Chesil Beach Lodge - Self catering and bed & breakfast accomodation in Dorset

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

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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

2012-01-17T09:10:00.000Z

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

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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

2012-01-03T09:07:00.000Z

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.

Welcome in the New Year in Dorset!

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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?

2011-12-11T11:09:00.001Z

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

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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

2011-12-06T11:04:00.000Z

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.

Shopping for a Green Christmas in Dorset

2011-11-23T09:30:00.000Z

With Christmas fast approaching, this week we thought we would give you a few of our suggestions for a greener Christmas.

Buy locally grown produce and visit local shops and farmers’ markets for your Christmas food and provisions.

Buy locally brewed beer or organic wine:

The Furleigh Estate in Dorset produces wines with wonderfully evocative names such as Sea Pink Rosé and Tyrannosaurus Red.

If cider is more to your taste; how about a bottle of Dorset Nectar Cider?

Reuse last year’s wrapping paper, or use colourful pages from magazines, or even fabric pieces.

Make your own Christmas cards, and use last year’s cards for labels.

Make your own Christmas decorations. Decorate your house with twigs, cuttings from the garden, ivy, fresh holly, nuts and dried fruit. Make garlands from pine cones, and dried oranges, lemons and limes.

Choose gifts that are organic, Fairtrade, handmade or second hand:

Organic food in Dorset

The Dorset Coffee Company – part of the Fairtrade network.

The Purbeck Chocolate Company – award-winning, luxury, fresh handmade chocolates

Handmade traditional Windsor Chairs from Fivepenny Chairs

Handmade dolls from Dorset

Bespoke knitwear, handmade in Dorset

Buy antique jewellery, ornaments or furniture from a local auction.

Buy gifts from local artists. Try the Dorset Art and Craft Show, at the Corn Exchange, Dorchester, on Saturday 10th December.

Make Christmas gifts in your kitchen, for example: cakes, biscuits, chutneys, and chocolates; or put together a hamper of local produce.

Buy your Christmas tree in a pot and then plant it outside when you have finished with it, or recycle it at your local recycling facility.

Shop from your favourite charity, for example:

UNICEF

World Wildlife Fund

Dorset Wildlife Trust shop

Chesil Beach Lodge provides a range of beautiful and sustainable holiday accommodation in Dorset. We look forward to welcoming you and your family and friends for a happy and green Christmas holiday. Please contact us to book accommodation for Christmas in Dorset.

Durlston Country Park and Nature Reserve

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On the 18th November, after many months of restoration and transformation, Durlston Castle near Swanage opened to the public. Inside the newly restored castle is a new visitor centre with interactive geology, history and wildlife displays; and the Fine Foundation Gallery, with its regularly renewed art and craft displays. Durlston Castle will be open every day (except Christmas Day) and entry is free.

The castle is set in Durlston Country Park: 280 acres of spectacular Dorset countryside with fantastic walking trails taking in cliffs and sea views, limestone downland and woodland. The area is a Site of Special Scientific Interest, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and a National Nature Reserve. The Durlston website details the amazing diversity of wildlife at Durlston Nature Reserve, including: 33 species of breeding butterfly, over 250 species of birds recorded, 500 wildflowers, 500 moths and thousands of other invertebrates.

Inside the Castle, is the Seventh Wave cafe & restaurant providing a delicious menu, made with lots of local produce. You can choose from early morning coffee and cake, lunchtime specials and snacks, and delicious evening meals in the restaurant in the evenings. The café and restaurant is open every day from 10.00 to 4.30, and on Wednesday to Saturday evenings from 6.00pm to 9.00pm during the winter.

You can follow updates from Durlston Country Park on their Facebook page

Please contact us for more details, or to book Dorset accommodation.

Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness

2011-11-08T09:30:00.001Z

Autumn is a wonderful time of year to visit Dorset. The hedgerows and trees are laden with berries and nuts, providing a feast for both animals and people. And Dorset’s broadleaved woods provide plenty of fabulous autumn colour – perfect for woodland walks.

Autumn also heralds the arrival of winter migrant birds. Large flocks of Brent geese can be found in Christchurch Harbour, Poole Harbour, and on The Fleet Lagoon near Chesil Beach. The Radipole Lake nature reserve is right in the middle of Weymouth, and is a perfect place to see kingfishers and bearded tits, and wading birds such as dunlins, snipe, redshanks and lapwings. You can also see visiting winter birds at the Alder Hills reserve.

The Isle of Portland, and the Portland Bird Observatory, is a wonderful location for walking and enjoying not only the amazing scenery, but also a wide range of birds and other wildlife.

If you fancy a little fungi hunting, here are some of the best places to see the amazing variety of these fascinating and beautiful, and often weird and wonderful, organisms:

Kingcombe Meadows Nature Reserve

Kilwood Coppice and Meadows

Powerstock Common Reserves

To see just how amazing Dorset is in the autumn, have a browse through some of the stunning photos in the Dorset Autumn Weather gallery from the BBC.

And see our previous post for suggestions for woodland walks and some of the best places to see autumn colour in Dorset.

If you’d like to do a little nature watching from the comfort of your home, the Dorset Wildlife Trust’s Autumnwatch 2011 website has webcams and links to lots of wildlife videos, including barn owls, otters, bats, red squirrels, and the seahorses of Studland Bay.

Chesil Beach Lodge is set in a fantastic location on Dorset’s Jurassic Coast. We offer a choice of eco-friendly accommodation in Dorset: right next to the South West Coast Path, and perfectly located for exploring the many beautiful areas of Dorset countryside, where you can enjoy everything that Dorset’s wildlife and countryside has to offer.

Please contact us for more details, or to book eco-friendly accommodation.

What’s on in Dorset: November

2011-11-01T09:30:00.001Z

Well, here we are into November already, with its darker evenings, autumnal colours and a definite nip in the air. We hope you had a good October.

As usual for the beginning of the month, this week we have an update for you on events in Dorset in November.

Of course we couldn’t write about events for November without including Bonfire Night, so here’s a small selection of the many bonfire and firework displays in Dorset on the 5th November:

Firework Night on the Cobb at Lyme Regis: with a bonfire on the beach and fireworks over the Cobb. Fireworks from 6.30pm, and bonfire from 6.45pm.

'Firework Extravaganza' in the magnificent setting of Sherborne Castle. with live music, and food and refreshments. Gates open at 5pm, the bonfire is at 7pm, and fireworks from 7.30pm. See EventsCrew.com for ticket details.

Christchurch Community Bonfire and Fireworks Spectacular, at Stanpit Recreation Ground. Gates open at 5pm. Bonfire from 6.15pm and Fireworks from 7.45pm. There will also be a wide range of stalls offering food and entertainment. Tickets £5 per adult, and £2 per child

8th November – the Marine Theatre at Lyme Regis presents a “powerful, dynamic and colourful” performance of Flamenco dancing from Noelia Sabarea. You’re guaranteed a vibrant evening of pounding footwork, dramatic guitar, and singing.

24th to 26th November: The Canterbury Tales, at the Corfe Castle Village Hall. “A colourful recreation of five of Chaucer’s famous bawdy and robust tales, and a hilarious romp, in the authentic atmosphere of the medieval period, in the true spirit of the original, with all its vibrancy and hearty comedy.” 7.30pm on the 24th, 25th and 26th November, plus a matinee performance at 2.30pm on the 26th November. Tickets are available from the Corfe Castle Post Office in November, or from the Box Office on 01929 480323: adults £7, Children £5, OAPs £6 on Thursday the 24th only.

12th November - Handel's 'Messiah performed by Weymouth Choral Society, at Holy Trinity Church, Weymouth. Tickets are £10 (free for under 16’s) and are available from Weymouth TIC, Dorchester TIC, on the door, or telephone: 01305 775644 or e-mail: weymouthchoral@btinternet.com.

Also on the 12th November, a totally different kettle of fish: The Wurzels, at the Electric Palace, Bridport.

On the 25th November, you can choose between Stephen Jeffery's entertaining and wonderfully inventive adaptation of Charles Dickens' evocative saga, Hard Times, at the Marine Theatre, Lyme Regis; or madcap comedian and impressionist Freddie Starr’s show at the Electric Place, Bridport.

Scottish folk singer Dick Gaughan is appearing at the Dorchester Arts Centre on the 26th November. Dick Gaughan has been hailed as “one of the biggest protest singers of his generation, with a career spanning over four decades. His songs have been recorded by Billy Bragg and Mary Black and Capercaillie; and John Peel described him as “one of the five or six great voices of our time”.

We hope this gives you a small taste of the many interesting and entertaining events coming up in November. As you can see, it’s certainly a month of variety and contrast: there’s always something for everyone here in Dorset, not matter what the time of year. To book accommodation in Dorset for your autumn break, please contact us.

We’re also taking bookings for self-catering accommodation for Christmas. Please contact us to discuss your requirements, or to book one of our cosy and luxurious apartments with panoramic sea and coastal views, and everything you need for delightful holiday.

Enid Blyton in Dorset

2011-10-24T09:27:00.000+01:00

Enid Blyton’s children’s books might not be the most politically correct in the world, but it’s unlikely that those of us who read them were really affected in any negative way J On the contrary, many people remember fondly her stories of elves and pixies, The Secret Seven, and the Famous Five’s summer holiday adventures in the countryside.

Many of Enid Blyton’s stories are set in Dorset and she spent many holidays here, frequently staying at Purbeck. With her husband, she purchased a farm at Sturminster Newton (which features in the story Five on Finniston Farm) plus the old Isle of Purbeck Golf Club (which features in Five Have a Mystery to Solve). Whispering Islandis said to be inspired by Brownsea Island, and Enid Blyton’s Kirren Castle is widely acknowledged to be inspired by Dorset’s Corfe Castle.

Take a walk in the Dorset countryside, or a ride on a steam train, or cycle down one of Dorset’s leafy lanes and through its quaint villages, and it’s not hard imagine you’re in an Enid Blyton story in search of lost treasure, or hot on the trail of top-secret papers

Whether you’re looking for adventures, a romantic getaway, a reviving break by the sea, a birthday surprise or anniversary treat, a base for a walking holiday, or family-friendly accommodation; Chesil Beach Lodge really is a perfect place to stay. Please visit our website to find out more about our eco-friendly bed and breakfast and self-catering accommodation in Dorset.

And don’t forget we’re open all year round, so to book self-catering accommodation in Dorset for Christmas, please contact us: a warm welcome, sea views and a luxurious cosy apartment awaits you.

West Dorset: things to do in the evenings

2011-10-17T09:25:00.000+01:00

Chesil Beach Lodge isn’t only perfect as a base for a wide variety of interesting and inspiring day-time activities; there’s a lot going on in the evenings too. Our local area has a wonderful array of restaurants, bars, theatres, cinemas and seasonal activities to choose from, and here’s our pick of just a few:

The Electric Palace in Bridport: always a full programme of theatre, live music, comedy and cinema.

The Marine Theatre in Lyme Regis: a traditional seaside theatre offering a great range of events including live music, local and professional drama, and musical productions.

Riverside Restaurant, Bridport: views of the river, countryside and beyond to the sea; with a menu offering the freshest and best fish and shellfish from local waters and the surrounding area.

The Three Horseshoes, Burton Bradstock: homemade food with locally sourced ingredients, plus a wide range of Palmer’s real ales, lagers, ciders and wines.

Regent Cinema, Broad Street, Lyme Regis.

Plaza Cinema, Dorchester.

Bowling at Lakeside Superbowl, Weymouth.

Discover gruesome and grisly goings-on on a Ghost Walk around Bridport, or on the Lyme Regis Ghost Tour, and the Haunted Harbour Tour and Smuggling Tour in Weymouth.

On a more festive note (and we apologize for mentioning Christmas already!) for those of you planning a stay in December, there are Christmas festivals and late-night shopping in Bridport, and Dorchester.

Now that we’ve brought up the subject of Christmas, we’d like to remind you that we’re open all year round so please contact us to book accommodation in Dorset for Christmas. Our self-catering apartments are perfect for a cosy, fun-filled Christmas, and Dorset is a wonderful place to spend Christmas with your family and friends.

Dorset’s topography: something for everyone

2011-10-10T09:24:00.000+01:00

Many people visit Dorset for its beautiful countryside and scenery, and we’re certainly blessed to have both countryside and coastline on our doorstep.

It’s no surprise that so many artists and authors have found such inspiration in Dorset and its people; and the wonderful variety of landscapes, and heritage and wildlife locations, means there’s always something different to see and always plenty of adventures and activities to choose from.

Dorset has approximately 140 kilometres of coastline offering a great choice of sandy beaches, plus of course the wonderfully unspoilt and pebbled expanse of Chesil Bank; as well as spectacular cliffs, the South West Coast Path, and many opportunities for aquatic sports and activities.

Over 40% of Dorset’s countryside has been formally designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, meaning that great lengths are gone to to preserve and enhance the natural beauty of the different areas. Locations and landscapes covered by the designation include:

Woods and coppices such as Bracketts Coppice, Little Giant Wood, Girdlers Coppice and Piddles Wood.

Kingcombe Meadows

Muckleford Chalk Pit

Powerstock Common Reserves

Lodmoor Nature Reserve

Hartland Moor

Cranborne Chase

Poole Harbour

Brownsea Island

Lulworth Cove

Lulworth Castle, Maiden Castle, the Cerne Giant, Forde Abbey, and the Kingston Russell Stones

If you’re considering visiting any of these wonderful landscapes this autumn, please contact us to book sustainable accommodation in Dorset. We know the local area well, and we are always happy to help you plan excursions and activities.

What’s on in Dorset: October

2011-10-03T09:21:00.000+01:00

So, what happened to Autumn? J This mini ‘heatwave’ is a little out of character for September and October, but for many people in Dorset it’s a very welcome bonus at the end of the summer, and a perfect opportunity to get out and about and enjoy the warm sun and blue skies.

As always at the beginning of the month, we’re sharing a few of our suggestions for recommended activities and events in Dorset in October.

5th October – a performance by BBC award winning fiddle player and singer Tom McConville, and unique acoustic guitarist David Newey, at the Marine Theatre, Lyme Regis.

7th to 9th October -Traditional Tunisian Souk Market, Saxon Square, Christchurch.10am to 5pm (with belly dancing on Saturday, between 2.30pm and 3pm). Enjoy a North African shopping experience and visit stalls selling unusual and interesting items such as Tunisian hand-made pots, carpets, ceramics, leather goods, glass, wicker baskets, spices and herbs and traditional and authentic foods.

7th to 9th October – Swanage Blues and Roots Festival. Free Admission to 50 gigs in 20 indoor venues. Open Mic daily, Electric Jam Sessions and Buskers.

8th October - Apple Day, Community Orchard, Bridport. Apple Day is a national celebration of orchards and apples and to celebrate the day Community Orchard will be the setting for apple games and activities for children, apple products to buy, a cake stall, cider and apple juice to taste and buy, as well as rural craft demonstrations, music, dancing and singing.

10th October - National Theatre Live - The Kitchen, The Electric Palace, Bridport. “Arnold Wesker’s extraordinary play premiered at the Royal Court in 1959 and has since been performed in over 30 countries. The Kitchen puts the workplace centre stage in a blackly funny and furious examination of life lived at breakneck speed, when work threatens to define who we are.”

15th to 16th October - Eat Dorset Food Fair, Parnham House, Beaminster. More than 50 local producers from Dorset and the surrounding counties gathered together to promote and sell a wonderfully diverse and highly regarded range of produce. Children’s activities include breadmaking, chocolate making and cake decorating.

16th and 30th October – Mountain Biking in Dorset. Organized by The Cumulus Crew: experienced mountain bikers with a wealth of technical knowledge as well as biking skills. Cycle and enjoy the countryside, or let the Crew put you through your paces and explore unusual tracks and trial various bike skills on tricky terrain.

20th to 23rd October - Sherborne International Film Festival. “Non English-speaking films are often overlooked and yet there are exceptional film directors and actors who transcend the accepted conventions of the English-speaking world and who can bring us fresh insights and startling discoveries that will enrich our senses.” The Sherborne International Film Festival brings some of these films into our midst: “to entertain, to inform and perhaps to astonish us!”

22nd to 30th October – Halloween Half Term Fun at Abbotsbury Children’s Farm.

22nd to 30th October - Spooky Stories at Portland Castle. Enjoy spooky Halloween tales and fun activities at Portland Castle during half-term week. “With 'fangtastic' Halloween games and devilish prizes to be won!”

25th and 27th October - Halloween Ghost Walks, Bridport. Candle lit walks on Bridport’s streets visiting spooky haunted locations. Walks start from Bucky Doo Square, South Street t 7.30pm. Adults £5; children (over 8 years old only) £2.50.

As always, the activities and events above are just a small sample from the many that Dorset has to offer. If you plan to visit Dorset for an autumn break, don’t forget to book accommodation in Dorset as soon as possible. You can be sure of a warm friendly welcome, excellent service, and superb accommodation with amazing views. We look forward to hearing from you.

Half-term activity ideas in Dorset

2011-09-26T10:52:00.000+01:00

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

2011-09-19T10:50:00.000+01:00

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

2011-09-12T10:49:00.000+01:00

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

2011-09-05T10:47:00.001+01:00

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.

Visit Dorset for Autumn Colour

2011-08-26T11:13:00.000+01:00

Not wanting to wish away the summer, but looking ahead a little to autumn in case you want to plan your autumn break, this week we thought we’d share a few of the best places to see autumn colour in Dorset.

Lakeside Gardens, Sherborne Castle – “one of the finest examples of Capability Brown you will see.”

Minterne House, an English Heritage Garden with sensational autumn colours, open until 9th November, and open every day from 10am to 6pm.

And here are some areas of broadleaved woodland that can be relied on to produce wonderful displays of glorious autumn colour:

Thorncombe Wood and Duddle Heath near Dorchester

Fifehead Wood near Shaftebury

Powerstock Common Reserves

Duncliffe Wood west of Shaftesbury

Lewesdon Hill, the highest point in Dorset

Why not book ahead and book an autumn break for you and your family or friends in one of our stunning eco-friendly self-catering apartments? There’s nothing quite like an autumn stroll or hike through all the beauty of autumnal colour to inspire and invigorate. And at the end of your walk you’ll love returning to your warm and inviting apartment at Chesil Beach Lodge, and settling down with a hot drink or glass of wine to enjoy the panoramic views over Lyme Bay from your apartment windows.

We offer a warm welcome and a sustainable holiday in the beautiful county of Dorset, so please contact us and find out more about our eco-friendly self-catering accommodation in Dorset.

The Dorset Pliosaur

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The giant jaws of a new species of pliosaur, one of the largest sea predators ever unearthed, are on display at the Dorset County Museum.

The pliosaur bones are around 155 million years old and were originally discovered by amateur collector Kevan Sheehan when they appeared after a landslide on the Jurassic Coast at Weymouth Bay. The skull is a massive 2.4 metres long and is thought to belong to a creature up to 18 metres long.

The fossil was unveiled on the 8th July by Sir David Attenborough and will be on permanent display for locals and visitors.

Chesil Beach Lodge is situated right on the Jurassic Coast: a World Heritage Site consisting of 95 miles of amazing coastline stretching from East Devon to Dorset, with rocks spanning the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous periods.

