Bank Holiday breaks In Dorset
7 Reasons to book your next weekend break here
Dorset is a stunning county to visit at any time of year. But if you're looking for a place where you can find a true sense of peace and tranquillity to refresh your mind and body, Dorset is hard to beat. A Bank Holiday Break in Dorset will give you space and time to reflect and slow down. Unwind from the hustle and bustle at your own pace.
No wonder so many people spend their Bank Holiday holidays in Dorset to enjoy the sea, sun, beach walks and dunes. And no wonder they keep coming back.
Apart from the August bank holidays, there are plenty of reasons to take a break in Dorset. With its rolling hills, golden beaches and stunning cliff walks, Dorset is a dream destination for a bank holiday break.
The county is full of picturesque villages, pretty market towns and historic cities that offer holidaymakers a range of attractions.
Jurassic coast & Dorset beaches
A sense of wonder
When we hear the words "Bank Holidays in Dorset" we often think of lethargic lunches, deserted towns and the odd abandoned amusement park. Certainly, that may be the case for some, but anyone who has been there knows how lucky we are to experience something quite different.
With an abundance of family-friendly attractions, beaches and natural beauty ranging from the towering dunes of Studland to the glistening Jurassic Coast - what more could you want?
Corfe Castle
Ten centuries of History
Well, you can expect a bit of history... Corfe Castle on the beautiful Isle of Purbeck is worth a visit not only for the imposing medieval ruins maintained by the National Trust but also for the romantic views and some wonderful walks around the castle (take good walking shoes!). Located at the northern end of the neighbouring village, the castle was built by William the Conqueror and thus dates from the second half of the 11th century.
Lulworth Cove
You Can't Miss Out On That
Lulworth Cove is one of the most spectacular coves in England and a major attraction in the region. The ensemble is very close to perfection: the picturesque cove, the cliffs and white chalk walls that rise to 400 feet... This picturesque bay is the most obvious reason why it is so popular with beachgoers and tourists alike.
To reach the crystal clear waters and the pebble and shingle beach, you have to walk down a steep path, which takes about 15 minutes, plus another 143 steps from the parking area on the cliffs (flip-flops are not recommended here!).
Durdle Door
Ready for some sunset selfies?
Still, got your walking shoes on and not satisfied with panoramic views?
If you're already in Lulworth Cove, you might as well climb right back up (or park your car at the cove) and hike over the hill to the neighbouring Durdle Door, a natural arch of hard limestone that juts almost vertically out of the sea.
You should be there at sunset!
Bournemouth 1
7 miles of sandy beaches
Bournemouth is the biggest city in Dorset, and it attracts a significant number of tourists annually: 5 million!
Why? Because of the beaches (7 miles) and the gardens (1000 hectares).
Visit Bournemouth Pier and explore the sea. The pier is very close to the town centre and is the most popular beach destination for locals and tourists. It is framed by the Isle of Wight on one side and the Purbeck Hills on the other.
The sandy beach stretches out to the left and right, and the pier juts 230 metres into the sea.
When you reach the end of Bournemouth Pier and are too tired to walk back, you can take the PierZip, the first "pier-to-shore zip wire" back to the beach!
Bournemouth 2
Squirrels in the garden
Bournemouth's Grade II Listed Gardens are the perfect place for an August bank holiday to escape from the crowds.
Bournemouth's Lower, Central and Upper Gardens run from the seafront through the town centre up to Poole. And a river runs through it... the Bourne river.
The gardens are located within walking distance of the main shopping centre, so you may be distracted by the hustle and bustle of commerce. You better focus on the squirrels, beautiful flowers and trees, and shrubs from around the world...
Besides the music at the Pine Walk bandstand, mini golf course and an art exhibition during the summer, there's also a luscious grassy open space where you can curl up asleep beneath a tree.
Dorset cliff walks
Feels like walking through paradise
Choosing between 24 jars of jams may be too much for most of us. Too many choices make deciding so hard that we sometimes abandon the choice and just do nothing.
Now, this is not an option with Dorset cliff walks.
There is a stretch of 96 miles of beautiful coastline and at least 15 different scenic walks to choose from during your bank holiday break, so you'll still be able to decide which one to tackle.
- Climb the highest cliff in Dorset (the Golden Cap between Bridport and Charmouth)
- Stroll the 18 pebbly miles along Chesil Beach (which stretches from West Bay to Portland)
- Take the Old Harry Rocks Circular walk for breathtaking views of the Jurassic coast and unique rock formations.
- Dance along the ledge... take the Dancing Ledge walk (near Langton Matravers and Worth Matravers). When your feet find their way down to the final, rocky steps to the shelf of rock that is Dancing Ledge itself, take a moment to be amazed by the beautiful scenery and gorgeous coastline.
- Go easy by following the Burton Bradstock coast path walk
Travel to Dorset
If you are planning a trip to Dorset, you should know how to get there
Dorset is located in the southwest of England, so there are many convenient travel options.
Cities
The biggest cities are Weymouth and Bournemouth. London is just a 2.5hr drive away.
Airports
Bournemouth Airport (BOH) lets you catch a flight out to the Mediterranean and Western Europe. TUI and Ryanair are the main low-cost airlines operating from the airport.
The closest airports are London Heathrow (LHR), Gatwick (LGW), Bristol (BRS) and the smaller Southampton Airport (SOU).
Rail
Train and bus are also an option.
From London, it will take you approximately 2-2,5 hours to get to Bournemouth by train or coach.
Dorset: Weather and climate
2021 average temperatures
Dorset is situated on the southern coast of Britain. It has a temperate maritime climate with mild summers, moderate rainfall and cool winters. You can visit throughout the year, though July and August are the hottest months and January is the coldest.
| Temp | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Max | 11 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 16 | 20 | 26 | 20 | 23 | 18 | 14 | 13 |
| Min | 2 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 11 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 11 | 4 | 6 |