Dorset Days Out

Things to do in Dorset

Any date · All of Dorset

Photo: Stefanie Jockschat

115 places open all year · page 2 of 5

Places open all year

Open all year
Maiden Castle
Dorchester · West Dorset · Heritage
- Free
- Dog-friendly
- +1 more
One of the largest and most complex Iron Age hillforts in Europe, its huge multiple ramparts, begun about 2,400 years ago, enclose an area the size of 50 football pitches. Entry is free at any reasonable time in daylight. The small car park gets busy at peak times. Chalk paths can be uneven and slippery, so wear sturdy footwear; the site is very exposed, and dogs must stay on a lead as sheep graze here.
Open all year
Northport Greenway and Sika Trail
Wareham · Isle of Purbeck · Walks
- Car-free friendly
A walking and cycling route starting at Wareham Quay, running past the town's railway station and into Wareham Forest. It links with a longer circular trail through heath and woodland, suiting those wanting a short stroll or a longer forest walk.
Open all year
Durdle Door Beach
Lulworth · Isle of Purbeck · Beaches
- Dog-friendly
A striking natural limestone arch on the Jurassic Coast, reached by a steep path and steps from either Lulworth Cove or the cliff-top car park. The shingle beach suits confident walkers rather than those with mobility difficulties, and swimmers should take care as the shore shelves steeply with a strong under-tow.
Open all year
Wessex Ridgeway
Dorset · Walks
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
Upton Country Park
Poole · Gardens
- Free
- Family-friendly
- +1 more
Upton House, a Grade II* listed Georgian mansion, stands in 160 acres of parkland, woodland and formal gardens with 2.6km of shoreline and plenty of wildlife. Wander the botanical Walled Garden, let children play at Spurrier's Play Park, or see local artists' work in the Gallery Upstairs above the Tea Rooms. Admission is free every day, all year, and the park is open until dusk; car parking charges apply.
Open all year
Colmer's Hill
Symondsbury · West Dorset · Walks
- Dog-friendly
A walk up the pine-topped hill on the Symondsbury Estate, along a permissive path from the estate's free car park. It takes about 45 minutes, with a steep but steady slope to the summit and panoramic views of West Dorset, East Devon and out to sea. Sheep graze in the fields and on the hill, so close every gate and keep dogs on leads. Wear walking boots or wellies on rainy days.
Open all year
Swanage Railway
Swanage · Isle of Purbeck · Heritage
A heritage steam railway running 12 miles through the Purbeck countryside between Swanage, Corfe Castle, Harmans Cross, Herston Halt and Norden. Trips offer views of Corfe Castle and a chance to break the journey at stations along the line, including a railway museum at Corfe Station. Steam trains run most weekends year round and daily from April to October, with vintage diesel trains also in use.
Open all year
Kimmeridge Bay
Kimmeridge · Isle of Purbeck · Beaches
A rocky bay of shale below layered cliffs, overlooked by Clavell Tower and known for rock pools, fossils and some of Dorset's best surf. Ledges of harder limestone let you walk out and see fossils in the rock. The clear water is good for swimming and snorkelling, and surfers and windsurfers come all year for the waves, including the reef break at Broadbench.
Open all year
Tyneham Village
Tyneham · Isle of Purbeck · Heritage
- Dog-friendly
A deserted village evacuated in 1943 for wartime military training, now part of the Ministry of Defence's Lulworth Ranges. Visitors can see the ruined Row of terraced houses and the restored church and school, which hold exhibitions about the village and its former residents. A picnic area is set among restored farm outbuildings, and a mile-long walk leads on to Worbarrow Bay.
Open all year
Cerne Abbas Giant
Cerne Abbas · West Dorset · Heritage
A 180ft chalk figure of a club-wielding man cut into a hillside above the village of Cerne Abbas. Its age is uncertain, though a recent archaeological study suggests it may date from around 700-1100AD, pointing to a late Saxon origin. A gentle walk leads from the village to a viewing area off the main road, with a picnic spot near the car park; direct access to the figure itself is restricted to prevent erosion.
Open all year
Sandbanks Beach
Sandbanks · Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole · Beaches
- Accessible
- Car-free friendly
- +1 more
Soft golden sand at Sandbanks, which has won the Blue Flag more times than any other UK resort. There's a café, mini golf, a children's play area and RNLI lifeguards. The beach can be reached by ramp, with a beach wheelchair and Mobi-Mat matting from May to September. Dogs aren't allowed on the main beach from 1 May to 30 September, but can use the stretch from the western end of the promenade to Haven Point all year.
Open all year
Bournemouth Beach
Bournemouth · Beaches
- Accessible
- Car-free friendly
- +1 more
Sandy beaches by Bournemouth Pier, on the edge of the town's historic gardens, with cliff top walks and views to the Isle of Wight. Restaurants, cafés, mini golf and amusements are close by, and RNLI lifeguards patrol. From 1 July to 1 September the free KidZone scheme helps reunite lost children with their families. Dogs aren't allowed on the beach from 1 May to 30 September.
Open all year
Sculpture by the Lakes
Pallington · West Dorset · Arts and culture
- Dog-friendly
- Accessible
- +1 more
Sculpture by the Lakes is a sculpture park at Pallington, near Dorchester. Allow at least an hour and a half, with plenty of places to sit or picnic along the way. The park needs a ticket, best booked ahead, while The Makers Yard is free to enter. Children under 14 are not admitted because of the deep, fast-flowing water. Well-behaved dogs on leads are welcome in most areas, and paths can be muddy in wet weather.