You can find detailed and fascinating information and resources about all the different areas on the Jurassic Coast on the Jurassic Coast website.

If you fancy having a go at finding your very own fossil, you can take part in guided fossil walks from Lyme Regis.

Our self-catering accommodation on Dorset’s Jurassic Coast is the perfect base for exploring all that this amazing area has to offer. Please contact us to book accommodation, or to find out more.

Beach holidays in West Dorset

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For three weeks this coming autumn, London’s Euston Road will echo with the sound of the waves breaking on Chesil Beach. The sound of the sea will be relayed live, and it’s hoped that it will turn one of Europe's nosiest and most polluted roads into a live seascape with breaking waves and crunching pebbles competing with the sound of buses, lorries, taxis and commuters. The project starts on 22nd September, so if you’re on Euston road at any time during those three weeks, listen out for the evocative sounds of Chesil Beach.

Here at Chesil Beach Lodge, we’re so lucky that we have only a short walk to reach Chesil Beach, and our visitors are able to enjoy the real thing. If you and your family and friends enjoy beach holidays, there are lots of wonderful beaches to choose from in West Dorset, including:

West Bay – a safe, wide sandy beach with plenty of facilities including pubs, restaurants and shops.

Bowleaze Cove – two miles west of Weymouth, a pebbly, safe family beach, easily reached from the South West Coast Path and by bus from Weymouth. Facilities include café, shop, pub, toilets and an amusement arcade.

Hive Beach – a long, clean sandy beach east of Burton Bradstock. The sea here is clean for swimming, but visitors need to be aware of strong tides and currents. Facilities include the Hive Café on the beach, and toilets.

Lyme Regis – the old town of Lyme Regis is full of character and The Cobb is famous for appearing in The French Lieutenant’s Woman starring Meryl Streep. The beach is flat and sandy, and is popular with families.

Church Ope Cove on Portland – a pebbly very sheltered beach, overlooked by Rufus Castle. The cove itself is safe for swimming, diving and snorkelling. (Steps to the beach make access difficult for families with pushchairs.)

Weymouth – a safe and clean beach with shallow waters, lots of facilities including Punch and Judy, sand sculpting and a helter skelter, and a backdrop of fine Georgian houses. The beach hosts several major events including the International Beach Kite Festival and International Volleyball.

And, last but certainly not least, the wild unspoilt beauty of Chesil Beach: a shingle ridge stretching 17 miles from Portland to West Bay, and separated from the mainland for much of its length by a shallow area of salt water called the Fleet Lagoon.

We hope that’s given you an idea of the variety of beaches in West Dorset. There’s something to suit everyone - whether you’re looking for traditional and family-friendly with lots of facilities; sheltered and quiet, or wild and remote.

At Chesil Beach Lodge we have delightful self-catering family-friendly accommodation that’s perfect for your holiday in Dorset. Please contact us to find out more, or to book accommodation: we very much look forward to welcoming you and your family and friends here.

What’s on in Dorset: August

2011-08-04T11:05:00.001+01:00

The summer holidays are well and truly upon us! We hope July was a good month for you, and that the summer weather has been kind to you.

STOP PRESS

Before we share a few of the many activities and events happening in Dorset this August, we have some Stop Press news: due to a late cancellation, we have a self-catering apartment available for the week commencing 27th August. Please contact us for more details.

So, without further ado, back to the events in and around Dorset for August:

1st – 5th August Holiday Adventure Days for 8-12 year olds at Woodberry Down Activity Centre, Lyme Regis, from 9am – 4pm. Activities include beach games and beach art, campfire cooking, circus skills and bush craft.

4th August Family Fossil Day - Jurassic Seafood at Lyme Regis Museum, Bridge Street, Lyme Regis, 11am – 3.30pm. “Fossil Hunters Paddy Howe, Chris Andrew and Brandon Lennon are in the museum all day to talk about the small invertebrate fossils. Come to the rock-splitting sessions and see how fossils are hidden within stones. Cut and polish ammonite to keep. There will be impressive fossils on dispay including spectacular finds made earlier this year. Handle fossils, ask questions and bring your own fossils for identification.” Free admission.

6th -14th August Lyme Regis Regatta & Carnival – this packed week of events includes the carnival procession, balloon races, sailing races, family dog show, limbo dancing, mass Chinese lantern launch over Lyme Regis, World Pebble Balancing Championships, sandcastle competition, sand sports and pavement art.

8th August - the pleasure steamer the SS Balmoral is setting sail for a cruise along the Jurassic Coast. Book your place at Bridport TIC or via Waverley Excursions.

13th -14th August - a Dalek Invasion at the Fleet Air Arm Museum, RNAS Yeovilton. “Only the brave should venture to the Fleet Air Arm Museum on the weekend of August 13th and 14th as an army of Daleks accompanied by Davros, Miss Hartigan, Cybermen, Ice Warriors, Pig Slaves, Weeping Angel and more will invade the Museum. To add to the fun and terror of the day, children are encouraged to wear Sci-Fi Fancy Dress.”

14th August - Pirates Day at West Bay, 12pm to 5pm: lots and lots of pirate-themed events and games for all the family including best dressed pirate competition, walk the plank and face painting.

14th – 20th August: Burton Bradstock Festival of Music and Art. The exhibition of paintings, textiles, pottery and woodwork opens at 10 am on Sunday 14 August in the village hall and will include work by some of the finest artists in the South-West including Terry Unsworth, Jake Winkle, John Rabbitts and Lynda White. Visitors will be able to buy work priced from £30 to £300, as well as prints and greeting cards featuring original designs. The art exhibition will be open daily 10–7pm until Friday 18th, then Saturday 20th 10–4 pm and Sunday 21st 10–12 noon.

Music events include orchestral concerts, evening and lunchtime recitals, jazz and World music, intimate late evening performances, and an art exhibition. Most of the concerts take place in Burton Bradstock’s exquisite 16th century church.

18th August – Smugglers, Lyme Regis Museum, Bridge Street, Lyme Regis, at 2.30pm. “Thea Hawkesworth presents the facts about smuggling in the West Country in the 17th and 18th Centuries. Small fishing communities supplemented their incomes this way, and famous local smugglers such as Jack Rattenbury made their living transporting contraband. Lively true stories for all ages.”

20th – 21st August: Bridport Carnival and Torchlight Procession. The Bridport Carnival includes a grand procession and carnival fete, plus a fun fair at Asker Meadows. The traditional torchlight parade, on 21st August, makes its way from Bucky Doo Square in Bridport down to West Bay for a bonfire and firework display, and dancing. The procession begins around 9pm.

25th August Melplash Agricultural Show.

31st August to 4th September, the Great Dorset Steam Fair, South Down, Tarrant Hinton, Nr Blandford – a huge variety of exhibitions and attractions covering 600 acres.

This is just a small sample of what’s happening in August and if you plan to visit our beautiful county for your summer or autumn break, please book your accommodation in Dorset as soon as possible. We have a range of luxurious bed and breakfast and self-catering accommodation available for bookings, and we look forward to sharing the delights of Dorset with you and your family.

Adventure and Activity Holidays in Dorset

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For those of you who like active holidays with plenty of adventure, fun and activities, Dorset has so much to offer. There’s a wealth of activities to choose from, and there’s always something that will appeal to everyone in the family. Here’s our selection of just a few possibilities to give you an idea of the fun you can have on holiday in Dorset!

Rock climbing – a wide range of exciting and fun rock climbing courses and taster sessions is available, both indoors and outdoors.

Horse riding – what a wonderful way to explore the beautiful coastline and countryside of Dorset. Choose from forest, beach or countryside rides, or tailor-made excursions.

Cycling – Dorset has some excellent cycle routes and what better way to explore our stunning countryside, quaint villages and historic towns than a leisurely cycle ride. Take a picnic, or visit one of the many pubs or restaurants offering a warm welcome, a cold drink and a delicious meal.

Archery – try your hand at this ancient sport. Minimum age 12 years.

Walking – Dorset is a truly fantastic place for a walking holiday, of course, and we are perfectly located as a base for coastal or countryside walks with breath-taking scenery and fascinating historical locations.

Quad biking – Gorcombe has twenty miles of tracks with something for everybody’s level: from “petrol heads to conservative thrill seekers”.

Fishing – for those who prefer their activities a little more sedate, nothing beats a summer afternoon’s fishing on the banks of a peaceful river or lake in Dorset.

Microlight flying lessons – discover the beauty of Dorset from the air and get a unique perspective on landmarks such as the Cerne Abbas Giant.

Coasteering - climb and jump off the rocks along Dorset’s coast, and visit rarely explored caves, tunnels and plunge pools.

Zorbing – rolling downhill in a transparent orb! You can even have a go at hydro zorbing: not only do you get to slip, slide and revolve at speed inside your plastic orb, but you’re also joined by 20 litres of cold water!

Kayaking – explore the beautiful Jurassic coast in a kayak.

Power boating – for a more adrenaline-filled view of the Jurassic coast, how about a ride in a high-speed power boat?

Kitesurfing and windsurfing – learn how to kitesurf and windsurf in the safe waters of Poole Harbour, with fully qualified instructors.

When you’re planning your activities for summer, you couldn’t choose a better place to stay than Chesil Beach Lodge. Please contact us to find out more about our eco-friendly holiday accommodation in Dorset, and to book one of our stunning bed and breakfast rooms or self-catering apartments.

Culture and Heritage Holidays in Dorset

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Dorset has so much to offer everyone who visits this beautiful county and if you enjoy learning about an area’s culture and history when you’re on holiday, we’ve included a few locations and facts to give you just a taste of Dorset’s rich heritage.

Castles in Dorset

Corfe Castle – majestic ruins with a colourful history, on the peninsula named the Isle of Purbeck.

Highcliffe Castle, Christchurch, is described as “arguably the most important surviving house of the Romantic and Picturesque style of architecture, which flourished at the end of the 18th century and the beginning of the 19th century.”

Sandsfoot Castle, near Weymouth - a Tudor stronghold built in 1539 by Henry Vlll.

Sherborne Castle was built by Sir Walter Raleigh in 1594 and has been the stately home of the Digby family since 1617. It has “a glorious variety of decorative styles from over 400 years of English history” and the 50-acre lake was created by Capability Brown.

Country Houses

Athelhampton House, near Dorchester, was built in 1485 and has been in private ownership for over 500 years. The gardens boast a variety of woodland scenes, formal architecture, river walks along the River Piddle, wonderful pyramid shaped Yew trees and an ancient dovecote; and are all open to the public.

The 17th century Kingston Lacy house and gardens is owned by the National Trust and boasts lavish interiors and an outstanding art collection that includes paintings by Rubens, Van Dyck, Titian and Tintoretto, plus the largest private collection of Egyptian artefacts in the UK.

Wolfeton House, Charminster, is a medieval and Elizabethan manor house with magnificent plasterwork and panelling, a medieval gatehouse and a chapel and Cyder House.

Historic Landmarks

Cerne Abbas Giant - a 180 foot man carved into the chalk rock and he’s believed to be an ancient fertility symbol with the power to help childless couples to conceive.

Gold Hill in Shaftesbury was made famous by the 1970s Hovis advertisement directed by Ridley Scott, and its steep cobbled road is a popular destination for visitors. At the top of Gold Hill is Gold Hill Museum, a traditional sandstone cottage that once provided accommodation for the drovers, jugglers and traders who came to Shaftesbury’s markets and fairs.

Literature and authors

Dorset is Thomas Hardy country, of course, and is the birthplace of this famous author. Hardy Cottage, at Higher Brockhampton, is owned by the National Trust and is open to the public.

The Hardy Trail takes you around the locations where Hardy wrote and lived.

The Dorset countryside has inspired many authors, and novels set in Dorset include:

On Chesil Beach by Ian McEwan

The Black Tower by P. D. James (and others by the same author)

The French Lieutenant’s Woman by John Fowles

Thank you, Jeeves by P. G. Wodehouse

The Devil’s Feather by Minette Walters

And see our previous post for some of the fascinating film and TV locations in Dorset.

Museums

Dorset County Museum – fascinating collections and exhibitions relating to the archaeology, natural sciences, natural history, literature, music, fine and decorative arts, antiquities and local history of the county of Dorset.

Poole Museum’s exhibits include a 2,300-year-old log boat - one of the largest surviving prehistoric artefacts of its kind in Britain - and a ceramics gallery featuring a significant collection of world-famous Poole Pottery.

If you’re planning to visit Dorset over the summer, don’t forget to book your bed and breakfast accommodation in Dorset or self catering accommodation in Dorset as soon as possible.

What’s on in Dorset – Summer Holidays Start Here

2011-07-12T14:41:00.000+01:00

Here is a round up of events in July: there is non-stop culture whether you love classic cars, classic Rock, or rhythm and blues!

Classics at the Castle on 17^th July at Sherborne Castle, 10am-4pm, is a very popular classics and supercar show. Over 1,000 cars will be on show including fantastic displays of Ferraris, Lamborghinis, Aston Martins, Porsches, Rolls Royces, Bentleys and many more popular classics. Arrival of the Veteran Car Tour is at 11:30am: arrival of Dorset Classic Car Tour is at 12:30pm

Friday 22 July, Desperado : The Heart of the Eagles - an evening of classic Eagles’ songs including Hotel California, New York Minute, Life in the Fast Lane, Wasted Time, One of These Nights, The Last Resort, Lyin’ Eyes, New Kid in Town, Take It to the Limit, The Long Run, Heartache Tonight – all brought to you by the six-piece ensemble Desperado at the Regent Centre, Christchurch.

23^rd July at Sherborne Castle - Jools Holland and his rhythm and blues orchestra, plus special guests, promise a night of outstanding music so “pack a picnic, grab your friends and get ready to boogie-woogie with the maestro”. Gates open at 5pm and tickets are available from Octagon Theatre, Yeovil on 01935 422884: the Sherborne Tourist Information Centre on 01935 815341, and the Dorchester Tourist Information Centre on 01305 267992.

Dreamboats Race Day takes place on the 24^th July at 2.30pm and is a popular annual event where local clubs, pubs and others enter a team of three and compete for the coveted trophy and prizes of Ringwood Ale: an entertaining afternoon for all the family with music, barbecue and raffle.

On the 27^th July is an open air performance of Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations, from 7pm - 10pm at Highcliffe Castle. “A terrifying encounter with an escaped convict on the wild Kent marshes; a summons to meet the decaying Miss Havisham; the sudden appearance of a mystery benefactor - this series of events change the orphaned Pip’s life forever as he eagerly abandons his humble origins to become a gentleman.
From the misty marshes to the dusty, dirty streets of London; we bring you our brand new adaptation of Dickens’s most enduringly popular and atmospheric novel which delivers high comedy and dark drama as we follow Pip’s journey through adversity to discover the true nature of his ‘great expectations’”.

29^th – 31^st the award-winning Camp Bestival takes place on the 29^th to 31^st July at Lulworth Castle, against the stunning backdrop of the Jurassic coastline. Awards for this music festival promises fun for all the family and was awarded ‘Best Family Festival’ in 2009 and 2010 by UK Festival Awards. Day tickets are available from the Heritage Centre in West Lulworth.

Please contact us for more details, or to book accommodation.

What’s on in Dorset: July

2011-07-04T14:40:00.000+01:00

Hello everyone. We hope June was a good month for you.

Throughout July, we thought we would have a few posts about how wonderful Dorset is for all types of holiday. Look out for our posts about cultural, adventure and beach based holidays, with lots of suggestions about events, activities and places to visit.

There’s a huge choice of things to do in Dorset over the summer, and here’s our pick of some of the best for July.

The Christchurch Music Festival takes place on the 1^st to 3^rd of July at Christchurch Quay. A weekend of dance, dance demonstrations and live music from 16 bands starts on Friday at 6.00pm, and on Saturday & Sunday from midday. There will also be refreshments, a bar and stalls.

2^nd to 3^rd July is the intriguing sounding Anonymous Travelling Market at Osprey Quay, Portland Harbour. The Anonymous Travelling Market is “in cahoots with The Boat that Rocks. Let's get nautical and see where the Olympics are going to take place. Hoo-ray and up she rises!” Lots of stalls and live music for all..

1^st to 9^th July Tivo: Le Resitance, a clown show direct from New York, at The Lyric Theatre, Barrack St, Bridport. The shows start at 8pm (doors open at 7.30pm). Tickets cost £8 and are available from Lyric Theatre, Bridport Music, The Bookshop and Fruits of the Earth, Bridport.

Spirit of the Sea on 2^nd to 10^th July is the annual Weymouth and Portland Maritime Festival: a celebration of the area’s close relationship with the sea which “brings together a range of sporting activities, cultural events and entertainment.” A packed programme of events includes live music, sailing regattas, a carnival procession, gymnastic display, kayak and wind surfing taster sessions, Tudor picnic at Sandsfoot Castle Gardens, Big Grove Summer Festival and a Thomas Hardy Chesil and Portland ramble across some of the spectacular Dorset coastal scenery that features in Hardy’s poetry and novels.

5th July - The Pilgrims Progress at the Regent Centre, Christchurch: a modern dramatization of the classic tale by John Bunyan. Follow Christian as he sets out on a dangerous adventure, a journey that will see him encounter friends, companions and enemies along the way. Will he ever reach the Heavenly City? Join the Saltmine Theatre Company on the trip of a lifetime. A brand new production for 2011. Suitable for everyone aged 12 plus.

8^th to 9^th July, an Italian Food Market in South Street, Dorchester, from 9am to 5pm.

9^th July is Yeovilton Air Day – this year the day celebrates 40 years of the Lynx Helicopter. “An extensive flying and static display will take place to mark this anniversary with historic aircraft such as the resident RNHF’s Swordfish, Sea Fury and Sea Hawk coming together with other classic aircraft and their modern counterparts to highlight the role that Fleet Air Arm Squadrons have played, and continue to play, in operations throughout the decades to the present day.

Cerne Abbas Music Festival takes place on the 8^th – 10^th July at St Mary's Church, Cerne Abbas. This year’s programme includes a performance of Prokoviev's Peter and the Wolf for music lovers of all ages.

Please contact us for more details, or to book accommodation.

Summer holidays in Dorset

2011-06-25T13:10:00.000+01:00

Although the Summer Solstice and the longest day of the year is already behind us, there are still many long, balmy summer days ahead of us, and our thoughts are naturally turning to the summer holidays.

Dorset is a fabulous place for family-friendly summer holidays, and our delightful self-catering apartments provide perfect family accommodation, with stunning sea and coastal views over Lyme Bay.

All our self-catering apartments have central heating (and two are supplemented with wood burners), plus oven / hob, fridge, microwave, king size beds plus 4’ sofa beds, and linen and towels for the main bedrooms. We also provide free WiFi, and Digital Freeview TV and DVD players.

We’ll be posting lots of ideas for summer activities and days out over the coming weeks but, in the meantime, here’s a small taste of what you can expect:

6th – 14th August Lyme Regis Regatta and Carnival Week – nine days of activities and fun for the whole family;

7th August RNLI Fun Day at West Bay – including boat rides and a Rescue at Sea;

17th August Weymouth Carnival and Air Show – including the Red Devils Freefall Team and O’Brien’s Flying Circus;

20th – 21st August Bridport Carnival and Torchlight Procession (40th Anniversary)

As always, Dorset will be packed full of exciting events and activities in the summer, so 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.

