to have a wealth of amazing beaches close by. An unfortunate fact of beach life everywhere is increasing amounts of man-made litter; meaning that our beaches need a helping hand to remain litter-free, beautiful, and safe for animals and people. From the 14th to 17th September the Marine Conservation Society is encouraging all beach lovers to help clean up beaches along the UK coastline.

During the Beachwatch Big Weekend, thousands of volunteers will be collecting and recording the rubbish they find on UK beaches as part of the International Coastal Clean-up which takes place in 80 countries worldwide. The data collected helps the Marine Conservation Society shape future beach litter campaigns and keep the issues on the Government’s agenda.

In Dorset, volunteers are needed in various locations including: Hengitsbury Head, Friars Cliff Beach, Newton’s Cove and Chesil Cove. Please see the Beachwatch Big Weekend website for more details, and see if you can join in and help keep our beautiful beaches free of litter.

Environmental issues, including sustainable tourism, are very important to us at Chesil Beach Lodge and we offer visitors a warm welcome and a sustainable holiday in the beautiful county of Dorset. Please contact us and find out more about our eco-friendly self-catering accommodation in Dorset.