Things to see and do from Chaldon Herring:

Beaches

Most of the local beaches are shingle. The most popular are Durdle Door and Man O’ War Bay. To get to them follow the road towards West Lulworth, park in the large car park by Luworth Cove and walk over the top along the cliff path towards Durdle Door. Alternatively, park at the Durdle Door caravan park.

Man O’War and Durdle are both great for snorkling. Man O’ War is more sheltered and safer for non-swimmers.

You could walk to both beaches from the cottage following the path to the coast (Chalky Knapp) accessed from Chideok Road.

A good beach for children is Ringstead Bay, off the road to Weymouth.

The closest sandy beach and the safest for very young children is Weymouth.

 

Walking

This is excellent walking country with the Jurassic Coastal Path just 2 miles from the cottage and plenty of great inland walks. There are several walking guides in the cottage. Please feel free to call Carole if you want any guidance.

 

Cycling

As with walking, this is also excellent cycling territory for both on- and off-roaders. There is a good collection of cycling guides in the cottage.

Things to See & Do

 

 

Monkey World

A world-renowned sanctuary for 15 species of monkey and chimpanzee.

A great place to visit for adults and kids alike.

Works with governments to stop the illegal smuggling of primates out of Asia and Africa. (01929 462537) www.monkeyworld.org.uk

 

Tank Museum, Bovington

Houses the world’s largest collection of tanks and military vehicles from 26 countries.

Special events and tank displays through the year.

(01929 405906) www.tankmuseum.org.uk

 

Lawrence of Arabia Trail

This makes a great cycle ride from the cottage or a good walk through Moreton Woods. Start at Lawrence’s grave in Moreton and the church where his funeral took place in 1935, followed by coffee in the old village school. Then through the woods to Clouds Hill, the cottage where he lived in isolation, now a museum run by the National Trust and open March to October. (01929 405616). Then visit the obelisk marking the spot where he crashed his Brough Superior motorbike avoiding two cyclists. On through Bovington Camp past the Tank Museum and Woolbridge Manor (from Hardy’s Tess of the D’Urbervilles) and after tea at East Burton head across Egdon Heath via Winfrith and back to Chaldon Herring. 16 miles round trip on a bike.

 

Corfe Castle

A Norman Castle damaged by Roundheads in the English Civil War. The National Trust runs a visitor’s centre which explores the lives of its past inhabitants. (01929 481294)

 

Swanage Steam Railway is run by enthusiasts and provides sentimental steam journeys back in time across the glorious Isle of Purbeck from Corfe Castle to Swanage. Ample parking at Norden station nearby. (01929 425800) www.swanagerailway.co.uk

 

Athelhampton House and Garden

A 15th Century manor house in Puddletown open to the public.

It’s been in private ownership for over 500 years and is open to the public from May to October. (01305 848363) www.athelhampton.co.uk

 

Tyneham, ‘The Village that Died for England’

A thriving Purbeck village that was taken over by the War Department in World War 2. The residents of the village and Tyneham Manor were evicted, never to return.

Visit the church and school, with collections of old photos and memorabilia, and see the original telephone box and the ruins of cottages of this time-capsule from the 1930’s.

 

Tolpuddle Martyr’s Museum, Tolpuddle

Follow the Martyr’s Trail highlighting the history of the six local villagers found guilty of ‘unlawful assembly’ in the dark days of 1830 and transported to Australia for 7 years.

The ‘Martyrs’ became popular heroes and an annual festival every July continues to celebrate them as the founders of modern Trade Unionism. A commemorative seat and shelter to them was erected by the founder of Debenhams! (01305 848237) www.tolpuddlemartyrs.or.uk

 

The Blue Pool, near Wareham

Visit this famous beauty spot and enjoy cream teas and scones in its period Tea House from April to October. The pool was an old clay pit and the light refracts different colours according to the season. Tel. 01929 551408 www.bluepooluk.com

 

Wareham

A Saxon walled town.