Recycle Now Week

2011-06-18T13:09:00.000+01:00

Recycle Week (20th – 26th June) is a week of nationwide recycling

This year’s theme is 'Recycling - Home and Away'. “It's all about the positive cumulative effect we can all make by recycling just a little bit more; whether it's doing more of what we already do at home or starting to recycle at work or while out and about.”

When you stay at Chesil Beach Lodge you can be sure you’re recycling while on holiday too. All our rubbish is sorted for recycling, and we recycle:

all our glass, plastic milk bottles, tins, clothes and cardboard, which are collected fortnightly and recycled in Dorset;

unwanted house items and clothing, which are recycled via our local Oxfam shop;

our vegetable waste, which is composted.

We also have tips on how to have an eco-friendly holiday.

Recycle Now have some great ideas for eco-friendly electrical products that reduce the impact on the environment. How about a USB Drive with a 100% recycled newspaper body; or a Samsung mobile phone with casing made from recycled plastic water bottles, and a solar panel charger; or an electric guitar with a body made using crushed CDs, vending cups and yoghurt pots?

If you’re a Facebook fan, you can keep up to date with all their recycling tips and information on the Recycle Now Facebook Page.

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.

Team Green Britain Bike Week

2011-06-13T13:08:00.001+01:00

Team Green Britain Bike Week (18th – 26th June) is a UK-wide mass participation cycling event. Its aim is to celebrate and raise awareness of the social, health and environmental benefits of cycling, whilst encouraging more people to get out and about on their bikes.

There are several events organized for Dorset, including:

18th June, Sunday Cycle Ride - a gentle family orientated cycle ride around Weymouth,

20th – 24th June, the Cycle to Work Commuter Challenge for employees of the Borough of Poole

25th June, Mountain Bike Orienteering Challenge at Moors Valley Country Park and Forest

Click here to find events in your area.

Do you have an old bike languishing in the dusty recesses of your garden shed? Why not take part in Britain’s Biggest Bike Fix, give your bike a health check and get cycling. Here are their top 10 tips to get your bike in shape.

Chesil Beach Lodge is perfectly located as a base for cycle rides through the Dorset countryside. Historic towns, rural villages, beautiful countryside, and amazing sea and coast views: Dorset has it all.

We encourage car free days and we keep a wide selection of local maps and guides which you are free to borrow.

To book eco-friendly accommodation in Dorset, please contact us.

What’s on in Dorset: June

2011-06-06T13:06:00.001+01:00

We have an environment theme running through some of this month’s posts and, with this in mind; it’s worth mentioning that World Environment Day is on the 5th June. This year’s theme is Forests: Nature At Your Service. Dorset has some beautiful woodland and forest areas, including Ringwood Forest and Wareham Forest, so why not make some time to discover Dorset’s woodland walks this month?

We hope May was a good month for you. It’s hard to believe that summer is just around the corner. As ever, June is a busy month in Dorset and there’s lots to do out and about. Here’s our pick of some of the best:

8th June - Much Ado About Nothing performed by the Rain or Shine Theatre Company at Sherborne Old Castle. Rain or Shine is a Gloucester based professional theatre company “which specialises in outdoor summer tours of classical theatre to castles, stately homes and gardens throughout the U.K.” The performance starts 7.30pm. and tickets are available from Sherborne Tourist Information Centre. Telephone 01935 815341.

The Great Shaftesbury Run is on the 12th June, and includes half marathon and 10k runs round the Earl of Shaftesbury's estate at St Giles House. The park will be open to the public and there will be music, entertainment and refreshments. Tel: 01725 517255.12th to 18th June is the Bridport Food Festival – “a celebration of the worth of local food”. Festival week events include cookery workshops; sausage, cheese and speciality bread tasting; a talk on the history of afternoon tea by food historian, Maya Pieris; and under 8’s biscuit decorating workshop.

18th June: Dorchester Carnival. This year’s theme is fictional heroes and villains so it’s time to get out your Superwoman, White Witch, Captain Hook, Bill Sikes and Cruella de Ville costumes, and join in the fun! J As well as the carnival procession, there’ll be a street fair and four-legged pub race.

23rd June to 3rd July: Beaminster Festival of Music and the Visual Arts – a packed programme of events including open-air Shakespeare, piano recital, jazz night, choral workshop, Noel Coward songs, poetry and much more.

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

Spend Father’s Day in beautiful Dorset

2011-05-27T20:00:00.000+01:00

Father’s Day falls on the 19th June this year, and it’s not too early to start thinking ahead and booking a few days away.

This week we thought we would give you a few locally-inspired ideas for Father’s Day gifts.

How about a Sea-kayaking day trip exploring the coast near Poole, Dorset; or a 20 minute two-seater helicopter lesson at Bournemouth in Dorset?

For something on a much smaller scale, you can adopt a Dorset Dormouse and help the Dorset Wildlife Trust's Dorset Dormouse Recovery Project. The dormouse is one of England's rarest mammals, and has already been lost from seven counties because of habitat loss. Adopting a dormouse costs £15 and adopters even get a photograph of their dormouse!

Or how about some truly delicious and luxurious hand-made chocolates from Dorset chocolate makers Chococo? Husband and wife team Claire and Andy Burnet use local Dorset produce as much as possible, and where they can't go local, they source ethically produced ingredients. They make all their chocolates in-house, by hand, and they don’t use any preservatives. Here are a few chocolatey ideas for Father’s Day.

The Dorset Crab Company produces this wonderful potted crab, made with crabmeat, butter and a secret blend of spices.

Photographer Andrew Dorey lives on the Jurassic Coast and the beautiful Dorset scenery inspires many of his photographs. You can buy wonderfully evocative prints of Dorset views from his website.

Of course we think the best possible gift for Father’s Day is a rejuvenating break in one of our luxurious self-catering apartments J We have four apartments to choose from, all with amazing sea and coastal views, and in the perfect location for exploring all that Dorset has to offer.

For a warm welcome on Father’s Day, and a delightful sustainable holiday in the beautiful county of Dorset, please contact us to book accommodation for Father’s Day.

Half-term activities

2011-05-20T19:59:00.001+01:00

Half-term is almost upon us again, and it’s time to think about where to go and what to do! Dorset has a wealth of locations, events and activities that are prefect for a family holiday. Here are just a few suggestions for half-term activities:

A trip on a steam train with the Swanage Railway is a fun way to see the Dorset countryside. The journey takes you past the ruins of Corfe Castle and is a wonderful way to travel to the castle or to Swanage beach for a day at the seaside.

The majestic ruins of Corfe Castle, on the peninsula named the Isle of Purbeck, provide a magical place for children to explore. There are two activities for half-term in the castle grounds:

Castle Quests: From Rotten Rascals to Fabulous Feats – go on a quest around the castle and look for the shields to find out the facts. 28th May to 5th June.

Enid Blyton WW2 Day, on the 2nd June - a chance to enjoy some of Enid Blyton’s wartime stories. “Find out about the lives of her readers, many of whom were evacuees, and how she encouraged them through her magazine Sunny Stories.”

The award-winning Dinosaur Museum in Dorchester is the only museum on mainland Britain dedicated to dinosaurs. “The museum combines life-sized reconstructions of dinosaurs with fossils and dinosaur skeletons to create an exciting hands-on experience. Multimedia displays tell the story of the giant prehistoric animals and their enthralling world millions of years ago.”

Splashdown Waterpark in Poole has “some of the UK’s most exciting waterflumes. For the thrill-seekers, brave the Screamer with its sheer vertical drop. Plunge into darkness on the Black Thunder. And hold on to your pants as you shoot down the Spacebowl like a human pinball. Or if that sounds a bit like hard work, just go with the flow on the Mississippi Drifter.”

The Tank Museum in Bovington has almost 200 rare and historic vehicles on display in 6 large halls, plus action packed live displays. Open daily from 10am to 5pm

As always, this is just a small selection of what’s on offer in Dorset for half-term, and there’s much more to choose from to keep adults and children of all ages active, entertained and happy over the half term break.

To book your family-friendly and eco friendly half-term holiday in Dorset, please contact us. We look forward to hearing from you.

Abbotsbury Swannery

2011-05-14T19:58:00.000+01:00

Abbotsbury Swannery is a natural wildlife habitat located on the Dorset coast, near the historical village of Abbotsbury. A trip to this wonderful location is a unique experience: it’s the only place in the world where you can walk through the heart of a colony of nesting Mute Swans and see the cygnets hatching.

From around the middle of May to late June, hundreds of cygnets hatch close to the pathways, giving visitors an amazing close-up view of this fantastic sight.

You and your family can also help hand feed 600 swans at the mass feeding sessions at 12.00 noon and 4.00pm each day.

You can see photos of these beautiful birds on the Abbotsbury Swannery Flickr page. They also have a Facebook page where you can keep up-to-date with the ever increasing numbers of nests, followed by the cygnets as they begin to appear in May.

All paths are accessible by wheelchair and two wheelchairs are available on loan free of charge. Dogs are not allowed into the swannery.

If you’re planning a visit to Dorset in May, we highly recommend a trip to Abbotsbury Swannery to see the cygnets. To book your eco-friendly accommodation in Dorset, please contact us. We look forward to welcoming you here.

What’s on in Dorset: May

2011-05-08T19:56:00.000+01:00

What a busy month April has been! Mother’s Day, Easter, St. George’s Day, a Royal Wedding and bank holidays galore! And we’ve been so lucky with the weather too.

In some respects it will probably be a bit of a relief to get back to some semblance of normality this month, although before we know it, it’ll be half-term and time to think about ways to entertain the children for a week J

We’ll be posting some suggestions for half-term activities later in the month, until then here’s our usual pick of what’s on in May in Dorset.

Charcoal drawing for the terrified! On the 12th May, at The Cobb, Lyme Regis is a Charcoal Drawing Workshop based around drawing the sights around The Cobb and the harbour. It lasts all day, from 10am to 4pm and costs £25 for a half day, and £45 all day. Email lyn.whiteman@btinternet.com for more details

It’s time to don your platform shoes, massive flares and big hair for a 70s Spectacular at the Corn Exchange, Dorchester on the 14th May – from 7.45pm to midnight. The evening features V I P Abba and Reflections, and there’s a disco of course. Admission is £10 and tickets are available from Harmony Music, Trinity St, Dorchester. Telephone 01305 269360 for more information.

At the Bournemouth Pavilion on Saturday 14th May, is The Billy Fury Story – Halfway to Paradise: “the story of a shy young 19 year old Ronnie Wycherley, who went to the Birkenhead Essoldo in the hope of interesting the show’s star, Marty Wilde, with some of his compositions. Thirty minutes later rock impresario Larry Parnes had pushed him out onto the stage and re-christened him - BILLY FURY”. The performance starts at 7.30pm and tickets are £17.50 and £18.50.

On Sunday 29th May, at the Electric Palace, Bridport, The Bolshoi Theatre of Russia presents a new choreographic version of Coppelia by Sergei Vikharev, in which a beautiful mechanical doll threatens the happiness of two lovers. The performance starts at 4pm.

Sherborne Castle Country Fair takes place on the 30th May, from 10am to 6pm. The show is held in the grounds of Sherborne Castle and “this spectacular lakeside event highlights traditional rural skills, as well as those more modern.” Attractions include the Rare Breeds Show, arts and crafts stands, Terrier racing, a circus, music and dance and Chinese Dragon Boat Racing. The Fair is open from 10am to 6pm and car parking is free. Click here for entrance prices.

This is just a small sample of what’s on offer and if you plan to visit Dorset in May for any of these events or activities, please book accommodation in Dorset as soon as possible. We have a range of luxurious bed and breakfast and self-catering accommodation available for bookings, including our new self-catering Hardy Studio with its Juliet balconies and stunning sea views.

The World’s Hottest Chilli!

2011-04-29T11:17:00.000+01:00

The Dorset Naga is said to be one of the hottest chillies in the world. It was cultivated and developed in a market garden in Dorset from a Bangladeshi landrace variety of chilli known as Naga Morich, which Joy and Michael Michaud bought from an Oriental food shop in Bournemouth.

The Dorset Naga was measured by BBC Gardeners' World at nearly 1.6 million SHU, which is the hottest measurement ever recorded for a chilli. According to Joy and Michael, this scorching heat level is backed up by a powerful aroma that imbibes any dish with a distinctively fruity flavour. The fruit are roughly cone shaped, and about 2 cm wide at the shoulders and up to 4 cm long, though they can be smaller.

Why not grow a few of your own and try them in this Chilli con carne recipe from the BBC Good Food, or this vegetarian chilli alternative? Unless you like your chilli scorching hot it might be wise to use them very sparingly because these peppers come with a health warning and anyone handling them is advised to wear gloves!

You can buy Dorset Naga seeds from Sea Spring Seeds, plug plants from Sea Spring Plants and, from late July / early August, fresh Dorset Naga chillies from Peppers by Post.

Please contact us to find out more about our eco-friendly holiday accommodation in Dorset, and to book one of our stunning bed and breakfast rooms or self-catering apartments.

May Day in Dorset

2011-04-21T11:15:00.000+01:00

May Day in the UK is said to have started as a pagan holy day or festival celebrating spring and the end of the dark days of winter in the northern hemisphere.

Many villages across the country will be celebrating May Day with maypole dancing and the crowning of the Queen of the May. Here in Dorset we have our own truly unique May Day celebration – the ancient ritual of dancing at the site of the Cerne Abbas Giant to welcome in the spring.

The Cerne Abbas Giant is a 180 foot man carved into the chalk rock and he’s believed to be an ancient fertility symbol with the power to help childless couples to conceive.

As dawn breaks on the 1st May, people (including the Wessex Morris Men) will dance on the giant and then gradually wend their way down to the village of Cerne Abbas to dance in the village square.

The dancing at the Cerne Abbas Giant starts at approximately 5.15am and continues for about half an hour.

You can watch the Wessex Morris Men in the 2009 Cerne Abbas May Day procession on this video.

In Cattistock, on the 1st May, we also have another unusual and unique celebration – the world famous Dorset Knob Throwing competition! The Dorset Knob is a traditional type of Dorset bread, a bit like a biscuit. “The Festival will run from 10am until 4.00pm and besides Knob Throwing there will be additional fun knob attractions including Knob Eating, Knob Painting, a Knob & Spoon Race, Guess the weight of the Big Knob, Knob Darts and a Knob Pyramid. Other traditional entertainment will also be laid on to make this a really enjoyable day out with a difference.”

For a warm welcome and a delightful sustainable holiday in the beautiful county of Dorset, please contact us to book accommodation.

Rainy day Easter activities for all the family

2011-04-13T11:14:00.000+01:00

Dorset is a fabulous location for a family holiday at Easter, whatever the weather, and here are just a few suggestions for rainy day activities:

Terracotta Warriors Museum in Dorchester is an exhibition of the Terracotta Warriors of the First Emperor of China's famous Terracotta Army. A small collection of warriors have been specially replicated by museum and conservation technicians in China, and skilled craftsmen and specialists of World Heritage. You can also see fabulous costumed recreations of the First Emperor of China, Qin Shih Huang di, himself and his uniformed officers. Dramatic audio and multi-media presentations bring the whole experience stunningly to life.

The Tutankhamun Exhibition in Dorchester is “a spectacular recreation of Tutankhamun's tomb and treasures” that has been extensively featured on television throughout the world. All the exhibits have been carefully crafted by meticulous reference to the original antiquities, photographic records and detailed measurements and diagrams, making the treasures shown in this exhibition identical as possible to the originals now in Egypt.

Weymouth Sea Life Park and marine sanctuary has indoor and outdoor enclosures with over 1,000 creatures, including baby crocodiles, leafy sea dragons and giant sea turtles. The park also has a new shark breeding centre; penguin, seal, otter and turtle sanctuaries, and an underwater walkthrough where you can see sharks and tropical fish. Crocodile Creek has an exciting log flume ride for children and Adventure Island has four fun children’s rides.

Bournemouth Aquarium is “a fun, friendly, all weather attraction situated on the seafront, next to the pier”. The aquarium is home to thousands of sea life creatures, from flamboyant clownfish and tiny terrapins, to stunning sharks and the infamous piranha, in ten spectacular recreated environments. Families are welcome and the site is pushchair friendly.

Do you have a budding fashion designer in your family? The Blandford Fashion Museum has a fascinating collection dating from the 1730s to the 1970s which provides a history of clothing and accessories, and charts the changes in fashion and in the manufacture of costume.

A little further afield is Haynes Motor Museum in Yeovil in Somerset - the largest international motor museum in Britain. The museum has one of the UK’s largest speedway collections, an outdoor military vehicle collection, and 11 stunning display halls with over 400 cars and bikes dating from 1886 to the present day.

They also have a themed adventure playground for children, with an activity room, soft play fun bus and activity packs. Children can discover the workings of an engine with the cut away car chassis, and operate interactive displays such as the Ghostbuster style ambulance with lights and sounds.

To book child-friendly self-catering accommodation in Dorset for the Easter holidays, please contact us as soon as possible. We very much look forward to welcoming you and your family here.

What’s on in Dorset over Easter

2011-04-06T11:13:00.002+01:00

Well, another month has whizzed by and now we’re looking forward to welcoming visitors to Chesil Beach Lodge for the Easter holidays.

We’ve been very busy over the past few weeks and we’re delighted to announce that our new Hardy Studio is now available for bookings. The Hardy Studio is a self-catering studio style apartment with two sets of french doors which lead to balconies offering absolutely beautiful sea views. And of course the Hardy Studio is fitted out to our usual first-class standards.

If you’re planning a trip to Dorset for Easter or the Easter school holidays, here’s our small selection of some of the many attractions and events available.

Why not try something completely different and go on a Jurassic Safari? J “Sit back and relax on our Land Rover Safari as we take you off the beaten track for a taste of Dorset's secret beauty in the style and safety of the world’s leading 4x4. We aim to get you up close and personal to some of the most spectacular views and wildlife the Jurassic coast has to offer. Our carefully chosen routes include unspoilt country lanes, ancient byways and deep river crossings hidden and inaccessible to most people.” Suitable for families, and with discounts offered for families and groups of six.

Weymouth Whitewater offers a variety of scenic rides by boat; ranging from fast and furious to something a little more sedate – a perfect way to see the spectacular scenery of Weymouth Bay, Portland, Bowleaze, Ringstead, Durdle Door and Lulworth Cove.

Still on the nautical theme, Greenslade Pleasure Boats offer day trips around Poole Harbour and the Dorset coastline. The boats have both open and covered deck areas for all weather entertainment, and efficient heating so that you can enjoy being on the water all year round.

Train enthusiasts can experience a unique journey through six miles of beautiful scenery, passing the magnificent ruins of Corfe Castle, on the award-winning standard gauge preserved steam Swanage Railway.

Dorset Heavy Horse Farm Park and Rescue Centre has educational daily shows, plus free wagon rides, tractor and trailer rides, and miniature pony and cart rides - you even get the chance to drive a vintage tractor. The centre offers lots of hands-on activities with friendly farm animals, and you can meet mighty shires, miniature ponies, donkeys, kune kune pigs. miniature goats, sheep, chickens, ducks, llamas, alpacas, snow dogs and many more!

