Any date · North Dorset
North Dorset is crossed by two long-distance walking routes, the Stour Valley Way and the Wessex Ridgeway. In Blandford Forum, Laserguys Activities offers laser tag, archery, and axe and knife throwing for groups and families.
Arts and culture
A festival of books, poetry and writing in Blandford Forum, featuring author talks, workshops and dedicated children's events. The programme also includes a music and poetry evening and a book and craft fair.
Arts and culture
A weekend literary festival held at venues around Blandford Forum, featuring author talks, workshops and a book and craft fair. There are events for children alongside the main programme.
Arts and culture
A storytelling evening at the Grosvenor Arms in Shaftesbury exploring folk tales and traditions about trees from Britain and Ireland. Ecologist and storyteller Lisa Schneidau draws on the changing seasons for her material.
Arts and culture
A day workshop learning willow sculpture with tutor Jo Sadler at the Langton Arms, Tarrant Monkton. All materials, tuition and a buffet lunch are included, with no experience necessary.
Food and drink
A festive one-day food and drink festival in Shaftesbury with over 80 producers, including farmers' market favourites, street food and deli goods. Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and alcohol-free options are available, and the whole family, including dogs, is welcome.
Festivals and shows
An artisan and makers market held at Down Barn Dairy, Tarrant Rawston, near Blandford. Visitors can browse over 60 stalls of local crafts and gifts, enjoy mulled wine and street food, meet Santa and try wreath making, with live music throughout the day.
Food and drink
A Christmas market at Bere Marsh Farm, Shillingstone, offering local produce and handmade crafts. Stalls include cheese, preserves, cider and gin alongside handbags, pottery, jewellery and children's toys, with refreshments from the Buzz Cafe and hot food from Dorset Lamb.
Festivals and shows
A monthly artisan and crafts market at the Corn Exchange in Blandford, with quality traders selling a range of handmade products. Entry is free and traders are welcome to take part.
Festivals and shows
A wedding fair for people who don't usually enjoy wedding fairs. A balanced mix of Dorset suppliers, each one checked by a real person and asked to be open about pricing. No hard sell, and every kind of wedding welcome, 20 guests or 200. Timed entry, so you can take your time. Tickets £5 per wedding party, up to 4 adults, plus the Eventbrite booking fee. Under-16s free with a paying adult. Free parking.
Open all year
The Wessex Ridgeway is a long-distance trail crossing Dorset's rural heartland along a chalk ridge. It passes villages such as Cerne Abbas, takes in views across the Blackmore and Marshwood Vales, and finishes at Lyme Regis on the Jurassic Coast. The walking route covers around 62 miles, with a separate multi-use section for walking, cycling and horse riding.
Open all year
A 64 mile long distance walking route that follows the River Stour from its source at Stourhead down to Christchurch Harbour, where it meets the sea. In Dorset it passes through Sturminster Newton, Wimborne Minster, Ferndown, Bournemouth and Christchurch, and is signposted with a kingfisher logo.
Open all year
An activity venue in Blandford Forum offering laser tag, archery, and axe and knife throwing. It caters for birthday parties, stag and hen groups, team building days and family sessions during school holidays.
Open all year
The Royal Signals Museum at Blandford Camp tells the story of the Royal Corps of Signals and of military communications, from semaphore to satellite. Displays include a First World War cable wagon, secret SOE radios, Cold War cryptographic equipment, animals at war and a medal gallery. Adults aged 16 and over need valid photo ID to enter the camp. The museum is closed on Sundays, and only assistance dogs are allowed inside.