There are lots things to do within easy reach of High Cross Camping Coach. Here is a selection for you to consider during your visit:
Beaches
Burton Bradstock has the Hive Beach Café, a National Trust car park next to the beach, safe swimming and excellent cliff walks. It’s about 8 miles from the carriage.
West Bay is a fishing harbour town, renowned for its fish and chips, with sea swimming and cliff walks. It’s about 7 miles from the carriage.
Charmouth is famous for fossil hunting, safe swimming and the Heritage Centre, a little further at 13 miles.
Eype is more of a pebble beach, with the parking at the top of the cliffs. It’s quieter than others and about 8 miles from the carriage.
Weymouth is a traditional sandy beach town with all the classics: Punch and Judy, Donkeys and Swing boats. It’s a bit further at about 27 miles, but the Bus x53 from Bridport goes right to beach.
Durdle Door is a slightly rougher, Jurassic coastal site, no facilities and a bit more rugged, 35 miles from the carriage.
Family attractions
Abbotsbury Children’s Farm (Parking in village car park, pay and display, 10 minute walk to the farm), there is an indoor play area and you can feed the animals. Good for young children (up to about 10 years). Church Street, Abbotsbury, Dorset DT3 4JJ, UK.
Abbotsbury Swannery The world’s only managed colony of nesting mute swans. New Barn Road, Abbotsbury, Dorset DT3 4JG
Swanage Railway A day out on the steam train, Station House, Swanage, Dorset BH19 1HB
Pecorama Trains and a wonderful children’s play park. Mare Lane, Beer, Seaton, Devon EX12 3NA
Beer Quarry Caves Quarry Lane, Beer, Devon EX12 3AT
Winetasting Furleigh Estate, Salwayash, Salwayash, Salway Ash, Dorset DT6 5JF
Mangerton Mill, Mangerton Lane, Mangerton, Bridport, Dorset DT6 3SG. 17th Century working water-mill and Museum of Rural Bygones. Trout fishing and riverside walk.
Lyme Regis Museum Bridge Street, Lyme Regis, Dorset DT7 3QA. Features the life of renowned fossilist Mary Anning. The building is packed with fascinating displays on Lyme’s history.
The Dinosaur Museum Dorchester, Icen Way, Dorchester, Dorset DT1 1EW. The only museum on mainland Britain solely devoted to dinosaurs.
Tutankhamun Exhibition 25 High West Street, Dorchester, Dorset DT1 1UW
Terracotta Warrior Museum Salisbury Street, Dorchester, Dorset DT1 1JU
The Teddy Bear Museum Dorchester – Exactly what it says! Teddy Bears from 1906 until the present day.
Rodwell Trail 3.4 km walk/cycleway along the route of the disused Weymouth to Portland Railway. A great way to visit Weymouth and Portland bill.
Horse Riding at Sunnyside Farm, Cathole Bridge Road, Crewkerne, Somerset TA18 8PA
Walking with Llamas Treking through the Dorset countyside
Walking with donkeys Same again with donkeys!
Monkey World See and experience many kinds of monkeys at the ape rescue centre.
The Tank Museum History of tanks from 1915 to the present day.
Dorset County Museum, Dorchester. A broad range of local subjects Including an excellent display on neolithic archaeology.
Maiden Castle is Europe’s largest neolithic fort with massive ramparts. (Close to Dorchester, so combines well with a visit to the County Museum).
The Keep Military Museum, home to the regiments of Dorset and Devon.
Broadwindsor Design and Craft Centre
Cinemas
Dorchester Plaza Dorchester, Dorset DT1 1TT
Dorchester Odeon
Yeovil Cineworld Unit 1, Yeo Leisure Park, Old Station Way, Yeovil BA20 1NP
Electric Palace 35 South Street, Bridport, Dorset DT6 3NY Your local 1930’s quirky cinema!
Houses and Gardens
Montacute House Yeovil, Somerset TA15 6XP
Lytes Cary Manor Near Charlton Mackrell, Somerton, Somerset TA11 7HU
Mapperton House Mapperton, Beaminster, Dorset DT8 3NR
Forde Abbey and Gardens, Chard, Somerset TA20 4LU
Nothe Fort Barrack Road, Weymouth, Dorset DT4 8UF
Abbotsbury Sub-Tropical Gardens Buller’s Way, Abbotsbury, Weymouth, Dorset DT3 4LA
Pubs in and around Beaminster
Beaminster is about 2 miles from the carriage. You can go by car, but there is a lovely scenic walk, ending in great pubs and restaurants.
The Greyhound 11 The Square, Beaminster DT8 3AW,
The Red Lion Hotel 14 The Square, Beaminster, Dorset DT8 3AX
The Hare and Hound – Waytown, Bridport, Dorset DT6 5LQ Your nearest local pub – about a mile away.
Bridge House Hotel 3 Prout Bridge, Beaminster, Dorset DT8 3AY
Brassica Restaurant 4 The Square, Beaminster, Dorset DT8 3AS
The New Inn Stoke Abbott, New Inn Stoke Abbott, Dorset DT8 3JW Distance from the carriage about 3 miles. A wonderful walk.
The Half Moon The Half Moon, Melplash DT6 3UD