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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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