Leisure activities in Dorset

Dorset beach holidays

There are many beaches in Dorset, with most of them making up the UNESCO World Heritage Site that is the Jurassic Coast. The beaches in West Dorset, around Lyme Regis, Charmouth, West Bay and Weymouth are mostly shingle beaches. However, the beaches in East Dorset are sandier, and there are some lovely sandy beaches in Bournemouth, Swanage, Christchurch and Poole. Most of the beaches in Dorset are Blue Flag beaches, which means that they are clean and safe for swimming and for children to play on the sand. If you are looking for a dog friendly beach in Dorset, they are easier to find in winter than summer. In winter dogs are allowed unrestricted access to most beaches, whereas between April and October they need to be kept on a lead and are banned completely from Dorset dog free beaches. Some Dorset beaches, such as Bournemouth beach, have dog free zones and dog friendly zones.

Accommodation for Dorset beach holidays is plentiful and varied. There are lots of busy seaside towns along the Dorset coast that have hundreds of hotels, guest houses, B&Bs, pubs with rooms, inns, coastal cottages, holiday flats, apartments and holiday parks. In between the seaside towns you will find rural cottages, country hotels and guest houses, traditional country inns and holiday parks which are in quiet locations yet only a short walk or drive to the nearest beach. If you are staying on the Dorset coast it is worth thinking about booking hotels with sea views. The Dorset coastline with its beaches and chalk cliffs is truly spectacular and a double room with a view could well be worth the extra cost.

Dorset holiday park activities

Dorset holiday parks, caravan sites and campsites are great options for families on a budget who want an outdoor activity holiday for all the family. Most family holiday parks in Dorset have kids clubs which organise lots of holiday activities for children such as sports, swimming, roller skating, arts and crafts, singing, dancing, outdoor games and competitions. Most holiday parks in Dorset are located near beaches and countryside so during your stay in Dorset holiday parks you can also enjoy sunbathing on the beach, swimming in the sea or hill walking in the beautiful Dorset countryside. Even basic caravan parks in Dorset will have some leisure activities on offer such as children’s play grounds, table tennis, pool tables, crazy golf, barbecues or bicycle hire.