Dorset has a long coastline extending eastwards from Lyme Regis and featuring numerous sandy beaches, perfect for family holidays. Poole boasts one of the world’s largest natural harbours and there are many special nature reserves and marine parks along the coast. Chesil Bank is a huge pebble beach, stretching from Weymouth to Bridport, which is a popular spot for photographers. There are also many attractive inlets such as Lulworth Cove. Small fishing fleets still operate out of harbours such as Poole and Weymouth.
Not only does Dorset have an attractive coastline, but the inland scenery is equally inviting. Apart from the many archaeological remains, reflecting the varied history of the county, there are many unspoilt rural villages and lovely countryside. There are extensive heath lands in the east, whilst the centre of Dorset has chalk downs, with many rivers and streams. Overlooking the village of Cerne Abbas is the famous giant cut into the chalk. There are also houses here, dating from the 15th Century, and the ruins of an abbey.
The west of Dorset is an undulating landscape of woodland and small fields whilst the north is dominated by the Blackmore Vale, a flat expanse of land. This is still a farming area with ancient hedgerows and winding country lanes. The rambler can spend many hours exploring the maze of narrow roads, footpaths and bridleways.
Cranborne Chase was once a royal hunting forest, where deer poaching was once punishable by death. Deer can still be seen grazing in this area. The wildlife of the downs includes many native flowers and butterflies and there are great views from the chalk ridges.
There are many charming villages in the county. Abbotsbury has a long, winding main street with sandstone cottages and an old coaching inn. There is also the internationally famous Abbotsbury Swannery. Other villages have strange names such as Toller Porcorum, Lytchett or Worth Matravers and Tincleton.
The county was home to a number of well-known authors, including Jane Austen. Thomas Hardy must be the author most associated with Dorset. His novels were based in a fictional Wessex and the county town of Casterbridge is Dorset’s real county town of Dorchester. Scenes from such well-known novels as “Far from the Madding Crowd”, “Tess of the D’Urbevilles” and “The Mayor of Casterbridge” can be identified with little difficulties and attract tourists from around the world