Attractions
Within 35 Miles and/or a Normal 60 Minute Drive of
Sherborne
SOUTH
Abbotsbury – picturesque
village with an historic tithe barn and a unique
swannery.
Badbury
Rings near Wimborne – remains
of gigantic Iron Age fort.
Bovington
Tank Museum – over 100 armoured
vehicles from 1914 to the present day.
Bournemouth – lays
claim to the title of England’s premier
resort with seven miles of beaches, theatres,
cinemas, excellent shopping and
a huge variety of restaurants.
Brownsea
Island – visited
by boat from Poole. This wooded National
Trust island with many
nature trails was the birthplace of the Scouting
Movement.
Bridport
and West Bay –
historic
coastal town, net making centre and popular holiday
harbour with a fishing fleet.
Charmouth – this historic town is located
on a stretch of coast famous for fossil collecting.
Chesil
Beach –
one of Britain’s unique natural landforms
– a ten-mile long bank of pebbles and shingle.
Clouds
Hill, Moreton –
cottage of T. E. Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia)
Corfe
Castle – the most
spectacular castle ruins in England above
the village of the same
name.
Golden
Cap –
a breathtaking viewpoint from the highest
cliff on England’s southern coast.
Portland
Island – in fact
a peninsular with Portland Bill lighthouse,
many viewpoints and
walks.
Isle
of Purbeck –
the area between Wareham and Swanage is in fact a
peninsular containing Corfe Castle and many spectacular
coastal and inland walks.
Kingston
Lacey, near Wimborne Minster –
a National Trust property with one of the finest
picture collections in the country.
Lulworth
Cove and Durdle Door –
a circular, almost enclosed bay and aspectacular
sea-arch (above) linked by a breathtaking one-mile
cliff top walk.
Lyme
Regis –
delightful coastal town and home of the French Lieutenant’s
Woman.
Old
Harry Rocks between Studland and Swanage –
a magnificent walk will bring you to great views of
these spectacular sea stacks.
Milton
Abbas – thatched
cottages line the street of this attractive
18th Century ‘model
village’ designed by Capability Brown.
Montague
Motor Museum (The National Motor Museum), Beaulieu – adjacent to Beaulieu Abbey
and containing over 200 veteran and vintage cars.
The
New Forest– planted
over a thousand years ago to become a royal hunting
preserve,
few forests in Britain have such a variety of trees
and rich colouring together with some interesting
villages. Roaming animals have priority on its forest
roads.
Poole – one of the world’s largest
natural harbours and a fine old town housing several
museums.
Sandbanks – the
beach area at the entrance to Poole Harbour is
one of the best bathing spots
on the south coast and the location for some of the
most expensive property in the UK!
Steeple – in
the church you can view the original ‘Stars
and Stripes’ (the
coat of arms of George Washington’s ancestors
who lived here).
Studland
Bay – this mile
long well-sheltered beach is always mentioned
as a candidate for the title
of Britain’s finest beach.
Swanage – small
picturesque seaside resort situated below Ballard
Down and focal point
for spectacular coastal walks.
Swanage
Railway – operates
through six miles of beautiful Dorset scenery
between Swanage,
Corfe Castle and Norden.
The
Hive Cafe, Burton Bradstock -
Fantastic Sea-food cafe on the beach east of Bridport.
Wimborne
Minster – a charming
market town of Georgian streets and hidden
courtyards with
an attractive Minster Church founded in 705. The
Priests House Museum is recommended.
NORTH
Bath – contains
a host of Roman and Georgian attractions and
is perhaps England’s
most beautiful historic town. Visits to the Roman
Baths,
Bath
Abbey and the architectural wonders of Georgian
Bath (Pulteney
Bridge, the Royal
Crescent and the Circus) are essential. Thermae
Bath Spa opened in 2006 and was designed by
award winning Grimshaw Archietcts. Here you can
bath in
the natural baths on the roof or relax in the scented
steam rooms. The Costume
Museum is excellent.
Bristol
- is
the largest city in the region, and has a truly
metropolitan feel.
Almost every
period of architecuture is represented since
the 11th-century, and some remarkable sites
include Brunels Clifton Suspension Bridge,
the first of its kind in the world, and the
Tudor Mansions. Bristol is also home to a thriving
cultural scene. The
Arnolfini and Spike
Island exhibit
contemporary art in the city that is home to
the infamous Banksy and Portishead.
Cheddar – offers
both the famous Cheddar Gorge and the Cheddar
Caves with a collection of Stone
Age tools from the prehistoric inhabitants together
with a 12,000 year old skeleton.
Glastonbury –
famed as a centre for alternative and mystical activities.
Joseph of Arimatheea is said to have brought
the Holy
Grail to Glastonbury from Jerusalem, thus establishing
Christianity in England. The Rural Life Museum
is
well worth a visit.
Glastonbury
Abbey – spectacular
ruins and the reputed burial place of King
Arthur
and Queen Guinevere. Site of the first Christian
church in England.
Glastonbury
Tor – you will
be rewarded with spectacular views atop
the hill as you search for
the Holy Grail.
Longleat
House and Safari Park – near
Warminster. Early Renaissance style Stately
Home full
of art treasures and period furniture. A host of
additional attractions include the famous
Safari Park.
Wells – an
interesting medieval town to visit. The Cathedral,
Vicar’s Close, Bishop’s
Palace, Penniless Porch, Market Place and nearby
Wookey Hole Caves are all well worth a visit.
Wells
Cathedral – situated
in a magnificent close and next to the Bishop’s
Palace is adorned by over 400 magnificent,
often life-sized statues
and possesses a 14th Century astronomical clock.
Wookey
Hole – this gigantic
system of caves was hollowed out of the
limestone by the
River Axe and was once inhabited by prehistoric man.
The entrance includes a demonstration of
papermaking
and a visit to historic fairground exhibits.
WEST
Forde
Abbey – set amidst
landscaped gardens, the building (above)
is a mixture of architectural
styles dating back to the 12th Century.
Parnham
House – a fine
Tudor Manor House, now the home of John
Makepeace’s exclusive handmade
furniture workshops.
Seaton
– Don’t
miss the unique electric tramway running several miles
inland.
Sedgmore
and the Somerset Levels – a
unique low lying marshy area and site of the last
major battle to be fought on English soil.
EAST
Farmer
Giles Farmstead – working
Farm Park where you can learn about farming
past and present.
Feed and groom the animals.
Salisbury
near Amesbury – many
places of interest including Mompresson
House and several
musuems around the Cathedral. Excellent shopping.
Roche
Court - New Art Centre - A modern sculpture park
set in the grounds and parkland of an idylic early
19th-century house. Works including Barbara Hepworth
and Henry Moore to Anthony Gormley and Anthony Caro
Old
Sarum near
Salisbury – the original
Salisbury, both an Iron Age Hill fort and Saxon town
before being abandoned due to lack of water. Good
views of nearby Salisbury.
Salisbury
Cathedral – magnificent
and iconic building with Britain’s
tallest spire, beautiful cloisters, the
world’s oldest working
clock and the original Magna Carta in the Chapter
House. Make sure you climb the Cathedral
Tower for
a never-to-be-forgotten view over the city below.
Stonehenge – an
awe inspiring Stone Circle, mysterious Stonehenge
is the world’s most famous
prehistoric monument.
Wilton
House – containing
eight magnificent lavishly decorated 17th
Century State Rooms with fine
collections of paintings. Delightful grounds.