Open all year
Moors Valley Country Park and Forest
Ashley Heath · East Dorset · Nature and wildlife
- Family-friendly
- Dog-friendly
- Accessible
- +2 more
A family-friendly country park and forest offering adventure play trails and tree-top challenges. Visitors can explore 1000 acres of woodland, meadows and lakes on foot or by bike, try adventure golf or a mini Land Rover course, or ride the narrow-gauge steam train. Dogs are welcome, and wheelchair and mobility tramper hire is available.
Open all year
Charmouth Beach
Charmouth · West Dorset · Beaches
- Accessible
A gently shelving beach of pebbles and sand, famous with Lyme Regis for its fossils, especially in the winter months. Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre runs guided fossil walks from February to September; collect only from fallen or beach material, never dig in the cliffs. After large cliff falls, stay away from the cliffs, and check tide times as you can be cut off. Dogs are welcome all year on East Beach.
Open all year
Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum
Bournemouth · Arts and culture
- Rainy day
The Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum fills a historic clifftop house on Bournemouth's East Cliff. Its richly decorated galleries hold fine art, sculpture and treasures from around the world, gathered by the Victorian collectors Sir Merton and Lady Russell-Cotes, alongside a changing programme of exhibitions. The café looks out to sea. The museum is open Tuesday to Sunday and on bank holiday Mondays.
Open all year
Weymouth Beach
Weymouth · Beaches
- Family-friendly
- Accessible
- +1 more
Weymouth's sandy beach sits below the Georgian seafront, with a gently sloping seabed and clean water for swimming and water sports, making it a good choice for families. In summer there are deckchairs, a land train, sand sculptures and Punch and Judy, and RNLI lifeguards patrol from May to the end of September. There's ramp and level access, and beach wheelchairs can be hired.
Open all year
Symondsbury Estate
Symondsbury · West Dorset · Walks
- Free
- Dog-friendly
- Family-friendly
- +2 more
A rural estate near Bridport offering miles of footpaths through hills, farmland and woodland, including a walk to the summit of Colmer's Hill with views towards the Jurassic Coast. Visitors can also explore The Holloways, a network of ancient sunken pathways shaded by trees. Entry and parking are free, and dogs are welcome across the estate.
Open all year
Rodwell Trail
Weymouth · Walks
- Accessible
A fully surfaced, signposted 2-mile route between Weymouth and Portland along a disused railway line, suitable for walkers, cyclists and mobility scooters. It passes old station platforms and Sandsfoot Castle, with views across Portland Harbour, and is rich in birds, plants and butterflies. The walk can be extended to 4 miles using the Wild About Weymouth and Portland Legacy Trail.
Open all year
The Tank Museum
Bovington · Isle of Purbeck · Heritage
- Family-friendly
- Rainy day
- Accessible
- +2 more
Around 300 tanks and military vehicles fill the halls of The Tank Museum at Bovington, the home of the tank. Nine exhibitions in seven large halls follow the story from the Somme to the beaches of Normandy and the deserts of Iraq, with stories from the soldiers who fought in them. Allow four to five hours. Parking is free, and there is a café, soft play and a shop. New exhibition work causes some disruption until January 2027.
Open all year
Nothe Fort
Weymouth · Heritage
- Family-friendly
Nothe Fort is Weymouth's historic sea fort, with a maze of underground tunnels, a Victorian gun deck and a secret nuclear bunker to explore. Up on the ramparts there is a Second World War gun and views along the Jurassic Coast. Volunteers are on hand, there are trails to keep children busy, and the café serves light lunches and cakes. The fort is closed for maintenance from 2 November 2026 until February 2027.
Open all year
Poole Park
Poole · Outdoor activities
- Family-friendly
- Dog-friendly
- +1 more
A large urban park beside a boating lake, with play areas, a café, tennis, bowls, minigolf, a fitness trail and water sports. The Poole Park railway runs through the park seven days a week. There are three free car parks with maximum stays, plus free parking on the park's roads, but cars can't drive in from 7.30am to 10am, Monday to Saturday. Dogs are welcome except in the fenced play areas.
Open all year
Badbury Rings
Shapwick · East Dorset · Heritage
- Free
- Family-friendly
- Dog-friendly
- +2 more
One of Dorset's finest Iron Age hillforts, set in chalk grassland that is home to ground-nesting skylarks, wild orchids and butterflies, with an avenue of beech trees and views across the Dorset countryside. It's free to visit from dawn to dusk, and parking is free for National Trust members. The ground is uneven and steep in places and there are no toilets. Sheep and cattle graze here, and dogs must be on a lead from late February to August.
Open all year
West Bay Beach
West Bay · West Dorset · Beaches
- Family-friendly
- Accessible
- +1 more
Two shingle beaches by the harbour: East Beach, below golden sandstone cliffs, and the smaller West Beach, sheltered and shallow for paddling and popular with young families. West Beach has ramps, summer beach matting and free beach wheelchairs. East Beach shelves steeply with a strong undertow, and after recent cliff falls you should keep well away from the base of the cliffs. Dogs aren't allowed on the main beaches from 1 May to 30 September.