Winter Activities in Dorset

Visiting Dorset at any time in the year is a special experience.

Replete with endless crystal blue oceans, stunning beaches, unrivalled countryside and some truly outstanding towns and cities, Dorset makes for a glorious holiday destination. However, many of those aforementioned delights are perhaps best enjoyed during the balmy summer heat that greets Dorset each year.

So, what about Dorset in the Winter? It’s certainly beautiful, with the county taking on an entirely new complexion as the nights draw in, but is there anything to do?

The answer is yes, and from our incredible Dorset holiday cottages, you can explore the lot. Here are a few of our favourite winter activities from Lyme Regis and wider Dorset:

Go Fossil Hunting – Lyme Regis is located on the Jurassic Coast, 96-miles of coastline which is amongst the most valuable on the planet for earth scientists. Over the years, countless fossils have been unearthed along its stretch. In Lyme Regis, we have not one but two fossil museums and multiple fossil-hunting tours, where you and the kids can discover your own slab of ancient history.

Head Out for a Walk – England in winter is a truly beautiful place, and that’s especially true of Dorset. With thousands of miles of public footpaths on your doorstep encompassing dramatic coastline, dense forest, sprawling countryside and more, there’s a walk to suit any set of legs. Just remember to wrap up warm!

Test Yourself on a Treetop Adventure – Scale huge trees, navigate tough obstacle courses and zip line through the forest in an amazing treetop adventure at Go Ape Moors Valley. Open throughout October and during weekends in November Go Ape has a huge number of challenges for the whole family to tackle – just don’t look down!

Visit a Museum – Dorset plays host to some amazing museums that are certain to light up minds, young and old alike. From local museums like Dinosaurland and Lyme Regis Philpot Museum to the Tank Museum and the Terracotta Warriors Museum, there’s a whole world to explore right in Dorset.

Go Ice Skating – Come winter, ice rinks begin springing up across Dorset, appearing in towns and cities across the county. So, strap on those skates and head out onto the ice to test if you’ve still got the skills out on the ice.

Hit the (Fake) Snow – Snowtrax, located just north of Bournemouth is one of the UK’s leading outdoor activity centres and offers skiing lessons, snowboarding tuition and more on an outdoor dry slope.

Go Shopping – Dorset is a tremendous shopping venue all year round thanks to its myriad of charming towns, stuffed with local and artisanal shops. However, during winter and the emergence of the Christmas markets, that gets kicked up a gear or two. Producers from across the world flock to Dorset’s Christmas markets to sell their stunning wares, making the county a top spot for shopaholics everywhere.

Of course, those suggestions barely scratch the surface of what you can do in Dorset during winter. So, why not join us and find out just how exciting our beautiful county can be?