The Pottery Parlour in Blandford, is “a secret paradise of pottery wheels, glittering ceramics, creative freedom, and lots and lots of clay!” They offer two hour fun and dynamic workshop sessions during the Easter school holidays where families can ‘throw a pot’ and create a fully formed and decorated pot. Contact them to book a slot.

A local attraction: Monkey World Ape Rescue Centre

2011-03-28T11:24:00.000+01:00

Monkey World Ape Rescue Centre, near Wareham Dorset, is set in a woodland park and is home to over 240 rescued and endangered primates. The centre works with governments around the world to stop the illegal smuggling of primates from the wild and refugees of this trade, as well as those that have suffered abuse or neglect, are rehabilitated into natural groups at the rescue centre.

There’s plenty to see at Monkey World, including:

5 different species of gibbon;

the largest group of chimpanzees outside of Africa;

Europe's only Orang-utan Crèche - part of the European Endangered Species Programme;

7 species of monkeys and prosimians, including: capuchin monkeys, common marmosets, cotton-top tamarins, ring-tailed lemurs, squirrel monkeys, stump-tailed macaques and woolly monkeys.

The park has viewing areas for visitors to watch the primates at all of the enclosures, both indoors and outdoors. The majority of the park is outdoors and visitors are advised to bring wet weather clothing at all times.

There’s plenty of parking at the park, plus picnic areas, cafes, a gift shop and children’s play area.

Dogs and other pets are not allowed the park; except for Guide Dogs, Hearing Dogs and Registered Assistance Dogs, and with prior notification only. All of Monkey World, except for the Woodland Walk, is accessible for disabled visitors and a selection motorised scooters and dual-controlled or manual wheelchairs is available. These are free of charge for those who bring some form of disabled ID, although a £10.00 refundable deposit is required, plus some form of identification such as a driving licence or passport. The Keeper Talks are also available in written form and the park hopes to provide Braille versions soon.

Monkey World is open every day except Christmas Day, from 10am to 5pm until June, then 10am to 6pm. Last admission is 1 hour before closing time. Entrance prices range from £34 for a family ticket (2 adults and 2 children), to £7.75 for a child aged 3 to 15 years.

If you’re planning ahead for Easter; from Good Friday (22nd April 2011) to Easter Bank Holiday Monday (25th April 2010) the first 100 children to enter the park each day will receive a free chocolate Easter Egg!

If you’re planning a trip to Dorset in April, we offer a choice of delightful and sustainable bed and breakfast and self-catering accommodation, in an outstanding location, with spectacular views over the Jurassic Coast. Please contact us for more details, or to book accommodation.

Easter Holiday Activities

2011-03-21T11:22:00.000Z

If you’re looking for self-catering holiday accommodation in Dorset for your family this Easter, Chesil Beach Lodge is your ideal holiday destination. We offer a choice of four delightful self-catering apartments; each with stunning sea and coastal views over Lyme Bay.

Here’s our pick of a few Easter themed events in Dorset for children:

Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens has The Giant Easter Egg Hunt from Friday 22nd to Monday 25th April. There are hundreds of cream eggs to be found every day. At Abbotsbury Children’s Farm children can cuddle the guinea pigs, ride the ponies, race the tractors, play in the large undercover play area and bottle feed the baby goats. The baby goats also race around a track twice a day, and after the race the children are invited to take a goat for a warm down walk on a lead. The family cafe offers local Dorset produce cooked on site.

Durlston Country Park, Swanage has an Easter Egg-stravaganza Trail every day throughout the Easter holidays. Follow the clues around the park to win a prize. Durlston Country Park and National Nature Reserve is a “fabulous 280 acre countryside paradise, consisting of sea-cliffs, coastal limestone downland, haymeadows, hedgerows and woodland. With stunning views, walking trails, the historic Great Globe, superb geology and fascinating wildlife there is always something different to see.”

Brownsea Island nature reserve has an egg hunt with a difference: a Marine Egg Hunt! Hunt for the eggs of sea creatures on the shore and receive a chocolate egg reward! 20th April from 1.30 to 3.0pm. Cost, £2 per person. Booking is essential for this event. Call 01929 481044 or email kimmeridge@dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk.

We are open over Easter and are taking bookings for eco-friendly Easter holiday accommodation in Dorset. We would love to welcome you here for Easter so please contact us to book self-catering and bed and breakfast accommodation, or for more details.

Mother’s Day

2011-03-14T11:21:00.000Z

Mothering Sunday falls on the 3rd April this year, and what better way to treat your mum or wife (or yourself) than a holiday in the beautiful county of Dorset. Chesil Beach Lodge, with its luxurious self-catering and bed and breakfast accommodation and stunning sea views, is the perfect place to stay.

If the mum in your life loves flowers and gardening, here are a few suggestions for some of the best places to see spring colour in Dorset:

Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens has really lovely camellias and magnolias displaying all their finery in spring, as well as plenty of other spring colour.

The 17th century Kingston Lacy house and gardens is owned by the National Trust and has wonderful woodland walks and spring planting. The Japanese cherry trees in the Japanese Garden burst spectacularly into flower in spring and greet you with a “a snowdrift of blossom”.

Compton Acres was built in 1924 and is a wonderful example of a historic garden in the UK. It has seven distinct gardens to wander around and enjoy, including the Italian Garden and the Japanese Garden. The Compton Acres Plant Centre has an excellent selection of rare and unusual plants, and is always well-stocked with herbaceous perennials, climbers, shrubs, seasonal bedding, pots and compost. Almost all of the plants sold are grown locally.

Cranborne Manor was originally one of King John’s hunting lodges and is set in beautiful gardens. During spring and summer, cowslips, ox-eye daisies and many wild orchids grow through the uncut grass in the grounds, and anemones, grape hyacinths and cyclamen carpet the beech tree roots. The Cranborne Manor Garden Centre, specialises in old fashioned roses, clematis and all the best plants for a country garden, and is open every day. The manor gardens are open to the public once a week.

To book accommodation in Dorset for Mother’s Day, please contact us as soon as possible. We very much look forward to welcoming you and your family here.

What’s on in Dorset:

2011-03-07T11:20:00.000Z

With the first day of spring (20th March) almost upon us, the countryside and gardens of Dorset continue to spring to life and it’s wonderful to see bright and cheerful splashes of colour as the daffodils and crocuses open. We’ve had some gloriously sunny days recently and we hope you’ve been as lucky with the weather as we have.

British summertime begins on the 27th March and with the clocks going forwards an hour the evenings will be lighter: absolutely perfect for a walk in the countryside or along the coast, or for a spot of gardening. The trouble with this warmer weather and longer days is that it’s not just the flowers that are burgeoning; it’s the weeds too!

As always, there’s plenty to do in Dorset this month and here’s just a small selection…

5th to 13th March is Forde Abbey Crocus Week at Forde Abbey, Near Winsham, Dorset. Forde Abbey is an elegant former Cistercian monastery with 30 acres of award winning gardens. You can enjoy the spectacular crocus displays throughout the gardens from 10am to 4pm.

DJ John Peel cited Dreadzone’s 1995 album ‘Second Light’ as one of his 10 favourite albums of all time. You can see this diverse and original band at the Electric Palace, Bridport, on Friday March 18th. Tickets are £15.50 from Bridport Tourist Information Centre. Telephone 01308 424901.

Photographing Maritime Lyme. Do you enjoy photography? On Saturday 19th March you can join local professional photographers, Maisie Hill and Peter Wiles, for a day photographing Lyme harbour and the surrounding coast. They also promise advice, discussion, and lots of fun. Bring your digital camera and all weather clothing. The day costs £20 and the group will consist of a maximum of 15 people so telephone 01297 443069 to book, or email peter@lymescapes.co.uk.

Also on the 19th March, the Sherborne Chamber Choir perform JS Bach Mass in B Minor at the beautiful Sherborne Abbey. Tickets are £5-£18 (under 18s are free of charge), and are available from Sherborne Tourist Information Centre, Digby Road, Sherborne, 01935 815341, and The Dorset Music House, 01935 816332.

On Friday 25th March at Dorchester Arts Centre is a performance of Geppetto by Cube Theatre. “In 1950’s New York, a teenage girl answers an advert for a production of Pinocchio, but when she meets the ill-at-ease man who calls himself Geppetto, she falls into a bewildering journey of deception and dysfunction. Combining electric dialogue of two performers with mesmerizing puppetry, Geppetto, by Jon Welch, is a heart-rending, often hilarious story of a broken man’s obsessive search for his own puppet-boy.” The performance starts at 8pm (doors and bar 7.30pm). Tickets are £8, and £6 for members & concessions.

For a fabulous display of spring flowers, and a stroll around 42 acres of the peaceful and tranquil setting of the beautiful gardens and grounds of Sherborne Castle, why not visit the castle for the annual Spring Bulbs & Daffodils Weekend throughout the weekend of 26th to 27th March? 11am to 4.30pm, with reduced entry fees to the gardens and grounds.

And last, but not least, the 26th March sees the Lyme Regis Beer Festival at the Marine Theatre, Church Street, Lyme Regis. The festival is run by three local breweries (Mighty Hop, Town Mill and Art Brew) and promises entertainment, food, beer and dramatic views over the sea and Gun Cliff Walk. Tickets are available from the Town Mill Shop and other outlets. Telephone 01297 445358 for more information.

We’re continuing our offer of three nights’ accommodation for the price of two throughout March (Monday to Friday) so it’s a perfect time to take a spring break. To book accommodation in Dorset, please contact us. We look forward to seeing you.

A local attraction: Brownsea Island Nature Reserve

2011-02-28T22:25:00.002Z

After a break for the winter, the beautiful Brownsea Island Nature Reserve opens at weekends from 19th February to 27th March, from 2 – 4pm.

From the 2nd April the island will then be open daily, with regular boat services from Sandbanks and Poole Quay.

Brownsea Island is owned by the National Trust and is the largest of eight islands in Poole Harbour, Dorset. The Nature Reserve is located in the northern part of the island and is managed by Dorset Wildlife Trust.

The Reserve has hosted the BBC’s Autumn Watch programme and is a truly wonderful place to see wildlife in Dorset. It has a variety of unspoilt and peaceful landscapes, ranging from lakes and woodland, to lagoons, cliffs and beaches. It’s a very important habitat for birds, especially large flocks of visiting wildfowl over the winter, and is one of the few places in southern England where it’s possible to see a thriving red squirrel population.

In 1907 Brownsea Island hosted the first Scout camp, led by Lord Baden-Powell. Today the campsite and hostel provide activities such as orienteering, archery and sailing to youth and educational groups.

For more information on opening times and details of boat services to the island, see the Brownsea Island Nature Reserve website.

If you’re planning a trip to Dorset, we offer a choice of wonderful eco-friendly bed and breakfast and self-catering accommodation, in an outstanding location, with spectacular views over the Jurassic Coast. Please contact us for more details, or to book accommodation.

50th anniversary of Dorset Wildlife Trust

2011-02-22T22:21:00.001Z

2011 marks the 50th anniversary of the Dorset Wildlife Trust.

From small beginnings in 1961, the trust has grown into the largest nature conservation body in the county; managing 42 nature reserves, covering 1300 hectares of the most important wildlife havens. They have 25,000 members and an army of active volunteers who help with tasks such as path creation and clearance, scrub clearance and hedge laying; as well as recording & monitoring wildlife on nature the reserves.

Here are some interesting facts about wildlife in Dorset, from Dorset Wildlife Trust:

Dorset has the greatest biodiversity, for its size, of any county in Britain

Dorset has a 10km square containing more plant species than any other in Great Britain

Otters are now found on all Dorset’s river catchments

Dorset is the only site for Britain’s rarest spider, the ladybird spider

Dorset has all 6 species of British reptile as well as some alien invaders!

The first breeding little egrets in Britain nested on Brownsea Island

Dorset’s seagrass meadows are the only site in the country where both British species of seahorse are known to breed.

Dorset is the only place in the UK where the anemone shrimp has been found

They encourage participants to register and obtain sponsorship, and there are prizes! All those that visit 21 or the full 42 reserves will receive a certificate and commemorative badge, and there will be special prizes for the fastest, largest group, highest fundraisers, the youngest participant and ‘anything else that captures our attention’.

At the end of this milestone year they will be holding a Golden Jubilee Concert at the Lighthouse, Poole, on Saturday 3rd December 2011. This promises to be a fantastic evening with internationally renowned conductor Sir John Eliot Gardiner, and the acclaimed Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra.

You can keep up to date with Dorset Wildlife Trust on Twitter @DorsetWildlife and Facebook dorsetwildlifetrust.

In keeping with Dorset Wildlife Trust’s conservation work and wildlife protection, we support and promote sustainable tourism and offer sustainable holiday accommodation in Dorset. Please contact us to book your eco-friendly holiday.

Rainy day activities for half-term

2011-02-15T22:20:00.000Z

Whatever the weather, Dorset is a fantastic place to spend half term with your children but just in case you need some inspiration for rainy day activities; here’s a small selection of what’s available for half term.

Bridport Arts Centre has a half-term workshop in Film-making on Monday 21st February, 10.30am - 3pm. 7 – 11 years olds can enjoy a day making animation film with film-maker Martha Moopette.

Haynes International Motor Museum Yeovil, in Somerset, is expecting an Alien Invasion on the 25th February – “get up close and personal with some of the most famous sci-fi characters and props from the small and big screen, but remember not to let them out when you leave!” The museum also has one of the UK’s largest speedway collections, an outdoor military vehicle collection, display halls with over 400 cars and bikes dating from 1886 to the present day plus interactive displays; as well as a themed adventure playground, activity room, soft play fun bus and activity packs.

The Tank Museum, Bovington, Dorset, is having a special 1940s Experience for half term. Children can take part in fun family activities and learn all about life on the Home Front during World War Two, including rationing and evacuation. There’s even a special wartime menu in the restaurant so your children can be introduced to delicacies such as Spam.

The Fleet Air Arm Museum at RNAS Yeovilton, Somerset, has Pirate Half Term from 21st to 25th February. This sounds like great fun. Children are encouraged to go along in fancy dress if they want to, and will be able to make a cutlass, telescope and eye patch, learn how to speak Pirate, hear Capin' Blackbeard explain the naval origins of many common day sayings and how to live as a Pirate on board ship, and track down the location of the Museum treasure with a secret Pirate Map!

If your children are fascinated by fossils and would like to know more, Lyme Regis Museum’s fossil experts are giving a Know Your Fossils talk on the 20th February at 2.30pm. It’s all about how fossils lived, and how to find identify and handle them.

23rd February is Family Fun Day at Lyme Regis Museum, Bridge Street, Lyme Regis, from 11am to 3pm. You and your children can drop in any time and get creative making fossilised creatures with museum curator Mary Godwin.

For a child friendly and eco-friendly holiday in the UK over half term, please see our website for more information about our bed and breakfast and self-catering accommodation. And don’t forget we’re offering three nights for the price of two during February and March (Monday to Friday only).

What’s on in Dorset: February

2011-02-08T22:17:00.000Z

Spring isn’t officially with us until the 20th March, but we know it’s on the way because, despite the unusually cold winter, the crocuses and daffodil buds are beginning to show their heads in the garden. We hope you’ve had a good January, and a good start to the new year.

There’s plenty to do in Dorset in February and here’s a small selection of some of the many activities and events available.

Shipwrecks Of Lyme Bay – on the 9th February, at Lyme Regis Museum, diver Nigel Clarke talks about the 200 shipwrecks in Lyme Bay. These wrecks range from war ships to cargo vessels and each has its own unique story to tell.

The much acclaimed film The Kings Speech is showing at The Electric Palace in Bridport, from the 11th to 17th February.

On the 13th of February is the Valentine’s Fayre in the Victorian Hall at Dorset County Museum. This will be “an event celebrating old fashioned romance, sentimental music, dancing, gorgeous vintage teas and heaps of ideas and quality gifts including many from local designers - great vintage day out just in time for Valentine’s Day.”

Maritime Lyme celebrates the maritime life, culture and heritage of Lyme Regis and one of their talks at Lyme Regis Museum is that of Imogen Thomas who talks about a shipwreck believed to have inspired Shakespeare's The Tempest, and about 'Lyme's Greatest Sailor - Admiral Sir George Somers' the 17th century naval hero, founder of the colony of Bermuda. Wednesday 16th February 2.30pm.

The current exhibition at Dorset County Museum is Georgian Faces: Portrait of a County – “A major exhibition of portraits showing the people who lived in and influenced Dorset during the eighteenth-century. Most of the important portrait artists of the eighteenth century, including Sir Joshua Reynolds, George Romney, Thomas Gainsborough and Allan Ramsay are represented. Three of the painters featured in the exhibition, Sir James Thornhill, Giles Hussey and Thomas Beach were all born in Dorset.” This exhibition runs from 15th January to 30th April.

Saturday 19th February, 8pm, at Bridport Arts Centre - a musical performance from the quirky 3 Daft Monkeys. “3 Daft Monkeys weave world music influences around classic folk melodies. With a line-up consisting of Fiddle, 12 String Guitar, and Bass; the band create a stunning blend of upbeat, danceable music, which, despite all its world influences, remains undeniably British”.

Throughout February and March we’re offering three nights’ accommodation for the price of two so there’s no better time for a short break. To book accommodation in Dorset, please contact us. We look forward to seeing you.

Oh, and if you’re planning a romantic break for Valentine’s Day, here’s the West Dorset District Council's top five places to propose J And of course our cosy luxurious self-catering apartments are also just perfect for your romantic gettaway.

A local attraction: Athelhampton House and Gardens

2011-01-27T11:51:00.001Z

Athelhampton House and Gardens, near Dorchester, was built in 1485 and has been in private ownership for over 500 years. The house, with its fascinating Tudor architecture, and its gardens with a variety of woodland scenes, formal architecture, river walks along the River Piddle, wonderful pyramid shaped Yew trees and an ancient dovecote, are all open to the public.

There’s free parking, a gift shop and the licensed Topiary Restaurant which offers informal lunches, morning coffees and afternoon tea. On Sundays the Long Hall restaurant is open for private dining.

Tucked away in the attic of the East Wing of the house is the 75 seater Athelhampton Cinema which shows a wide variety of interesting and unusual films – some of which were filmed in the Athelhampton house and gardens. A wheelchair lift is available, as is a hearing aid loop.

Coming up in January and February is a packed programme of films, including: –

the Academy and BAFTA Award winning film Frida: the film of the life of Mexican painter Frida Kahlo.

Is Anybody There? – the story of a ten-year-old boy who lives at an old people’s home and who becomes obsessed with finding evidence of the afterlife. Michael Caine stars as an elderly ex-magician in the early stages of dementia.

Modigliani - a film recounting the turbulent life of the artist Modigliani, including his rivalry with Picasso.

Sleuth - The 1972 film adaptation of Anthony Shaffer's award winning play, filmed at Athelhampton and starring Michael Caine & Laurence Olivier.

The Glenn Miller Story - the 1954 Academy Award winning biopic of musician and band-leader Glenn Miller, starring James Stewart & June Allyson.

