A curious little chapel set in splendid isolation, high on a hilltop overlooking Chesil Beach and the Isle of Portland.  Once used as a retreat by monks from nearby Abbotsbury Abbey, today you can take in the fantastic views and explore the chapels nooks and crannies, including the 'wishing holes' where local women used to pray to St Catherine and ask her to find them a husband.

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On the site of an 11th century monastery, there's lots to do at pretty Abbotsbury with 3 attractions rolled into one.  Abbotsbury Swannery is home to the only managed colony of nesting Mute Swans in the world where visitors can enjoy the unique experience of  walking through the nesting site, learning about these majestic birds and if you’re lucky watch cygnets being born or taking their very first steps.  On the same site are both Abbotsbury Children’s Farm where there are plenty of animals for children to meet and feed; and also Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens - passport entries to all three attractions are available, check the website below for further details.

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Visit Abbotsbury Gardens for a peaceful day exploring this sub-tropical paradise on the Dorset coast.  The Garden is a mixture of formal and informal flowers, world famous for its Camellia groves and magnolias. Facilities include a coffee shop, gift shop and a fantastic plant centre where many of the flowers grown in the Garden can be purchased.

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Housed in what was the country barracks, The Keep Military museum aims to educate, inspire and honour the sacrifices made by the armed forces during the World Wars.  The displays and artefacts cover four floors and take you on a 300 year journey through military history.

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Visit in combination with the Sea Life Centre or as a stand alone attraction, Pirate Mini Golf is a fun day out for aspiring salty sea dogs of all ages.

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A traditional country pub in the beautiful Dorset village of Portesham renowned for its excellent food and large sunny garden. 

The Kings Arms, Front Street, Portesham DT3 4ET (T:01305 871342)

Situated in the pretty Dorset village of Portesham, Duck’s Farm shop is the ideal place to stock up on some fabulous local produce for your holiday including fresh fruit and veg, bakery, deli, cheese, ciders, beers and spirts and so much more.  There’s also an excellent café where you can treat yourself to a slice of delicious homemade cake, hot drink or light meal.

Duck’s Farm Shop, Bramdon Lane, Portesham DT3 4HG (T: 01305 534111)

A 17th century country pub, located at the heart of the beautiful coastal village of Langton Herring, a short walk from Chesil Beach on Dorset’s Jurassic Coast.  Once frequented by smugglers and wreckers, today the atmosphere is much more friendly with a lovely garden, offering al-fresco drinking and dining during the summer months. Inside, there’s a wonderfully inviting atmosphere, with cosy fireplaces, bar and snug where you can relax and chill, or read the paper by the open fire.

Offering great food, and a broad range of real ales and ciders, as well as out-of-the-ordinary wines and spirits and welcoming families and children, cyclists, walkers and dogs.

The Elm Tree, Shop Lane, Langton Herring DT3 4HU (T: 01305 871257)

A popular, friendly village pub with bar, restaurant, skittle alley, and sunny garden.  Serving well executed pub classics and Sunday roasts alongside a range of excellent local beers, wines and spirits.  Live music and other events in the bar every week.  Check the website below for further details.

The Lugger Inn, West St, Chickerell, Weymouth DT3 4DY (T: 01305 766611)

The Club House at West Bexington is sister restaurant to the successful Hive Beach Cafe with a similar focus on fresh local fish and seafood, expertly cooked. Diners will also enjoy the fabulous panoramic sea views, bustling open kitchen and stylish 1930's 'members club' atmosphere.

The Club House Beach Road, West Bexington, DT2 9DG (T: 01308 898302)

A shingle beach that shelves steeply, West Bexington Beach is in Bridport, and like many beaches in the area is popular with walkers with beautiful views in all directions.  There’s parking close by so remember to bring cash, as well as toilets and facilities, shops, restaurants, a refreshment kiosks and a picnic area.  Dogs are allowed on the beach but there are restrictions and seasonal bans, so keep that in mind before you visit.  The village of West Bexington itself is a small coastal village surrounded by National Trust land, so as you can imagine, it’s all suitably scenic.  The area is perfect for sea fishing off the beach, catching mackerel in the summer and bass in the autumn on a landscape that consists of the beach, a reed bed, wet meadow and scrub – it’s a birdwatchers paradise.  The beach is also good for swimming, but only if you’re a strong swimmer, and the entire Jurassic coastline is ideal for budding adventurers to hunt for fossils.

A pebble beach that stretches 18 miles along the South West coast, Chesil Beach encompasses a number of smaller beaches between Portland and West Bay.  Much of it is separated from the mainland by an area of water called the Fleet Lagoon, which varies in size according to the tide.  Hamm Beach is the eastern side of he beach facing Portland Harbour and both beaches are important areas for wildlife with a number of designations to help protect resident species.  It lies in the centre of the Jurassic coast and is a World Heritage Site.  The beach is popular with visiting families, walkers and anyone visiting the area.  Made of pebbles and shingle, it’s popular with local anglers and mackerel fishing families.  Close to the village of Abbotsbury which is about a mile away, there are cafes, pubs and facilities within the vicinity, as well as surrounding attractions.  Parking is also available and dogs are allowed on the beach

A National Trust beach, Cogden is a little known, secluded sand and shingle beach that comes complete with a members’ car park.  It has a wonderful sense of feeling remote but being surprisingly easy to access – the bus even stops there!  There aren’t any facilities, but it’s a beautiful setting, and in truth, the lack of goings on is part of its charm.  Dogs are allowed on the beach all year round and it’s a haven for walkers looking to explore the area with the National Trust’s two mile/one-hour circular walk passing through it from flower-filled farmland, past ground nesting birds and along this striking section of the Jurassic Coast, known for having the largest shingle ridge in the world.

One of the Jurassic Coast’s most popular beaches, the long golden sandy arc of Weymouth beach has plenty of room for everyone.  This sheltered bay with is gently sloping shoreline and blue flag status waters offers excellent swimming and a safe environment for watersports.  And if that’s not enough the beach hosts plenty of attractions to keep all ages occupied from festivals and sporting championships to punch and Judy shows, donkey rides and pedalos.  Dog friendly all year and plenty of parking both in town and on the harbourside.

A quiet beach, popular with the locals with lovely swimming from a gently sloping sandy shoreline.