Dorset

A seaside county in southern England, whose biggest highlights are the white cliffs, arches and fossil beaches of the Jurassic Coast.

Dorset lies in southern England, facing the English Channel to the south. Its Jurassic Coast is a World Natural Heritage Site, where the rock layers record a vast span of geological history; the Durdle Door arch, Lulworth Cove and the Old Harry Rocks stacks are all iconic sights, and the Lyme Regis area is famous for fossil hunting. Inland are rolling countryside and ancient market towns, many of them the settings for the novels of Thomas Hardy, and the ruins of Corfe Castle are also worth a visit. Summer suits seaside activities, while spring and autumn are good for walking the coastal path. You can take a train from London Waterloo to places such as Poole and Weymouth, and Bournemouth Airport is close by.

Destinations

• Jurassic Coast
• Bournemouth

Itineraries

• Hampshire to Dorset South Coast – Head west along the south coast: historic capital, naval dockyard, Isle of Wight, New Forest, and the Jurassic Coast.