Tickets are available to purchase online or by telephone.

Athelhampton even has an outdoor theatre. On summer evenings visitors bring their own low-backed seats, or a picnic rug (complete with picnic), and are entertained in the wonderful Athelhampton gardens by experienced travelling theatre groups

Nearby, and over seen by Athelhampton House and Gardens, is The Martyrs Inn in Tolpuddle, which guarantees a warm welcome to children and families, and well behaved dogs (as well as walkers with muddy boots!), and provides range of real ales and a menu consisting of seasonal meals prepared with locally sourced meats and fresh fish.

If you’re considering visiting any of our many fine local attractions, please contact us to book accommodation in Dorset.

February and March Special

2011-01-26T11:14:00.000Z

Three nights for the price of two during February and March Monday to Friday only). Enjoy a stay in one of our self-catering apartments or the luxury of breakfast served to you in one of our B&B rooms.

A New Year and a New Hobby?

2011-01-21T11:49:00.001Z

Have you made any New Year resolutions?

The arrival of a new year often inspires many of us to embark on new challenges, learn new skills or take up a new hobby. Dorset boasts a wealth of talented artists, authors and performing artists and this is reflected in the many venues offering classes and workshops in an eclectic mix of creative, energetic and unusual activities and skills; so why not try something new this year and discover your inner artist and express yourself through the medium of sculpture or paint, or get your dancing shoes on and learn ballroom dancing? You can even have a go at making your own garden furniture?

To inspire you, here’s a small selection of what’s on offer:

Guy Mallinson’s woodland workshops are a range of two and five day courses set in woodland near the Jurassic Coast. You can learn how to carve a bowl or a totem pole, or how to making a coracle, a chestnut gate or a chair from a tree, as well as learn pottery skills. The courses are suitable for everyone: from complete novices to experienced green woodworkers. They also offer one day courses for children from aged 8 years. The courses are available from April to November and booking is essential.

The Marine Theatre in Lyme Regis offers Ballroom dancing classes from 5th January. Classes are £4 each and take place every Wednesday from 11am to 12pm. Beginners and improvers are all welcome.

The Monkton Wyld Court centre for sustainable living is presenting a very wide range of courses for 2011, including Introduction to Beekeeping, How to Set Up a Low-Impact Smallholding, Wild Food and Medicinal Plants, and Permaculture Design.

The Dorset Guild of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers is open to all, and both informal and formal teaching takes place at their monthly meetings and workshops. They meet on the last Saturday in the month at the Youth Association Hall in Lubbecke Way, Dorchester. Admission is free.

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?

Explore Dorset on foot

2011-01-17T11:47:00.001Z

Our unique sustainable holiday accommodation at Chesil Beach Lodge is only a four minute walk from Chesil Beach, and we’re very lucky to have the South West Coast Path, with its spectacular sea views and famous fossil cliffs, running almost right past our door.

At this time of year, a brisk walk on the beach or coast path is guaranteed to blow away those cobwebs and burn off a few of those Christmas calories! Many authors and artists have found inspiration in the Dorset countryside, so if you’re in need of a fresh start and a little inspiration and motivation for 2011; we think there’s no better place to find it than the surrounding countryside and coastline at Chesil Beach Lodge, and no better place to stay than our beautiful and comfortable self-catering and bed and breakfast accommodation, with its wonderful location with access to fine walks and stunning panoramic sea views.

Dorset has many walking groups, including: the Dorset Long Distance Walkers Association which offers monthly walks, occasional social events, and two challenge walks each year; the Ramblers’ Association; the Dorset Young Walkers (a group of walkers, aged from their 20s to 40s) and The Swanage Walking Group. You don’t have to be a member of these groups to join them on their explorations of the beautiful Dorset countryside.

The walking in Dorset web site has lots of information on walking in the Dorset countryside, including information on walking groups, descriptions of walks and maps.

Exploring Dorset on foot is a great way to walk your way to fitness and gain new friends along the way. If you would like to book accommodation in Dorset for your walking holiday, please contact us as soon as possible. We very much look forward to welcoming you here.

What’s on in Dorset: January

2011-01-11T11:45:00.000Z

Hello, and welcome to our first post for a brand new year! We’re looking forward to welcoming new visitors and old friends to Chesil Beach Lodge in 2011, and we’d like to wish you all a very happy and peaceful new year.

As always, here’s a selection of a few of the activities and events in Dorset in January:

13th January - A lecture from the Sherborne Historical Society entitled “A History of the Quakers in Industry”, with special reference to the West Country, by Dr. M Atkinson. Digby Hall, Hound Street, Sherborne, 8pm. Telephone 01935 873535 for more information

13th January - An Evening of Jazz, Swing and 60s Music at The Big Hall, Sherborne School. Tickets cost £6 from Sherborne TIC. Telephone 01935 815341 for more information.

15th January to 30th April Georgian Faces: Portrait of a County, an exhibition of portraiture featuring many works from collections rarely on public display, at the Dorset County Museum, Dorchester. Monday to Saturday 10am – 4pm.

15th January to 27th February - The Illusory and The Real, an exhibition by textile artist Pat Hodson, exploring the interaction between the between the suggested marks and colours we can create on computer with the hand drawn marks and patterns created by traditional textile processes. Walford Mill Crafts, Stone Lane, Wimborne. 10am to 5pm. Admission is free.

19th January - Volunteer Conservation Task at Lorton Meadows. Dorset Wildlife Trust, Lorton Meadows, Lorton Lane, Weymouth. Practical work to restore the habitats important for local wildlife. Tools, gloves and drinks supplied, bring lunch. 10am to 2pm.

Saturday 22nd January, Dorchester Antique Fair, at the Corn Exchange, High Street, Dorchester. 10 am – 4pm. Admission 60p.

28th January - A Night of Romantic Opera from Swansea City Opera Company, at Brownsword Hall, Pummery Square, Poundbury, 7.30pm. A wonderful evening of arias and ensembles performed by singers from major opera houses. Tickets are £12 in advance from the Garden Centre of Stitchinghouse Design Poundbury, or £15 on the door. Telephone 01305 751815 for more information.

This is just a small sample of what’s on offer and if you plan to visit Dorset in January for any of these events, don’t forget to book accommodation in Dorset as soon as possible.

Green New Year’s resolutions

2010-12-26T11:41:00.001Z

We strive to be as green as we possibly can, and we are committed to providing unique sustainable holiday accommodation in Dorset. This means that recycling, reducing waste, supporting local enterprise and businesses, and buying and using organic and locally sourced products, is very much a part of our life at Chesil Beach Lodge.

If you’re resolving to have a greener 2011, here are few suggestions to help you make your Green New Year resolutions:

Drive your car less – walk when you can, or ride a bike. It’s not only good for the planet, but also ideal if your other New Year resolutions include getting fitter or losing weight J

Avoid air travel when you can. Travelling by train is more environmentally friendly;

Grow your own vegetables (also an excellent way to keep fit);

Compost your kitchen and garden waste;

Plant a tree;

Set aside a ‘wild’ area of your garden, and garden organically;

Use ‘a bag for life’ and reduce your use of plastic bags and unnecessary packaging;

Buy organic and local produce;

Recycle and reuse as much as possible – e.g. mobile phones, clothes, paper, plastic bottles and glass;

Swap clothes with a friend, or a group of friends;

Save water – don’t run taps unnecessarily and make sure there are no dripping taps or leaks (here are lots more tips on saving water at home from WaterWise);

Save energy e.g. use energy saving light bulbs and appliances, don’t leave appliances on standby and turn off lights when you leave a room, and make sure your home is well insulated;

Use environmentally friendly cleaning products;

Use recycled paper products;

Stop receiving junk mail (the Mailing Preference Service has some useful information and advice on how to do this);

Book sustainable holidays J

Open a bank account with an ethical bank.

Contact us to find out more about our eco-friendly bed and breakfast and self-catering accommodation in Dorset. A warm welcome awaits you at Chesil Beach Lodge so make your holiday in 2011 a sustainable one.

Christmas holiday activities for children

2010-12-18T11:40:00.001Z

Staying with this month’s theme of Christmassy things to do and see in Dorset, we thought we’d suggest just a few of the many exciting and fun things for keeping your children happy and occupied over the Christmas holidays.

Lulworth Castle comes to life this Christmas with its Christmas Castle Fun activities. From the 19th to 31st December your children can enjoy storytime by the fireside, magic shows, quizzes, Castle games and things to make and take home. Children go free with a voucher which can be downloaded from their web site. The castle is closed on 24th and 25th December.

Learn all about teddy bears, and how they’re made at The Fascinating Story Of Teddy Bears at 2.30pm on 18th December at the Lyme Regis Museum, Bridge Street, Lyme Regis,

For the morning of 18th December the streets of Bridport around Bucky Doo Square become Bethlehem, complete with a live outdoor nativity, drama and songs. Apparently there will also be a llama or two.

The Lyme Regis Museum Christmas Family Fun Day on the 29th December has lots of creative Christmas activities for all the family. Drop in between 11am and 3pm and get creative with museum curator Mary Godwin.

Pantomimes

Cinderella at the Pavilion Theatre, Bournemouth, from the 4th December to the 2nd January.

Peter Pan at The Lighthouse, Poole, from the 10th December to the 9th January.

Peter Pan at The Pavilion, Weymouth from the 14th December to the 3rd January.

Further afield: Aladdin at the Salisbury Playhouse from 8th December to 8th January

At Chesil Beach Lodge we have delightful self-catering family friendly accommodation that’s perfect for your family holiday. To book family friendly sustainable accommodation in Dorset please contact us as soon as possible: we very much look forward to welcoming you and your family here.

Christmas Shopping in Dorset

2010-12-12T11:35:00.002Z

Dorset is full of interesting and exciting shops and markets for your Christmas shopping; and if you’re on the hunt for places to buy unusual and locally sourced Christmas gifts and supplies, here are a few suggestions to inspire you:

Inspired by traditional German markets, the Bournemouth Christmas Market is decorated with Christmas lights, decorations and animated figures, and has approximately 50 festive alpine chalets offering authentic seasonal gifts and traditional food from across the UK, as well as from further afield inEurope. Attractions include a Victorian carousel, carol singing and a beer garden selling mulled wines. The market is open from 28th November to 21st December, 10am to 6pm (Sunday 11am to 5pm).

The Lyme Regis Christmas Market is open from the 10th to 12th December, at Town Mill, Mill Lane. Lots of choice for a unique quality handmade gift, including pottery, wood, glass, textiles, jewellery, paintings, photography, prints, and metalwork. The market is open on Friday 10th 5-9pm (with mulled wine and mince pies), Saturday 11th 10am-5pm and Sunday 12th 10am-4pm.

Or how about the Affordable Art for Christmas exhibition, at Town Mill, Lyme Regis? They have original prints and paintings, in a variety of media, by members of Morcombelake Art Group. The exhibition runs from the 4th December to the 4th January.

The Dorset Art & Craft Show has over 50 exhibitors with unique arts and crafts for sale. The show is on Saturday 12th December, at The Corn Exchange, Dorchester from 10am - 4pm. Admission is free.

The Bridport Feast of Christmas sounds wonderful: local food producers and small specialist food businesses with lots of delicious foods made and sourced locally, all at the Arts Centre in Bridport on Saturday 18th December, 9am to 1pm.

If you’re visiting Dorset for Christmas or New Year, don’t forget to book bed and breakfast accommodation in Dorset or self catering accommodation in Dorset as soon as possible.

What’s on in Dorset: December

2010-12-06T09:21:00.001Z

Hello from an unusually cold and wintry West Dorset!

A blanket of snow on the countryside really is a delight to see, but we hope it hasn’t caused you too much trouble with your work, travel and daily life.

We’re looking forward to Christmas very much and, as you would expect, Dorset has lots of events to help you get into the festive spirit, from the traditionally seasonal, to the more unusual, and here’s our pick of what’s on in December:

The Sherborne Christmas Tree Festival, in Cheap Street Church, takes place from the 4th to the 12th of December. You can see Christmas trees decorated and exhibited by organizations from around Sherborne. The church is open daily from 10am – 4.30pm and there is a carol service on Sunday 12th at 6.30pm. Entrance is free, but donations are invited for the Sherborne & District Disabled Ambulance, and the Zambian School Project.

On the 7th December (weather permitting), there’s the wonderfully evocative sounding Christmas Carol Special steam train from London to Sherborne, with the Steam Dreams

company. A journey through snow covered countryside in a steam train decorated for Christmas, followed by a carol service in Sherborne Abbey, sounds perfect. Tickets are from £65 for adults and from £55 for children.

From the 7th to 15th December there will be 65 illuminated and decorated trees to see at the 13th Annual Bridport Christmas Tree Festival, in United Church, East Street. The church is open weekdays from 10am (Sunday 2pm) and admission is free.

Bridport’s Late Night Shopping evening is on the 8th December, from 6pm. Most shops will be open so there will be lots of opportunities to purchase Christmas gifts and supplies from them, and from the many craft, food and charity stalls and the Farmers’ Market. Santa will also be making an appearance in his ‘Santa’s Grotto’ and there’ll be music and entertainment from the St. Swithuns Band and the Symondsbury Mummers.

For all you amateur sleuths out there, how about an evening of murder and mayhem with the Murder in the Museum evening ‘The Slayer of Casterbridge’, at the County Museum, Dorchester on the 10th December? Tickets are £20 and include a buffet meal. There will also be a bar. Telephone 01305 262735.

At the glorious Sherborne Abbey on 13th December, is the Abbey’s gift to the town, The Sherborne Christmas, a family concert with the Sherborne Abbey Choir, the Sherborne Town Band, the Sherborne Young Singers and The Gryphon School Choir. The concert starts at 7.30pm. Admission is free.

If you’ve been inspired by the fabulous dancing on Strictly Come Dancing, or you’re already a dream on the dance floor, there’s the Christmas Ballroom Dance at the Marine Theatre, Church Street, Lyme Regis, on the 15th December from 7.30pm to 11pm. Dances include Ballroom, Latin and Popular Sequence. Please bring a plate of food for an American Supper (there will also be a licensed bar). Reserve your table and book your tickets at the Theatre Office 01297 442394.From the 17th to 22nd December, Monkton Wyld Court has a residential Winter Work Week

(£75). Monkton Wyld Court is a centre for sustainable living near Dorset's Jurassic Coast that provides workshops and family weeks for learning skills for sustainable living, including: beekeeping; permaculture; eco-building; green technologies; sustainable land use and environmental crafts. For Winter Work Week they are: “inviting friends and supporters to join us in sprucing up the house this December. Chores will include sanding floors, preparing and eco-painting walls, stenciling in bedrooms, making new lampshades and baking goodies for the impending yuletide. We also expect a bonfire or two, a winter's walk to the seashore, and with any luck a good bit of caroling. If you love Monkton and aren't afraid of a little hard graft, do come down and help us apply a little Christmas TLC.”

Are you brave enough for a winter dip in the sea?! How about The Christmas Day Harbour Swim across Weymouth Harbour, or The West Bay Wallow charity fancy dress swim at midday on Boxing Day, from East Beach, Bridport? Brrr!!!

And to end 2010 and welcome in the New Year in style, there’s The Great Big New Year's Eve Dance with The River Coly Jazz Band, on 31st December 8pm to 1am at The Marine Theatre, Lyme Regis. Tickets are £12.50.

At this time of year, our cosy Chesil and Fossil self-catering apartments with their wood burners, plus 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 relaxing holiday, plus spectacular sea views from every room. 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.

Celebrate New Year in West Dorset!

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Our family-friendly self-catering accommodation in Dorset is perfect for your New Year holiday and celebrations.

Celebrate the New Year and welcome in 2011 while staying in a stunning apartment by the sea with spectacular sea views; breath taking winter walks on the nearby beaches and coastal walks; mouth-wateringly delicious home cooked and locally sourced meals, and easy access to many excellent local restaurants and attractions in the beautiful Dorset countryside.

Why not make it an extra special New Year and invite your wider family or circle of friends? We have three delightful centrally-heated one bedroomed self-catering apartments available to book for New Year. They all include a 4’sofa bed in the lounge and sleep up to four people. Our Jurassic apartment has wonderful views over Burton Bradstock and the Jurassic Coast, and our Chesil and Fossil apartments have stunning coast and ocean views, and wood burners for supplemental heating.

Our Lyme Bay self-catering apartment has two bedrooms and a 4’ sofa bed in the lounge, and sleeps up to six people. It has a fully fitted kitchen, central heating, a large conservatory, direct access to the patio and garden and spectacular sea views.

All our apartments have digital Freeview TV and DVD player, and free WiFi. Well behaved dogs are welcome by prior arrangement, and we have lots of off-road parking.

To book accommodation in Dorset for New Year, please contact us as soon as possible. We very much look forward to welcoming you here and celebrating the arrival of a new year with you.

A Writer’s Dorset

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The Dorset County Museum, in Dorchester, has a fascinating gallery exhibition exploring the lives and work of Dorset’s authors, poets and playwrights – all of whom were inspired by Dorset’s landscape and people. Authors’ work explored in this exhibition includes that of Thomas Hardy, Sylvia Townsend Warner; Dorset poet William Barnes, novelist John Meade Falkner; Jane Austen, William Wordsworth and Sir Walter Raleigh.

Thomas Hardy was born and raised in Dorchester and is perhaps the most well-known and celebrated of Dorset’s authors. The exhibition includes a reconstruction of Thomas Hardy’s study from his home at Max Gate, complete with his furniture, personal possessions and the pens he used to write Tess of the D’Urbervilles and Jude the Obscure.

From the 11th October to 11th December, the Dorset County Museum also has a brand new and very interesting exhibition, Thomas Hardy on Stage and Screen, which explores Thomas Hardy's relationship with dramatic adaptations of his novels and stories for stage, screen and TV.

Many of Hardy’s works have been adapted for film and television and the exhibition has displays of posters, photographs and film clips, as well as previously long-lost footage of some early adaptions of his work.

The New Hardy Players were formed in 2005 to celebrate the works of Thomas Hardy. Recent performances include The Mayor of Casterbridge and The Distracted Preacher. Norrie Woodhall (who is 104 years old) is their “guide, inspiration and President”: she is one of the last people who knew Thomas Hardy and she was a member of the original Hardy Players, an amateur dramatic group which performed Hardy's works between 1908 and 1924.

If you’re visiting Thomas Hardy country this autumn and winter, don’t forget to book bed and breakfast accommodation in Dorset or self catering accommodation in Dorset as soon as possible. We look forward to meeting you.

10 tips for a Sustainable Christmas

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Here at Chesil Beach Lodge in Dorset, we are very proud of our eco-credentials and our sustainable holiday accommodation. We are firmly committed to reducing the impact of tourism on the environment, of course; but we are also committed to doing our best to be eco-friendly in every area of our lives.

We love Christmas, but there’s no doubt it’s potentially one of the most wasteful and un-environmentally friendly times of the year! We might not be guaranteed a white Christmas this year, but here are some of our favourite tips for helping to make your Christmas a green one.