Rowing and motorboat hire on the river.

Rex Cinema – enjoy a glass of wine or a beer while watching new releases, blockbusters & art-house movies in an authentic 1930’s-style cinema. Special programmes in school holidays. (01929-552778) www.therex.co.uk

Purbeck Sports Centre with pool, tennis courts, bar and crèche. (01929 556454)

 

Dorchester

Maiden Castle, the largest ancient hill-fort in Europe.

Kingston Maurward Gardens and Animal Park.

Dorchester Museum with collections on Thomas Hardy and the Powys brothers.

The Keep Military Museum of the Devon & Dorset Regiments.

Poundbury – Prince Charles’ favourite modern architecture.

Tutankhamun’s Exhibition, the Teddy Bear Museum, the Terracotta Warrior’s Museum, the Dinosaur Museum.

 

Weymouth

Condor Ferries for Day Trips to Jersey and Guernsey. From £26.50 return.

Brewers Quay – a shopping emporium in a Victorian brewery with a historic ‘Timewalk’ through Weymouth’s history.

Nothe Fort – a Victorian fort built to repel invasion, now a Museum of Coastal Defence. The Pavillion Theatre for end-of-pier shows.

The Rodwell Trail for cyclists and walkers along the old Weymouth – Portland railway.

Weymouth Sea Life Adventure Park & Marine Sanctuary. (01305 761070) www.sealife.co.uk

Large sandy beach

 

The Isle of Portland

 

Portland was a major Royal Navy base until 1995 and it was from here that many US troops left for the D-Day landings in Normandy in 1944.  

The sailing events for the 2012 London Olympics will be held in Portland Harbour and Weymouth Bay, July 27 to August 12, 2012.

Portland Stone was used in the building of London’s St Paul’s Cathedral, the British Museum, Somerset House and the Cenotaph among many others.

Visit some of the quarries along with Portland Museum, Portland Castle and the lighthouse at Portland Bill.

 

Brownsea Island

Take the ferry from Poole to this unique little island, home of the endangered red squirrel and where Baden-Powell started the Boy Scout movement in 1907.

Haven for wildlife, including Sika deer and wading birds.

Open March to October. (01202 707744) brownseaisland@nationaltrust.org.uk

 

Abbotsbury

Abbotsbury Swannery. Visit any time or see the baby cygnets hatch between mid-May and late-June.

Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens. An 18th Century walled garden of rare and exotic plants.

 

Cerne Abbas

Visit the Cerne Giant, the symbol of fertility carved into the chalk hillside.

 

Farmers Markets

Dorchester on Wednesdays.

Poundbury (Dorchester) on the first Saturday of the month.

Wareham on 4th Thursday of month 9am-1pm.

 

Birdwatching

The RSPB has centres with hides at Arne, near Wareham (01929 553360) www.arne@rspb.or.uk and at Lodmoor and Radipole Lake in Weymouth. There is also good birdwatching on the Fleet lagoon by Chesil Beach east of Weymouth.

 

Watersports

Kayaking – take a 3-hour kayak tour highlighting the rock formations of the Jurassic Coast. The tour starts from Lulworth Cove and enters Durdle Door and the tunnel at Bats Hole. Wetsuits etc provided. (01305 835301) www.jurassic-kayaking.com.

Windsurfing at Secondwind Watersports, Bowleaze Coveway Weymouth. (01305 835301) www.second-wind.co.uk

Divers Down Diving School, The Pier, Swanage runs PADI courses.

Scimitar Diving, Catletown, Portland runs diving trips to the numerous wrecks around Portland and Weymouth. (01305 860269) www.Dive.Dorset.com

Sailing tuition at Shell Bay, Studland

 

Speedway Racing

At Poole Speedway and Weymouth Speedway.

 

 Golf

Wareham Golf Club. (01929 554147) , www.warehamgolfclub.com