Bordering Devon to west, Somerset and Wilshire to the north and Hampshire to the east, Dorset is often the first real taste of the West Country for holiday-hungry Londoners, and it doesn't disappoint. It's a county that inspires fierce loyalties, not only for its spectacular coastline, but for the unhurried pace of its interior, which for the most part is as rural an area as you'll find in England. The coastline is actually a World Heritage Site, mainly for its unique geology, and one way to explore the so-called Jurassic Coast is along the Southwest Coast Path, which starts its long 630-mile journey in Dorset. The conurbation of Bournemouth & Poole is about the closest the county gets to an urban centre (you can't really count the quiet county town of Dorchester), with its spectacular natural harbour sheltered by Brownsea Island and wonderful beaches on both sides, including the beautiful National-Trust-owned sands at Studland Bay, reachable by ferry from posh Sandbanks. At the other end of Dorset's coast lies picturesque Lyme Regis, known for its fossils and literary associations, and, in between, the rock formations of Lulworth Cove and Durdle Door and the lively resort of Weymouth, along with smaller resorts like Burton Bradstock and West Bay, and the long pebble strand of Chesil Beach, which stretches between the two.
Cool Places aims to celebrate the glorious diversity of the UK, promoting the very best places to visit, sleep, eat, drink, shop and much more. We particularly love the independent businesses that make the UK unique, from the tiniest B&B to the grandest boutique hotel, as well as the extraordinary British landscape and its amazing sights and attractions. Our guides cover most of the major towns and regions of Britain – for more information, visit www.coolplaces.co.uk