Have a living Christmas tree. A tree in a pot can be re-used for several years, or planted in your garden if you have space. Why not try something completely different this year and rent a Christmas tree?! Dorset’s Christmas Tree Rental Company will deliver a tree of your choice to your door (with simple instructions on how to take care of it). After Christmas, on a date specified by you, they will collect your tree and look after it until next Christmas. You can even have the same tree back the following Christmas.

If you’re not saving your Christmas tree for another year, check out your local council for chipping services and use the resulting mulch on your garden.

Make your own Christmas cards.

Make your own gifts: make special food products, knit a jumper, paint a picture, take a photograph of a favourite place and frame it, make a quilt, grow a plant or bulbs – the list is endless. If you have a skill why not share it and offer a few hours’ gardening, a massage, a makeover, or help designing a personal web site? What skills do you have that someone else would appreciate?

Buy locally made and locally sourced products as presents.

Find gifts that are recycled wherever possible. Jaxson’s Gifts in Bridport, Dorset offers a quirky and fun range of recycled gifts: from flat glass bottle clocks and flat champagne bottle platters; to recycled beer bottle fridge magnets and stationery made from recycled maps.

Use recycled wrapping paper, or use imaginative alternatives such as fabric remnants or left-over rolls of wallpaper, pages from old magazines and newspapers, or your children’s pictures or paintings,

Find alternatives to battery powered toys. Myriad Natural Toys and Crafts near Cranborne in Dorset has a wide range of environmentally friendly wooden toys, plus natural play products and art and craft materials.

Minimise your use of outside electric lights and decorations or, even better, don’t use them at all.

After Christmas, recycle or reuse your Christmas cards, wrapping paper and packaging. Recycle your cards via the Woodland Trust and they pledge to plant more trees.

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 Christmas so please contact us to book self-catering and bed and breakfast accommodation, or for more details.

What’s on in Dorset: November

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We hope you had good October. Now that November’s here, and the days are growing ever shorter and the weather is distinctly chilly; it’s sometimes very tempting to stay indoors in the warm. However, there are many things to do in Dorset in November, and the crisp sunny days we’ve been having recently are perfect for enjoying the autumn colour, and wrapping up warm to venture out and enjoy all that Dorset has to offer.

Here’s our pick of some of the best for November….

On the weekend of the 21st November, you can take part in Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre’s ‘Fossil Fantastic Weekend’ - a whole weekend of fossil hunting and activities. Booking is essential. Telephone 01297 560772.

The Corn Exchange in Dorchester is presenting A Christmas Carol on the 11th to 13th November (adapted by John Mortimer from the story by Charles Dickens). The performance starts at 7.30pm. Tickets are £8 (£9 on the door), under 18's £5, and are available from Words Etecera, Dorchester. Telephone 01305 257694 (www.dorchesterdrama.org.uk)

The Dorset Art and Crafts Show takes place on the 20th – 21st November at Woodmead Halls, Hill Road, Lyme Regis, 10am - 4pm. You can see over 20 exhibitors selling & demonstrating original arts & crafts – and perhaps make a few early Christmas present purchases? Refreshments are available and admission is free. Telephone 07730 557090.

How about the wonderfully titled Fur, Feathers, Footprints & Faeces course at Kingcombe Environmental Studies Centre on the 27th November? “Learn how to become a nature investigator and identify the signs that animals leave behind of their presence. You will learn a range of field craft skills that will enable you to call birds from the trees, and track animals. You may even spot signs of our local otter!” Telephone 01300 320684.

For the more energetic among you, the Dorset Adventure Races take place at Lulworth Castle on the 27th November. Events organised by Cumulus Outdoor Events include 15km running, walking, mountain biking and navigation challenges around Lulworth Castle and Estate,. The cost is £35 per person - 10% discount if you book early. Telephone 01929 426044. If this all sounds a little too energetic for a chilly November day, perhaps you could go along as an enthusiastic spectator J

Also on the 27th November, is the official ‘Switching On of the Christmas Lights’ at Lyme Regis.

We hope this gives you a small taste of the many interesting and entertaining events coming up in November. To book accommodation in Dorset for your November break, please contact us.

Art and the Arts events and exhibitions in Dorset

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Dorset has a thriving and vibrant art and arts scene, with diverse and very talented local artists and performers. There are many galleries selling wonderful visual feasts of local artists’ work; plus regular exhibitions and live performances demonstrating a wide range of amazing creative and performing arts.

If you’d like to discover more about local arts events, the following sites have lots of interesting information, plus dates for upcoming performances and exhibitions.

The Dorset County Museum in Dorchester holds regular art exhibitions, as does the Lyme Regis Museum and the Town Mill Gallery in Lyme Regis.

Bridport Arts Centre has a fantastic programme of dance, music and theatre lined up for autumn; and the Dorchester Arts’ programme for the coming weeks includes puppet making and animation; dance and music workshops; children’s theatre; Blues nights and poetry.

The Electric Palace and the Eype Centre for the Arts in Bridport, both have a full programme of performances and events suitable for all ages; including drama, music, comedy, film and dance.

Artsreach is a rural touring arts organisation, giving rural communities all over Dorset the opportunity to see and participate in high quality arts events in their own villages. They also have a full programme of performances for the coming weeks, including The Wolves of Willoughby Chase.

If you’re visiting Dorset soon, don’t forget to book bed and breakfast accommodation in Dorset or self catering accommodation in Dorset as soon as possible.

Film and TV locations in Dorset

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Dorset is a beautiful county with breathtaking scenery, picturesque unspoilt villages and charming historic towns; so it’s not surprising that it’s been used as the backdrop to many film and TV productions.

There are too many to list here so we have chosen an eclectic mix of just a few. How many of them have you watched, and did you realise Dorset was featured in them?

Lyme Regis was the location for The French Lieutenant’s Woman starring Meryl Streep and Jeremy Irons;

Durdle Door makes an appearance Nanny Mcphee;

West Bay appears in the BBC TV series Harbour Lights starring Nick Berry;

The 1960’s film The Damned, starring Oliver Reed and Shirley Ann Field, was shot around Weymouth and Portland;

Lulworth Cove stars in Pirates of the Caribbean

ITV’s Inspector Wexford series, starring George Baker, has scenes set in Dorset;

Dorset was the location for the 1967 film Far From The Madding Crowd, based on Thomas Hardy’s book, and starring Julie Christie, Terence Stamp and Peter Finch;

Much of Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall’s River Cottage series was filmed in a former gate keeper’s cottage at Slape Manor near Bridport;

Claysmore School in Iwerne Minster was the location for the famous chandelier episode in Only Fools and Horses;

A disused quarry at Moreton was used to film scenes for Tenko;

And the Dorset countryside appears in the 2010 film Tamara Drewe.

Do you know of any other films or TV shows that feature Dorset?

To book eco-friendly accommodation in Dorset, please contact us.

Family friendly half-term accommodation in Dorset

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Are you considering where to go for your family’s half-term break?

Here at Chesil Beach Lodge we have stunning self catering family friendly accommodation in Dorset that’s perfect for your family holiday.

We have four self-catering apartments including our two-bedroom Lyme Bay Apartment which sleeps up to six people; has a fully fitted kitchen including dishwasher and microwave; a 4’ sofa bed in the lounge; a family shower room; a large conservatory; direct access to the patio and garden; digital Freeview TV and DVD player, and free WiFi.

Our delightful one bedroom Jurassic, Fossil and Chesil apartments include a 4’sofa bed in the lounge, and all sleep up to four people. They are fitted out to the same excellent standard as our Lyme Bay apartment.

We have ample off road parking, and well behaved dogs are welcome by prior arrangement.

Children love exploring the amazing Jurassic coastline and local beaches and coves; and there are many family-friendly Dorset attractions open over half term, including: Kingston Maurward Animal Park and Abbotsbury Swannery and, nearby in Somerset, the Haynes International Motor Museum and the Fleet Air Arm Museum.

If you don’t feel like cooking after a busy day exploring, we’ll deliver a home-cooked meal to your apartment. Our menu includes delicious family meals such as:

Chilli Con Carne with rice;

Local Dorset beef lasagne with garlic bread and salad;

Cottage Pie with seasonal vegetables;

Roasted vegetable lasagne with garlic bread and salad;

Chicken Casserole in a creamy mushroom sauce with seasonal vegetables and buttery mashed potato;

and wonderful puddings perfect for autumn days, including:

Chocolate Truffle Torte with cream

Lemon Meringue pie with cream

Honeycomb and chocolate cream pudding

Please contact us to book unique sustainable accommodation in Dorset for half-term.

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

We look forward to welcoming you here.

What’s on in Dorset: October

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It’s hard to believe it is October already. Autumn has arrived in style here in West Dorset: we’ve had some glorious sunny autumn days, and the leaves on the trees are turning myriad shades of gold. October also promises to have many fine days: perfect for long walks, and days out visiting some of the many local attractions and events. Here’s our pick of some of the best for October:

Sherborne’s Pack Monday Fair, on the 11th October, is a very popular annual street market: thought to date back to medieval times. Four of Sherborne’s major streets are lined with hundreds of stalls and street traders; and there’s lots of entertainment and a funfair. Pack Monday Fair starts with a noisy midnight procession through Sherborne’s streets, with participants blowing whistles and horns and making as much noise as possible!

There’s some doubt about the origins of Pack Monday Fair: some people say it has connections with the completion of building work on Sherborne Abbey, and gets its name from the day the workers ‘packed’ up their tools; others say that the midnight procession has its origins in the celebratory procession that once marked the completion of repairs to the Abbey following a fire. Another possible origin is the tradition of servants and farm workers gathering in their local market town in order to find employment; followed by a fair held to celebrate their new jobs.

Regardless of its now long-forgotten origins, it’s always a fun and entertaining day out.

In 2009 the Eat Dorset Food Fair was shortlisted in the ‘Best Countryside Event’ by Country Life Magazine. This event is on 16th to 17th October, at Parnham House, Beaminster, and offers two lively and packed days of hands-on sessions and demonstrations and talks from local food producers; as well as some of London’s top chefs. Children can get involved too and have lots of messy fun while they have a go at baking bread, decorating cakes and making chocolate.

For all the book lovers out there there’s the Eype Autumn 2010 Book ‘n’ Author Week, at the Eype Centre for Arts near Dorchester, on 18th to 22nd October. Book ‘n’ Author week is a literary festival featuring a selection of interviews, presentations and talks involving notable contemporary authors who write across a wide range of genres. Visitors are advised to book in advance for this popular event, via the Bridport Tourist Information Office: telephone 01308 424901

On the 30th and 31st October, Sherborne Castle holds its Autumn Colours Weekend. Sherborne Castle’s stunning Lakeside Gardens and ‘pleasure grounds’ were created by Capability Brown, and this is a wonderful opportunity to see them in all their autumn glory. Visitors can enjoy reduced price entry to the gardens and grounds on both days. Opening times are 11am to 4.30pm.

We hope this gives you a small taste of the many interesting and entertaining events coming up in October. To book accommodation in Dorset for your October break, please contact us.

It’s not too early to think about your Christmas break!

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Yes, we know it’s only October, but we’re open right through winter, including Christmas, so it really isn’t too early to start planning your Christmas break and booking your sustainable holiday accommodation in Dorset.

You can stay in one of our four delightful self catering apartments, or book into our superior bed and breakfast accommodation – all with spectacular sea views.

If you decide to eat in, we offer delicious home cooked locally sourced dishes that will either be put in your fridge ready for you to heat up or, at your request, we will deliver to you.

There are also lots of superb places to eat out in Dorset over Christmas and New Year; from top seafood restaurants, to ‘Gastro Pubs’, to a 300 year old thatched public house and restaurant with local real ales.

To book accommodation in Dorset for Christmas, please contact us as soon as possible. We very much look forward to welcoming you here.

Spend half-term at Chesil Beach Lodge in Dorset

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If you’re looking for somewhere to spend half-term with the children, Chesil Beach Lodge, with its self catering and bed and breakfast accommodation, is the perfect option. There’s lots going on in Dorset in October and of course we’re right by the beach where all children love to explore and run around, whatever the time of year.

From the 13th to 31st October you can visit the Enchanted Floodlit Gardens at Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens – twenty acres of fabulous gardens filled with rare and exotic plants from all over the world. From Friday 29th October to Sunday 31st October there will be Halloween Fun Evenings from 5 to 8pm, with free face painting and free prizes for children in fancy dress.

For older children; how about the Sherborne International Film Festival? This event takes place from Friday 22nd to Sunday 24th October. As always, the festival gives you the opportunity to watch films you wouldn’t normally be able to see – an eclectic mixture of the profound, funny, subtle, sad and captivating. Film Certificates range from PG, to 12, 15 and 18.

On the 23rd and 24th of October, the Lyme Regis Museum is open free of charge for Mary Anning Weekend – two days of activities, fascinating exhibitions, and entertaining talks about dinosaurs and fossils. You can also meet the museum’s fossil experts, find out all about local fossils and rocks, and bring your own fossils for identification. In the Family Fun Make and Take

activities you can make your own fossil plaster casts and then take them home.

On Saturday 30th October teenagers can meet Urban Fantasy author Suzanne McLeod at Bridport Arts Centre, as part of the Bridport Literary Festival. “With Halloween looming, come and meet the creator to chill your bones. Suzanne McLeod writes books, hugely popular with teenagers, about seductive vampires, dangerous faeries, eccentric goblins, magic mayhem and murder! Come along if you dare!”

To book your eco friendly half-term holiday in Dorset, please contact us.

Autumn walks in West Dorset

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Dorset is a beautiful county at any time of the year and if, like many of our visitors, you love walking on the beach by the sea or along the coastal paths, then autumn is a particularly wonderful time to visit.

Our unique sustainable holiday accommodation at Chesil Beach Lodge is only a four minute walk from the beach - and a bracing and invigorating autumn walk on Chesil Beach is just perfect for blowing away those cobwebs!

The South West Coast Path runs almost right by our door and its cliff walks offer spectacular views of the sea, beaches and coves and take you past the famous fossil cliffs; past Golden Cap, the highest cliff in southern England; and past the much photographed Durdle Door (a natural limestone arch on the Jurassic Coast).

Well behaved dogs are welcome at our bed and breakfast and self catering accommodation, and with its spectacular views and wide open spaces the surrounding area is perfect for walking your dog. Some local beaches are closed to dogs during the summer months but, as September arrives, most beaches in the area are open to dogs once again. Click here for information on dog-friendly beaches in West Dorset.

After a wild and windy walk on the stunning Chesil Beach or the coast path, there’s nothing quite like coming back to our cosy Chesil and Fossil self catering apartments; throwing off your coat and boots, and toasting your toes in front of a wonderfully warm log fire burner.

Whatever the weather, Chesil Beach Lodge is welcoming, and warm and cosy. All of our B&B rooms and self-catering apartments have sea views, so on stormy days, over breakfast, your evening meal, or even over a Dorset cream tea, you can relax and enjoy the sight of the wind whipping up the waves in Lyme Bay.Please contact us to book accommodation in Dorset for your autumn break.

What’s on in Dorset: September

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Well, another summer seems to have whizzed by; the local children are back at school, and September has heralded its arrival with a bit of a nip in the air. We hope you enjoyed your summer.

Our thoughts are now turning to autumn and, while we might have seen the best of the summer weather, there are still plenty of fine autumn days to come, and plenty of things to do in Dorset in September. Here’s our pick of some of the many events and attractions for this month.

The 8th to 16th September sees the annual event, Dorset Architectural Heritage Week. Dorset has a rich architectural and cultural heritage and during Architectural Heritage Week the public have free access to many properties that are normally closed to the public or that charge for entry. Properties you’ll be able to explore include a Wesley Memorial Church, a rare example of a 17th century Quaker Meeting House, the magnificent Grade 1 Listed cliff-top Highcliffe Castle, a WWII Pillbox overlooking the River Stour, and the 300 year old Sturminster Newton Mill which is still in full working order.

The Lyme Regis Arts Fest starts on the 25th September and finishes on the 3rd October. A packed programme offers open studios where you can meet artists and find out about their work; art exhibitions; street theatre; busking; drama, film and dance. And if you fancy learning a new skill there are workshops where you can learn or develop skills in mixed media, stained glass, poetry, photography and painting. It promises to be a fantastic programme of events for all the family and well worth a visit.

This is just a small sample of what’s on offer and if you plan to visit Dorset in September for any of these events, don’t forget to book accommodation in Dorset as soon as possible.

Visit Lyme Regis

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The historic seaside town and fishing port of Lyme Regis is situated in South West Dorset. This beautiful part of Dorset is world famous for its geology and fossil finds and has been awarded World Heritage Site Status.

Be sure to pack a pair of wellies or walking shoes so you can take part in a fun and informative guided fossil walk along Lyme Bay’s famous Jurassic Coast. And if you’re not fortunate enough to find your own Jurassic fossil, Lyme Regis has many shops selling a fascinating variety of fossils of all sizes. Click here for a Fossil Walk timetable and to book a Fossil Walk.

Lyme Bay is ideal for water sports such as sailing, yachting, swimming, wind surfing and body boarding. Local charter boats take individuals and groups for fishing trips and diving trips.

Lyme Regis was the location of the 1981 film The French Lieutenant’s Woman starring Meryl Streep (and adapted from the novel of the same name by John Fowles). One of the most striking images from the film is the classic scene where Meryl Streep stands on The Cobb (the harbour wall) gazing out to sea: a pose which has been recreated in many holiday photos in the years since this popular film was made! The Cobb also features in Jane Austen’s novel, Persuasion.

The town and its coastline is very popular with artists and there are many art galleries selling local artists’ work. The famous American artist James Whistler visited Lyme Regis in the summer of 1895, when he painted two of his finest portraits: The Master-Smith of Lyme Regis and The Little Rose of Lyme Regis.

Lyme Regis is an essential destination if you’re visiting Dorset and if you’re looking for local accommodation, Chesil Beach Lodge is perfectly located. Click here to book our bed and breakfast and self-catering accommodation on Dorset’s Jurassic Coast.

How to have an eco-friendly holiday

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As well as booking sustainable holiday accommodation, there are other ways in which you can help to ensure that your holiday is as eco-friendly as possible:

Cycle, walk, go for a pony or horse ride, and visit nearby towns and attractions by bus or train whenever you can: make the most of the beautiful countryside and really see what the local towns have to offer. And fewer cars on the roads will make the holiday season better for everyone.

When you’re about and about be careful not to leave your litter on the beach, or in the countryside.

When you’re in your holiday accommodation turn off appliances that you’re not using and, of course, don’t forget to turn off the lights when you leave your rooms for the day.

Take spare bags with you for your holiday purchases and, as you would do at home, refuse all packaging and bags that aren’t absolutely necessary. Check to see if your holiday accommodation has a recycling bin for your recyclable packaging.

If you’re in self-catering accommodation, or camping, make the most of local farmers’ markets, farm shops and shops selling locally produced food.

Buy ‘green’ gifts for family and friends back home. For example; help the local economy by buying locally produced food items. Perhaps the area you are visiting has traditional recipes or nationally recognized products: Dorset has Dorset Blue Vinny Cheese, Dorset Knob Biscuits, and Dorset Apple Cake.

These are just a few suggestions. Do you have any others to share?

