Dorset

Secret coves, sleepy villages, sweeping scenery – Dorset delights in every way. Its landscapes are alive with tales of the past: ancient castles perch on rugged cliffs, fossil-strewn shores tell a 185-million-year-old story on the Jurassic Coast, and chocolate-box villages remain untouched by time. It’s no wonder some of this southwestern county’s most famous scenes have made it onto the nation’s screens; from ITV’s hit drama Broadchurch and the wartime epic thriller Dunkirk to classic adaptations of Thomas Hardy and Jane Austen novels.

Whether you come for the epic hikes, the seafood feasts, or the sheer sense of escape, Dorset’s unspoiled charm is truly irresistible. It’s a real haven for outdoorsy types, with relaxed paddle-boarding in Studland Bay, cycling through the New Forest and hiking along the iconic South West Coast Path. Kids will love rock-pooling and fossil-hunting on shingle shores, while
golden-hour beach walks and dreamy cabins-for-2 draw in the romantics. There’s an abundance of great foodie spots, too, and creatives will find inspiration in the county’s painterly landscapes and literary heritage – this is Hardy country, after all.