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County Town: Dorchester
Population: 664,200
Latest News
Area: 1024 Sq miles 2653 Sq k
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Rather interesting Dorset facts
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Famous Dates
Famous People
Food Legends:Dorset Horn Sheep
Dorset Blue Vinney Cheese
Thomas Hardys Ale
Dorset Knob
Folk Customs:
Purbeck Marblers Football Ceremony
Haunted Britain:
Halstock’s Headless Saint
Lillie Langtry Hasn’t Left Home
Romans Remain at Lulworth
Sixpenny Handley and Britain’s Oldest Ghost
The Ghostly Bike of T.E. Lawrence
The Macabre Monkey of Athelhampton Hall
The Several Spooks of Sandford Orcas
Cultural Britain:
Thomas Hardy Country
Lore & legend:
The Giant of Sterne Abbas
Natural Britain:
Chesil Beach
Cranborne Chase
Durdle Door
Jurassic Coast
Lulworth Cove
Lyme Bay
Old Harry Rocks
Poole Harbour
Portland Bill
Purbeck Hills

Events

February
The Wildlife Warbler

March
Sherborne Castles 10k ‘multi-terrain’ Running Race
Spring Bulbs & Daffodils Weekend

April
Animal Handling Day
Classic Cars on the Prom
Easter Egg Hunts
Spring Festival

May
Beach Kite Festival
Eastreet Art & Craft Fairs
Food & Wine Festival
Garland Day
Open Access between the Old and New Castle grounds
Pine Walk Open Air Art Exhibition
Shaftesbury Local Food Festival
Sherborne Castle Country Fair
Sherborne Castle Country Fair, Retriever Event & Rare Breeds Show

June
Beaminster Arts Festival
Bournemouth Live! Music Festival
CorFest08
Dorchester Festival
Gillingham Festival
Southern Lights Festival
Wimborne Folk Festival

July
5th Annual Motorcycle Ride Out
Bourne Free Pride Festival
Evolve Festival
Gillingham Festival
Illyria Outdoor Theatre “Robin Hood
Kids Fun Festival
Summer Ball
Swanage Regatta and Carnival
Tolpuddle Martyrs Procession
Yetminster Fair
‘Classics at the Castle’ Classic Car Show

August
Divinemoon Festival
Flowers by Candlelight
Fun Dog Show
Gillingham & Shaftesbury Agricultural Show
Great Dorset Steam Fair
Illyria Outdoor Theatre
IRONMAN UK Triathlon
Kids Fun Festival
Melplash Agricultural Society Show
Weymouth Carnival

September
Antique Fair
Autumn Flower Show
Dorchester County Show
Harley Davison Rally
Steam Gala weekend & Vintage Vehicle Rally
The Classical Prom Company Open Air Classical Concert
Wessex Heavy Horse Show and Country Fayre

October
Adrenaline Coast Festival
Autumn Colours Weekend
Halloween Fun
Pack Monday Fair
Swanage Blues Festival
Wedding Fair

November
Antiques Fair
Autumn Colours Weekend
Christmas Gift, Craft and Fresh Local Produce Fayre
Christmas Lights Switch on
Craft Fair
Firework Extravaganza
Lakeside Fireworks
Littledown Firework Display
Steppin Out Academy of Performance

December
Carol Service
Santa visits Farmer Palmers

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Dorset - 534 places to stay

Hotels | B&Bs | Inns | Self Catering | Caravans | Cottages | Budget | Camping | Activities | Attractions | Events | Hostels | Shops | Holiday Parks | Links | Markets | Restaurants | Golf Courses | Sports Clubs | County Brochures | Directory

Principal Towns: Bournemouth, Poole, Dorchester, Sherborne, Weymouth, Wareham

Dorset is a county of outstanding natural beauty and a land of great contrast and breathtaking scenery. On the south coast of England, tucked between Devon and Hampshire lies the stunning, unexplored county of Dorset. It boasts rolling hills, breathtaking countryside, beautiful villages, sandy beaches and a coastline so unequalled it has recently received World Heritage status, the first time England has ever been given this prestigious award for a natural site.

But the Jurassic Coast , with its amazing fossil finds, is not the only rich, historical pride of this lovely place. The county is littered with stone circles, earth barrows and ancient hillforts (Maiden Castle near Dorchester is the finest and largest Iron Age hillfort in Europe). There is an excavated Roman house at Dorchester and the remains of a Saxon abbey at Shaftesbury , founded by one the most famous kings of all, Alfred the Great . And then there is the famous naked Giant, the huge, ancient figure hewn into the chalk hill of Cerne Abbas, looming over the village, wielding his club.

Along the coast there are the lovely resorts of Bournemouth and Poole and the beautiful, Victorian Swanage, all with their award-winning beaches as well as the picturesque harbours of Lyme Regis and Weymouth , where small fishing boats bob on the waters once prowled by pirates and smugglers.

A journey inland through the winding country lanes reveals much more than the numerous pretty chocolate-box villages. There are carnivals, village fairs and maypole dancing and traditional thatched pubs and tearooms offer locally brewed ales and homemade fare. There is also the historic market town of Sherborne boasting a stunning Gothic abbey, a medieval high street, antique shops and two castles, one of which was the home of Sir Walter Raleigh.

Dorset is also the home of one of the greatest writers of all time - Thomas Hardy . In fact, Dorset is 'Wessex', the county where Hardy based the majority of his books. His birthplace at Higher Bockhampton and his final home at Max Gate, now both owned by the National Trust, can still be visited today. Dorset was also the home of the enigmatic T.E. Lawrence , better known as Lawrence of Arabia. His house at Cloud's Hill (also owned by the National Trust) is situated just north of Bovington and he is buried in the churchyard at Moreton.

Dorset amazes and delights at any time of the year. There is something for everyone in this rich and varied county: numerous boat rides, the steam railway at Swanage, tank rides at the Tank Museum at Bovington, long distance walks, cycleways, horseriding, llama-trekking, windsurfing, rock-climbing, fishing and a choice of 45 golf courses.

We hope you will visit our beautiful county and we look forward to welcoming you.

Coutesy of www.dorsetcc.gov.uk

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