Eco-friendly accommodation in Dorset

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If you’re looking for eco-friendly self-catering holiday accommodation in Dorset, Chesil Beach Lodge is your ideal holiday destination. We offer a choice of four delightful self catering apartments; each with stunning sea and coastal views over Lyme Bay.

Our eco credentials

Wherever possible, we use organic and locally sourced products: locally produced cheese and dairy products, locally baked bread, locally caught fish, and meat from our local butcher.

In order to minimise waste we buy in bulk, avoid buying products that are over-packaged, and we compost our vegetable waste.

In the day-to-day running of the house we use environmentally friendly cleaning products, energy efficient light bulbs, open fires and wood burners to supplement heating, and we line-dry the laundry in summer.

We are committed to recycling and all our glass, plastic milk bottles, tins, clothes and cardboard is collected and recycled in Dorset. Unwanted household items and clothing are recycled via our local Oxfam shop.

We believe in supporting local industry and we employ local staff and hire local trades people.

We encourage our guests to explore the local area on foot or on public transport, and we have a wide range of maps and guides which guests are free to use.

Choose between one or two bedroom apartments, sleeping between four and six people.We provide everything you need to make your holiday as comfortable and relaxing as possible, but with minimum impact on the planet. All our self catering apartments have central heating (two are supplemented with wood burners), oven / hob, fridge, microwave, iron and ironing board, king size beds plus 4’ sofa beds, linen and towels for main bedrooms, and Digital Freeview TV and DVD player. We also provide free WiFi.

And if you don’t feel like cooking on your first evening on holiday, or after a busy day exploring Dorset and its many attractions, you can request a delicious home-cooked locally sourced evening meal to be delivered to your apartment or put in your fridge ready for your arrival.

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

Visit Dorset Farmers’ Markets

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If you’re planning to stay in Dorset, don’t miss the county’s marvellous markets. There are markets across West Dorset. Why not start with a Farmers’ Market?

Farmers markets are a sense explosion: beautiful smells of fresh cooked food and coffee greet you as you arrive. Many stall holders will offer samples, so you can taste before you buy. Your eyes will relish the colours of the beautifully arranged seasonal fruit, flowers and vegetables.

There is a wonderful range of fresh, local produce for sale at every Dorset Farmers’ Market across the county. You can find high quality ingredients for your dinner, or even home-cooked pies and quiches, perfect with some fresh salad leaves for the no-cook holiday meal. You can find gifts to take home and meet the farmers, producers and growers directly.

You know we support sustainable tourism in Dorset, so remember that when you shop at a farmers market you are supporting local producers too. Find Farmers’ Markets at the venues listed:

Bridport Farmers’ Market 2nd Saturday in each month – Arts Centre 9.30am-2pm

Dorchester Farmers’ Market 1st Saturday in each month at Poundbury, 9am-1pm

Sherborne Farmers’ Market 3rd Friday in each month – Cheap Street, 9am-1pm

What’s on in Dorset: August

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Here’s our pick of some of the many Dorset events during August

Ship ahoy! Step back in time and sail on the spectacular Tall Ship ‘Earl of Pembroke’, a three masted wooden sailing ship whose film credits include Hornblower Series III, Treasure Island, Moll Flanders, Frenchman’s Creek, Shaka Zulu, Longitude and Wives & Daughters. The Earl of Pembroke will sail twice daily from Weymouth from the 1st to 7th of August (no sailings on the 4th August). Tickets are £40 per person. To book, or for further details, contact Square Sail 01726 70241 http://www.square-sail.com

The week of 7th to 15th August sees a fun packed programme of events for all the family at the 2010 Lyme Regis Regatta and Carnival Week. The itinerary includes a beach treasure hunt; balloon races; regatta races; sand sport; torchlight processions; a dog show; lifeboat display; pavement art; teddy bears’ picnic and teddy bears’ parachute jump; gymnastics, taekwondo and majorettes displays; Old Lyme ghost tour, the World Pebble Balancing Championship and much much more. All money raised all goes to local good causes. Telephone 01209 443696 for more information.

The Bridport Carnival Procession takes place on Saturday 21st August. As always, this will be a very colourful event with many floats and walking entries, plus a carnival fete and funfair at Asker Meadows. On Sunday 22nd August you can take part in the fantastic spectacle of the traditional torchlight parade and join hundreds of people walking from Bucky Doo Square in Bridport to West Bay, where there will be a bar and live band on the beach, plus a bonfire and amazing firework display. Telephone 07836 516763 for more details.

On 22nd August, you can also watch a thrilling search and rescue display given by the Weymouth Lifeboat, Lyme Regis Lifeboat and HM Coastguard's Portland Helicopter Rescue Team (weather and emergencies permitting), at the RNLI Fun Day at West Bay. There will also be plenty of activities and games for all the family on The Green.

If you are interested in traditional crafts, the countryside and conservation, and you would like to learn more, the Stock Gaylard Oak Fair on the 28th August promises to be a very enjoyable day out. There will be over 100 different activities, stalls and demonstrations by traditional crafts people, including blacksmiths, hurdle makers, wood carvers and more, plus fun and inspiring activities for children.

Dorset is packed full of exciting events and activities in August so don’t forget to book your self-catering accommodation in Dorset, or bed and breakfast in Dorset, as soon as possible.

Chesil Beach Lodge: Sustainable Food

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Chesil Beach Lodge offers unique sustainable holiday accommodation in Dorset. As part of our aim to be sustainable and minimise use of resources, we use local produce wherever possible and always opt for Organic if we can. When you are staying with us you can enjoy:

Locally caught fish

Bacon and sausages from our local butcher

Locally baked bread

Locally produced cheese

Local dairy products

What’s more, if you are self catering we offer a choice of delicious home cooked locally sourced dishes that can be put in your fridge, ready for you to heat up. Just place your order 24 hours in advance and you could be enjoying dishes like:

Chilli Con Carne with rice

Local Dorset beef lasagne with garlic bread and salad

Cottage Pie with seasonal vegetables

Roasted vegetable lasagne with garlic bread and salad

Chicken Casserole in a creamy mushroom sauce with seasonal vegetables and buttery mashed potato

Chocolate Truffle Torte with cream

Lemon Meringue pie with cream

Honeycomb and chocolate cream pudding

Main courses cost £8.95, puddings £3.25, or you can book a 2 course meal for £11.50. Find out more about our delicious catering service here.

Lifeboats – a Lifeline for the Dorset Coast

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The RNLI provide 24-hour lifeboats and seasonal lifeguards dedicated to saving lives at sea. It is largely supported by volunteers. Last year lifeboats around the coast of the UK and Ireland launched 9,223 times.

If you want to find out more while you are visiting Dorset, take part in Lyme Regis and Charmouth Lifeboat Week. From Sunday July 24th to Sunday August 1st you can expect day after day of displays, exhibitions and fun in the sun for the youngsters.

Once again it will be Super Wednesday on July 28th with a first visit from the Royal Navy’s Black Cats helicopter display team. On the same day there’s the return of the spectacular RAF Falcons parachute display team.

Among the many highlights is the tug of war with the RNLI lifeboat crew taking on the coastguards across Lyme Regis harbour mouth (losers get wet); a bath tub race; sand castle competitions; a beach treasure hunt; the grand duck race; a childrens’ crab fishing contest and much, much more.

A glossy, 48-page programme with full details of all the week’s activities is now available throughout Lyme Regis and Charmouth, including the lifeboat shop at the harbour in Lyme, price £1.50.

24-31 July Lyme Regis Lifeboat Week http://www.rnli.org.uk

If you’re visiting Dorset, don’t forget to book self catering accommodation in Dorset or bed and breakfast in Dorset as soon as possible as the summer months are a busy time.

What’s on in Dorset: July

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Here’s our pick of some Dorset events during July. You can choose from Jazz by the sea in Lyme Regis, or take part in a maritime festival in Weymouth and Portland. Air fans shouldn’t miss the annual Yeovilton Air Day. Don’t miss the Tolpuddle Martyrs Festival and remember that it can be very busy so book your Dorset accommodation early.

3-16 July - ‘Spirit of the Sea’ Maritime Festival, Weymouth & Portland www.spiritofthesea.org.uk

10 July - Yeovilton Air Day Tickets from your local TIC

If you are interested in the History of Trades Unions, or simply want to understand about the lives of six farm workers who formed the first ‘union’ to protest about their pay, visit Tolpuddle this summer. Every July thousands of people come to Tolpuddle to celebrate trade unionism and to remember the sacrifice made by the six farm workers of the village. The tiny Dorset village has been a place of pilgrimage for trade unionists and socialists ever since the Martyrs' came home in triumph. The festival is a popular mix of political discussion and speeches, great music to suit all tastes, entertainment for all the family and the traditional procession of banners, wreath laying and Methodist service.

16-18 July Tolpuddle Martyrs Festival www.tolpuddlemartyrs.org.uk

In August, watch out for:

7 – 13 August Marine Week, Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre
7 – 15 August Lyme Regis Regatta and Carnival Week
21 August Bridport Carnival
26 August Melplash Show, Bridport

If you’re visiting Dorset, don’t forget to book self catering accommodation in Dorset or bed and breakfast in Dorset as soon as possible as the summer months are a busy time.

Visit Sherborne Castle

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If you’re planning to stay in Dorset, don’t miss one of the county’s finest attractions, Sherborne Castle. The castle was built by Sir Walter Raleigh around 1594. The Digby family took residence in 1617 and the castle has remained with them to the present day.

When you visit you will see that the Castle reflects various styles from the Elizabethan hall to the Victorian solarium. You will enjoy the collections or art, furniture and porcelain, plus the grounds landscaped by 'Capability' Brown. Sherborne Castle has hosted a range of eminent guests, including Prince William of Orange in 1688 and George III in 1789 and played a starring role in the ITV series, 'A Tale Of Two Castles'.

If you’re planning a visit you can view three floors of the Castle and 30 acres of beautiful lakeside gardens. Sherborne Castle is open all year round, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, Saturday and Sunday from 11 am. Last admission to the Castle and Gardens is at 4:30pm. You can enjoy morning coffees, light lunches and afternoon teas in the tearoom. There is also a gift shop. Find out more at the Sherborne Castle website.

For self-catering holidays Dorset and B&B accommodation in Burton Bradstock, Bridport, Dorset

Chesil Beach Lodge: Sustainable Travel and Transport

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Chesil Beach Lodge offers unique sustainable holiday accommodation near Bridport in Dorset. As part of our aim to be sustainable and minimise use of resources, we support you to use public transport and leave the car at home.

We encourage guests to arrive by public transport. Whether you drive or not, once you arrive we make it easy for you to leave the car. We keep a wide selection of local maps and guides, which you are free to borrow: walking is a great way to explore beautiful Dorset.

The CoastLink X53 is our regular local bus service. It passes our door and provides a partial tour of the Jurassic coastline as well as a local service into Lyme Regis, Bridport, Weymouth and towns further afield from Exeter to Poole. It runs approximately every two hours, and you can find timetable details for the CoastLink X53 here.

Thomas Hardy Anniversary

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If you are on holiday in Dorset in June, take time to commemorate the 170th anniversary of the birth of one of Dorset’s famous sons, Thomas Hardy. The author of Tess of the D’Urbervilles and Far from the Madding Crowd was born at Higher Bockhampton, a hamlet in the parish of Stinsford to the east of Dorchester.

Cinnabar eco creative has organised two Art Walks to celebrate his birthday on Wednesday 2nd June, with the support of Dorset’s Countryside Ranger Service. Both will take place in Thorncombe Woods, close to Hardy’s childhood home, and will focus on interpreting Hardy’s relationship with nature through a series of creative activities.

Art Walk Two will run from 10am till 1pm and Art Walk Three will start at 7pm and continue through to 10pm. The cost of the walk will be £10 with 10% donated to the Dorset Ranger Services work with schools. Find out more by calling 07925175872. The Thomas Hardy Society has further events.

What’s on in Dorset: June

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Here’s our pick of some Dorset events during June. We’re focusing on Dorset Art Weeks which take place from 29th May to 13th June. It is a great chance to view one or more of the 370 studios which open their doors to the public to showcase artwork.

You can see work from photography to ceramics, wood crafts to print making and visit special events throughout the weeks including an Art Market at Bridport Arts Centre.
It is a great event for all the family: there are interactive exhibitions and a Creative Creatures Treasure Trail where you can hunt for the clues hidden around the Avon Heath Country Park, decipher the riddles and claim a chocolate prize. The trail is open between 11am and 3pm and costs £2.50.

At the Courtyard Gallery and Workshops, Wareham, you can see local artisan Matt Wilding, from Winterborne Bakery providing a series of creative performances of all things 'bread'. On Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th June between 10am and 3pm Matt will use a specially built outdoor wood-fired oven, and you will be able to see and participate in a range of traditional bread making activities. There is an exhibition throughout the fortnight from Simon Thomas Pirie, the renowned furniture designer and maker, Liz Tyler - jewellery, Aline Johnson - glasswork and Martyn Brewster – painter and printmaker, as well as sculptor Martin Debenham, The exhibition is open everyday 10am till 5pm including lunchtimes, throughout the event.

If you’re visiting Dorset, don’t forget to book self catering holidays in Dorset or B&B in Dorset as soon as possible.

Supporting Local Business

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Chesil Beach Lodge offers unique sustainable holiday accommodation in Dorset. As part of aiming to be sustainable and minimise use of resources, we support local enterprise and always aim to use products and services from local businesses. We employ local staff and invest in the local economy by hiring local trades people to do building, plumbing etc. If you opt for bed and breakfast or book for our home cooked meals to be delivered to your self-catered accommodation you’ll be pleased to know that we use local food and other products. Read more about food from Dorset here and find out about our eco friendly holiday in the UK here.

Half Term in Dorset

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Dorset has lots going on to keep the kids happy over half term. Half – term comes right at the end of May. Remember that some events may be busy. Always call to see if you need to book in advance.

30 & 31 May What The Romans Did! Roman Town House, Dorchester, 10.30am - 5pm. Free. An opportunity to be creative at the Roman Town House. The Ancient Wessex Network will display art & craft inspired by the Romans and demonstrate techniques using clay, metal and textiles. www.ancientwessex.net

31 May Sherborne Castle Country Fair, Sherborne Castle 10am - 6pm. A spectacular annual lakeside event celebrating rural skills, both traditional and modern, from dog shows and agility dog displays to dragon boat racing, arena displays to heavy horses, stalls, crafts and food hall! Saver tickets available from Sherborne TIC 01935 815341 www.sherbornecountryfair.com

31 May National Family Week Picnic, Roman Town House, Dorchester, 12 - 2pm. Join in the World Record breaking attempt for the biggest picnic ever. 01305 22824 www.romantownhouse.org

If you’re visiting Dorset, don’t forget to book your self catering accommodation in Dorset or bed and breakfast in Dorset as soon as possible.

Can you Throw a Dorset Knob?

2010-04-30T09:46:00.002+01:00

I went to Dorset for the first time as a small child, and LOVED Dorset knobs. Described by Wikipedia as a ‘hard dry savoury biscuit’ they don’t sound that appetising, but they taste great with butter or cheese.

What I didn’t know is that you don’t just eat Dorset knobs, you can also throw them! On the 2nd of May as part of the Frome Valley Food Festival you can take part in the world famous Dorset Knob Throwing competition in Cattistock Try the Knob & Spoon Race, Paint a Knob as well as Knob Throwing. Find out more about the events at www.dorsetknobthrowing.com

If you’re thinking of visiting Dorset for the food festival or two throw a knob or two, click here to book accommodation in Dorset.

Here’s our pick of some Dorset events during May

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We wrote about fossils in Dorset a few weeks ago. Don’t forget to check out the Lyme Regis Fossil Festival which takes place between 30 April and 2 May. See www.evolutionrocks.net for more.

Music lovers might like to book a stay in Dorset between 30 April and4 May. The Sherborne Abbey Music Festival 2010 www.sherborneabbey.org is packed with events including such exciting names as:

Lesley Garrett performing songs and arias from well known operas and musicals

The Tallis Scholars with their programme Missa Solemnis

Emma Johnson with her programme Romantic Clarinet

Sherborne Festival Chorus performing The Kingdom

An exciting new jazz group called Zum, classically trained soloists enticing you with a programme of sophisticated jazz which magically glides into wild gypsy fiddling and Celtic lament which slips into hot blooded Arabic melody.

Fay Weldon talking about her life and her new book Chalcot Crescent.

A UK premiere of Verdi's Requiem for piano and organ: Matteo Galli (organist at S.Maria presso S.Satiro Basilica in Milan) joins with Francesco Attesti (internationally renowned pianist) for this very special performance.

Ruth Rogers and Morgan Szymanski running workshops for violin and classical guitar before performing in the abbey

On the 3rd of May enjoy the Bridport May Fair on Millennium Green, Mountfield, Bridport, 12 noon to 4pm. See maypole dancers, crowning of the May Queen, and enjoy stalls and music. 01308 456722 for more.

If you’re a railway enthusiast, make sure you put the 8th of May in your diary for the Sherborne Railway Celebrations. Sherborne 150th Railway Celebrations which take place in the Railway Station and Pageant Gardens, Sherborne. You can enjoy a Victorian parade, brass band, dancing, children’s entertainment, murder mystery dinner, competitions and more. Find out more on 01935 815341

If you live in Dorset, 17 – 23 May is Dorset Residents’ Week. This event aims to raise the profile of local attractions by offering amazing discounts for local residents. Details on attractions participating will be printed in Your Dorset or call into your local Dorset Tourist Information Centre.

More for music lovers, this time for Vinyl enthusiasts. If you want to track down a classic platter, go to Bridport on the 22 May to join with thousands of other enthusiasts for Vinyl Saturday. Record fairs, stalls etc in various venues around the town. www.vinylsaturday.co.uk 0788 239 2508

If food is more your thing, visit the French Market at the Top of Cheap Street, Sherborne, 10am - 4pm on the 23rd of May. Le Marche de France returns to Sherborne - oh la la! 07594 805013 www.sherbornechamber.org.uk

If you’re visiting Dorset, don’t forget to book your self catering accommodation in Dorset or bed and breakfast in Dorset as soon as possible.

Visit Dorchester

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Dorchester is a great town to visit if you are holidaying in Dorset. You can wander amongst elegant 18th century houses and broad walks, visit museums with collections ranging from Dinosaurs to Teddy Bears, and feel like you are back in Thomas Hardy’s 'Casterbridge'.

Dorchester’s history is recorded back to Roman Times, and the Durnovaria Town Walk takes you on a walk around Dorchester, following the boundary of the fortified town back then. The walk takes in lovely views and shows you notable attractions along the way, such as The Borough Gardens and Salisbury Fields. You can download the route from Durnovaria Town Walk.

Museums in Dorchester:

Dorchester is packed with museums. The county museum holds events and exhibitions: check out what is on offer when you are visiting at their website, www.dorsetcountymuseum.org. And if you have more specialised interests you can find museums with collections as follows:

Tutankhamun

Terracotta Warriors

Keep Military Museum.

Teddy Bear House

Dinosaur Museum

For more info, call or pop into Dorchester Tourist Information Centre, Antelope Walk, Dorchester. Tel: 01305 267992 or go to visit-dorchester.co.uk. or click here to book accommodation in Dorset.

Making a Holiday Record

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If you’re on holiday it can be fun to create a record of your break with the kids. Technology has opened up your options for how you do this too.

Make a scrapbook

Nothing beats an old fashioned scrapbook. Buy one before the holidays: it is easy to pack it flat in a suitcase together with a pencil case that includes scissors, glue and tape.

Then, each day collect bits and pieces. If you go to visit a theme park or stately home, save tickets and leaflets and brochures. If you visit the beach or go for a picnic collect scraps from nature: a feather or leaves and flowers to press. Take photos too– you can leave space for these.

At the end of each day set the kids the task of writing up what happened and sticking in their scraps.

Go high tech

If your kids are a little older, and you have a laptop, creating a holiday blog might be more to their taste. Use a digital camera to take pics and, if you have the facility, short video clips. Make sure you remember the right cables so you can download their recordings each day.

Use blogger or Wordpress to set up a blog: make sure it is passworded if you don’t want everyone to see what the family is up to. Then each evening you can pour yourself a glass of wine and relax while your tweens and teens create their daily blog.

If you are visiting Dorset, follow the links to find Self catering accommodation in Dorset and Bed and Breakfast in Dorset.

Unique Sustainable Accommodation in Dorset

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Have you changed your holiday plans because you want to make sure that any break you book has a low impact on the planet? If you’re forgoing flights to the sun and want a sustainable holiday this year, read on to find out a little more about how the day runs at Chesil Beach Lodge to make sure that your holiday is eco-friendly.

Starting the day with a great breakfast? You’ll be pleased to know that we source as much food from the local area as possible.

While you’re off out and about, we’re cleaning up. Once we’ve cleaned your room with eco-friendly products we put used towels and sheets into wash ... with eco-friendly laundry liquid. And it is all hung out to dry on the washing line in the summer.

We recycle waste and separate out glass bottles, tin cans, paper and plastic bottles for roadside collection. We provide re-cycling bags in self-catering apartments.

And as the evening draws in, we switch on energy efficient light bulbs and we encourage guests to switch off TV’s rather than leave on stand-by.

Reduce, Recycle, Reuse: three key ideas to help save the planet that are a key part of what goes on at Chesil Beach Lodge as part of our efforts to ensure that you have an eco friendly holiday in the UK.

Here’s our pick of some Dorset events over the Easter holidays.

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With Easter coming up, have your children’s minds turned to Easter Eggs? There are a number of Easter themed events on this month including Egg hunts and Easter activities.

April 2nd to 5th Easter Egg Hunt at Adventure Wonderland theme park, near Bournemouth Airport.

April 2nd-5th - Easter Specials at Swanage Railway with a free hot cross bun for every passenger travelling on Good Friday and Easter Saturday OR a free hand-made Easter Egg for every child travelling on Easter Sunday and Monday.

Did you know that there is a nature reserve in central Weymouth? Over Easter, RSPB Radipole Lake and Arne is a great space to let the kids run wild. You can play bird bingo and hire wildlife explorer backpacks throughout Easter.

April 2nd to April 5th Bennetts Water Gardens is hosting an Easter Bunny Egg Hunt. Visit on Good Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Easter Monday for the Easter Bunny Egg Hunt, with a special Easter trail for children to follow around the gardens; find the clues to complete the trail and get rewarded with a chocolate egg. Children can also take part in the Easter colouring competition.

If you’re visiting over the Easter weekend, don’t forget to book your self catering accommodation in Dorset or bed and breakfast in Dorset as soon as possible.

Local Markets in Dorset

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Visiting a market is a fun thing to do on holiday. You can snap up bargains, try local produce and get gifts to take home.

West Dorset is well supplied with markets in Bridport, Dorchester, Sherborne and Owermoigne. Try the farmers markets for the best range of food and drink from Dorset. If books or antiques are more your thing, go to Sherborne. Whatever you are after, remember to pack your shopping bag.

West Dorset Markets

Bridport

Weekly Market in the Town Centre every Wednesday and Saturday

Farmers’ Market 2nd Saturday in each month – Arts Centre 9.30am-2pm

West Dorset Country Market in the WI Hall, North Street every Saturday 9am-12 noon.

Dorchester

Weekly Market in Fairfield Car Park, Weymouth Ave 8am-3pm every Wednesday

Farmers’ Market 1st Saturday in each month at Poundbury, 9am-1pm

Country Market at The Corn Exchange every Friday (exc Easter) 8.30-11am.

Sherborne

Pannier Market on the Parade every Thursday and Saturday

Country Market in Church Hall, Digby Road, Thursday mornings, 9.15am-11.15am

Farmers’ Market 3rd Friday in each month – Cheap Street, 9am-1pm

Saturday Antiques & Flea Market – held the last Saturday every month (Jan-Nov), Church Hall, Digby Road. 9am-4pm.

Monthly Book Fair – held third Saturday every month, Church Hall, Digby Road. 9.30am-4pm.

Owermoigne

Monthly market in the village hall 2nd Saturday of the month, 10.30am – 12 noon. Homemade produce, bric a brac, plants, crafts, books.

If you are visiting Dorset, follow the links to find Self catering accommodation in Dorset and Bed and Breakfast in Dorset.

Low Stress Holidays

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Have you ever been away and taken days to unwind, just because packing and travelling to your destination was so stressful? If so, here are some tips to help you make the most of your time off and have a low stress holiday.

Where to go?

Think carefully about your destination. Choose somewhere that has something for everyone. Although you may want to get away from plans and timetables, a little planning in advance can make it easier to relax once you are there. If you have lots of family members coming on the holiday find somewhere that has something to offer everyone. Mum and Dad won’t get to relax if there’s nothing for the kids to do! And make sure that you have booked somewhere with the facilities you need for everyone to enjoy the trip. Enough sleeping space and some time off from cooking and clearing up can make a big difference.

Read reviews and websites

If you want to guarantee a good break, spend a little time reading round before you book your accommodation. There are lots of sites online with holiday reviews from people who have been there. Take time, too, to contact the local tourist office for helpful maps of the area, important places to visit and opening times. This will cut down on stress when you arrive.

How much can you spend?

This is another area where planning in advance cuts pain and stress during your break. Try to save a little each month to pay for your trip, and don’t forget spending money. If you know how much you can spend it makes it easier to plan activities that stay in budget. If you find it hard to stick to your budget, or if your kids keep pestering for more treats, try the ‘envelope’ system. Have an envelope with the day’s spending money in it so the family can see what you have to spend. Discuss what you’d like to do and how it will fit with the budget. In this way it is easier for the kids to see that if you spend all the money on ice-cream now, there won’t be money left for the afternoon activity or a fish and chips tea.

Relax

This is your holiday. Make the most of it. Plan and prepare in advance and then take it easy when you arrive.

If you are visiting Dorset, follow the links to find Self catering accommodation in Dorset and Bed and Breakfast in Dorset.

Unique Sustainable Accommodation in Dorset

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We reduce waste by:

Sorting out our rubbish for recycling

Putting vegetable waste in compost bins

Buying in bulk and trying not to buy products that are over packaged

We recycle:

Our recycling is collected every fortnight and is recycled in Dorset

All our glass, plastic milk bottles, tins, clothes and paper

Unwanted house items and clothing are recycled via our local Oxfam shop

At Chesil Beach Lodge, we make sustainability a key part of what we offer, both for the bed and breakfast and for our self catering accommodation. To find out more about how Chesil Beach Lodge offers sustainable holidays visit our website.

Here’s our pick of some Dorset events in the coming weeks.

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The Dorset coast is a great place to find fossils. At Lyme Regis and Seatown when the tide is right you can pick up ammonites from the beach. It’s a great place to start children off on the fascinating hobby of fossil collecting.

Plus, you can get expert input to help you find fossils. Regular guided fossil hunting walks in Lyme Regis and Charmouth are run year round by experts. Times will vary according to the tides, so here is a list of those offering guided walks plus contact details. Get in touch before you visit to make sure you can take part.

Fossil walk contacts:

Brandon Lennon 07944 664757 www.lymeregisfossilwalks.com

Lyme Regis Museum 01297 443370 www.lymeregismuseum.co.uk

Lyme Regis Fossil Shop 01297 442088

Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre 01297 560772 www.charmouth.org

Chris Pamplin 0845 00943757 www.fossilwalks.com

Between the 30th of April and the 2nd of May the Lyme Fossil Festival brings all kinds of activities, stalls, stands and activities to the town and experts will be available providing information. Last year the event included experts from the Natural History Museum, examples from the Jackson Collection of fossils from the National Museum of Wales and meteorites and fossils from the British Antarctic Survey. The event takes place over the first May bank holiday weekend so look for self catering accommodation in Dorset or bed and breakfast in Dorset sooner rather than later.

Visiting Bridport

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Bridport is a West Dorset town, best known as the location for Channel Four's 'Return to River Cottage' series with Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall. It makes a great place to visit as part of a UK holiday.

The historic town’s roots can be traced back to the ninth century. You can see the oldest building in Bridport, The Chantry from the outside. It was the home of a priest back in 1368, and has a pigeon loft to allow the priest to support his diet and income. At that time Bridport was a key rope making centre. It’s position at the point where the rivers Brit and Asker meet also lead to the development of a net making industry. The Parish Church of St Mary dates in part from the 15th century although older remains can be seen.

Bridport is home to the Bridport Arts Centre which has a 200-seat theatre, three exhibition spaces, a café and a bar. It is home to the Bridport Literary Festival which takes place each November. Find out more about what’s on at the Bridport Arts Centre.

If you are visiting Bridport, follow the links to find Self catering accommodation and Bed and Breakfast nearby. Visit Dorset offer a free map of Bridport town centre (PDF, 301 kB) to help you find your way around the town, or you can find out more from Bridport Tourist Information Centre, 47 South Street, Bridport, Dorset DT6 3NY Tel: 01308 424901 Email: bridport.tic@westdorset-dc.gov.uk

Successful Holidays with Kids

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If you have a young baby or toddler, your idea of a great holiday may have to change dramatically. A boutique hotel and city break no longer fits the bill. Instead, why not find a tranquil country retreat where you and the little ones can enjoy the outdoors?
Here are some tips to help you choose a great place to holiday for all the family.

How far can you travel? Think about how your kids cope with long car journeys. How far can they sensibly travel between breaks? Plan in stops at places of interest to make the journey part of the holiday and avoid spending more time than necessary in service stations.

What accommodation do you want? Weigh up the pros and cons of self catering accommodation and bed and breakfast. If you have a baby that wakes early you might prefer a cottage so you won’t need to worry about disturbing the people in the next room!

Where to eat? Mum might enjoy having meals provided and cleared away, but if you are thinking about bed and breakfast find out whether meal time will suit your family. Self catering accommodation owners may also be able to provide meals for some nights of your stay.

Safety first. When choosing any holiday accommodation, have a quick scout round on arrival for toddler hazards. Your home may have stairgates, but most holiday accommodation won’t.

Happy holidays. For your first few holidays with young children don’t over plan. If your child has a routine, aim to stick to it. Do most of your driving at nap times, take familiar foods with you and don’t forget favourite comforters. Pick a beautiful location so once the little ones are asleep you and your partner can relax with a glass of wine and enjoy the view.

If you are visiting Dorset, follow the links to find Self catering accommodation in Dorset and Bed and Breakfast in Dorset.

Unique Sustainable Accommodation in Dorset

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If you are holidaying in the UK this year, this might be because you are concerned about sustainable tourism. At Chesil Beach Lodge, we’ve been making sustainability a key part of what we offer, both for the bed and breakfast and for our self catering accommodation. This week you can read a little about food in Dorset and how we use local produce wherever possible.

Dorset, being right on the coast, is a great area for fish. We use locally caught fish as far as possible. Almost all fish that swim in UK waters can be found along the Dorset shoreline. Depending on the time of year you may find whiting, turbot, bream, plaice, sole or dab.

We are well off for farms in Dorset too, so if you are holidaying here make sure you go home with some locally produced cheese. We aim to serve local meat, dairy products and bread and use organic products wherever possible.

To find out more about how Chesil Beach Lodge offers sustainable holidays visit our website.

What’s on In Dorset

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Here’s our pick of some Dorset events in the coming weeks.

Coming soon for half term, there’s lots of fun at The Tank Museum, Bovington. You can see the world's best collection of tanks, and join in a free Top Ten Tanks Tour. Young visitors will enjoy the tank history trails or hearing a World War One Tommy will explain why the tank was invented. In the Discovery Centre, you can can learn what life is like for tank crews and elsewhere in the museum see tank model makers demonstrating their craftsmanship, and there will be opportunities for visitors to join in and make models of their own to take home.

On March 5th you can see Henry Dallal's 'Horse Warriors' at Cerne Abbas Village Hall. This is a multimedia show presenting the unique and only mounted regiment - the 61st Indian Cavalry. Last year’s show sold out so book soon. Tickets cost £8 and are available from Weldmar on 01305 215 315 to include a glass of wine.

If you are visiting Dorset, follow the links to find Self catering accommodation in Dorset and Bed and Breakfast in Dorset.

Renovations 2009/10

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Ready for early next year will be our further upgraded Golden Cap room where we will be featuring a French door with Juliet balcony with fantastic views out to sea and a picture window affording spectacular views along the Jurassic coastline . Look out from the comfort of the bed and watch the sun go down over Lyme Regis and Golden Cap.

Watch out for picures coming after Christmas

What's On In December

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2nd - Dorchester Christmas Cracker. Dorchester Town Centre, free parking from 4.30pm. Live music and entertainment from 5.30pm plus stalls, chestnuts, mulled wine and more.

5th - Makers Market. Eype Church for the Arst, nr. Bridport. 10am-4pm. A market for local makers, grower, cooks and artists.

5th - Handel's Messiah. St Mary's Church Bridport. 7.30pm. The New Elizabethan Singers perform with a full orchestra and professional soloists. Tickets £8 from Goadsby Estate Agents or Washingpool Farm.

6th - Wessex Military Band Christmas Concert. Bridport Arts Centre.6pm Tickets from Arts Centre Box Office. 9 South Street. Bridport. £8

9th - Bridport Christmas Festival and Late Night Shopping. Bridport Town Centre. 6pm-8.30pm. Bridport's annual Christmas Festival gets everyone into the spirit of Christmas. There will be stalls in Bucky Doo square and most shops will be staying open.

12th - Donated Auction. Anchor Inn. Burton Bradstock. 7.30pm

19th - Bridport Open Air Nativity 2009. Bucky Doo Square. Bridport 11am

26th - West Bay wallow. A Boxing Day swim East Beach West Bay, midday. The West Bay Wallow is a charity fancy dress swim.

Don't forget the weekly Market in the Town Centre every Wednesday and Saturday and the ever popular Farmers Market, 2nd Saturday in each month. Arts Centre 9.30 - 2pm

Fossil Walks. Regular guided fossil hunting walks in Lyme Regis and Charmouth are run year round - 01297 443758 www.lymeregisfossilwalks.com

Brand new two bedroom self-catering apartment and three newly refurbished B&B rooms available for this year.

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The new Hive Bed and Breakfast room

Chesil Beach Lodge - Self catering and bed & breakfast accomodation in Dorset

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

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

15 New Year Resolutions to help you have a green 2012

What’s on in Dorset: January

Welcome in the New Year in Dorset!

Christmas Trees: Real or Artificial?

Christmas Markets and Fairs in Dorset

What’s on in Dorset: December

Shopping for a Green Christmas in Dorset

Durlston Country Park and Nature Reserve

Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness

What’s on in Dorset: November

Enid Blyton in Dorset

West Dorset: things to do in the evenings

Dorset’s topography: something for everyone

What’s on in Dorset: October

Half-term activity ideas in Dorset

The 2012 Olympics in Dorset

Smuggling in Dorset

What’s on in Dorset: September

Visit Dorset for Autumn Colour

The Dorset Pliosaur

Beach holidays in West Dorset

What’s on in Dorset: August

Adventure and Activity Holidays in Dorset

Culture and Heritage Holidays in Dorset

What’s on in Dorset – Summer Holidays Start Here

What’s on in Dorset: July

Hello everyone. We hope June was a good month for you.

Throughout July, we thought we would have a few posts about how wonderful Dorset is for all types of holiday. Look out for our posts about cultural, adventure and beach based holidays, with lots of suggestions about events, activities and places to visit.

There’s a huge choice of things to do in Dorset over the summer, and here’s our pick of some of the best for July.

The Christchurch Music Festival takes place on the 1st to 3rd of July at Christchurch Quay. A weekend of dance, dance demonstrations and live music from 16 bands starts on Friday at 6.00pm, and on Saturday & Sunday from midday. There will also be refreshments, a bar and stalls.

1st to 9th July Tivo: Le Resitance, a clown show direct from New York, at The Lyric Theatre, Barrack St, Bridport. The shows start at 8pm (doors open at 7.30pm). Tickets cost £8 and are available from Lyric Theatre, Bridport Music, The Bookshop and Fruits of the Earth, Bridport.

8th to 9th July, an Italian Food Market in South Street, Dorchester, from 9am to 5pm.

Summer holidays in Dorset

Recycle Now Week

Team Green Britain Bike Week

What’s on in Dorset: June

Spend Father’s Day in beautiful Dorset

Half-term activities

Abbotsbury Swannery

What’s on in Dorset: May

The World’s Hottest Chilli!

May Day in Dorset

Rainy day Easter activities for all the family

What’s on in Dorset over Easter

A local attraction: Monkey World Ape Rescue Centre

Easter Holiday Activities

Mother’s Day

What’s on in Dorset:

A local attraction: Brownsea Island Nature Reserve

50th anniversary of Dorset Wildlife Trust

Rainy day activities for half-term

What’s on in Dorset: February

A local attraction: Athelhampton House and Gardens

February and March Special

A New Year and a New Hobby?

Explore Dorset on foot

What’s on in Dorset: January

Green New Year’s resolutions

Christmas holiday activities for children

Christmas Shopping in Dorset

What’s on in Dorset: December

Celebrate New Year in West Dorset!

A Writer’s Dorset

10 tips for a Sustainable Christmas

What’s on in Dorset: November

Art and the Arts events and exhibitions in Dorset

Film and TV locations in Dorset

Family friendly half-term accommodation in Dorset

What’s on in Dorset: October

It’s not too early to think about your Christmas break!

Spend half-term at Chesil Beach Lodge in Dorset

Autumn walks in West Dorset

What’s on in Dorset: September

Visit Lyme Regis

How to have an eco-friendly holiday

Eco-friendly accommodation in Dorset

Visit Dorset Farmers’ Markets

The Christchurch Music Festival takes place on the 1^st to 3^rd of July at Christchurch Quay. A weekend of dance, dance demonstrations and live music from 16 bands starts on Friday at 6.00pm, and on Saturday & Sunday from midday. There will also be refreshments, a bar and stalls.

1^st to 9^th July Tivo: Le Resitance, a clown show direct from New York, at The Lyric Theatre, Barrack St, Bridport. The shows start at 8pm (doors open at 7.30pm). Tickets cost £8 and are available from Lyric Theatre, Bridport Music, The Bookshop and Fruits of the Earth, Bridport.

8^th to 9^th July, an Italian Food Market in South Street, Dorchester, from 9am to 5pm.