Places to visit within 30-60 minutes drive from our holiday cottages.
For abbreviations and colour codes, see the page
Notes on lists of Places to visit in Dorset, Somerset and Devon
| Place | Feature | Map Ref | Postcode | Road miles | Time mins | Dog friendly | Abbotsbury | Swannery | SY 577 845 | DT3 4JG | 21 | 34 | no | Abbotsbury | Gardens (sub-tropical) | SY 5633 8510 | DT3 4LA. | 21 | 34 | yes | Abbotstbury | St. Catherine's Chapel. (EH) | SY 5725 852 | DT3 4JU | 22 | 36 | yes | Abbotstbury | Abbey remains. (EH) | SY 579 851 | DT3 4JL | 21 | 34 | yes | Abbotstbury Castle | Hill Fort. (SSSI)? | SY 562 862 | DT2 852 | 20 | 35 | yes | Adcombe Wood | Ancient woodland (WT SSSI) | ST 225 174 | TA3 7DD | 21 | 35 | yes | Aller and Beer | Woods, ancient (SWT, SSSI) | ST 404 305 | TA10 0RD | 20 | 42 | yes | Aller Hill | Grassland (SSSI) | ST 408 291 | TA10 0DD | 20 | 42 | yes | Athelhampton | House and gardens | SY 771 943 | DT2 7LG | 24 | 39 | yes (garden) | Axe estuary | Saltmarsh, mudflats (NR) | SY 255 905 | EX12 4AE | 28 | 38 | Badbury Rings | Hill fort, large, wooded. (NT) | ST 964 030 | BH21 4DZ | 39 | 56 | yes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spectacular hill fort. Via Wimborne or Blandford. Part of Kingston Lacy estate. | Beer (Devon) | Village. Walk to Branscombe | SY 228 888 SY 207 881 | EX12 3AJ | 24 | 45 | yes | Beer (Devon) | Pecorama pleasure gardens and miniature railway | ST 504 032 | DT8 3SG | 24 | 45 | Beer (Devon) | Beer Quarry Caves | SY 214 894 | EX12 3AR | 24 | 44 | Beer (Somerset) | Cider Farm | ST 407 314 | TA10 0QX | 21 | 44 | Bickham Wood | Nature reserve (SWT) | ST 268 084 | TA20 3EB | 18 | 36 | yes | Bindon Hill | Hill fort | SY 839 802 | BH20 5SA | 33 | 52 | yes | Biscombe | Brimley Hill Mire (SWT) | ST 175 131 | TA3 7PZ | 22 | 38 | yes | Bishops Lydeard | West Somerset Steam Railway to Minehead | ST 165 289 | TA4 3RU | 28 | 51 | Blackbury Camp | Hill Fort. (EH) | SY 187 924 | EX24 6JE | 25 | 47 | yes | Blandford Forum | Keyneston Mill garden | ST 911 043 | DT11 9HZ | 38 | 55 | on lead | Blandford Forum | Town | 35 | 51 | Bovington | Clouds Hill | BH20 7NQ | 27 | 47 | Bovington | Tank Museum | SY 829 884 | BH20 6JG | 35 | 41 | Bowleaze Cove | Beach | SY 704 819 | DT3 6PW | 26 | 41 | Branscombe | Coastal village, walks | SY 207 882 SY 230 892 | EX12 3DB | 27 | 47 | yes | Briantspuddle | Culpeppers Dish | SY 814 926 | 28 | 44 |
| Large conical sink hole. Car park nearby. Walks through pine forest and heathland. | Bridgwater | Town | 29 | 49 | ||
| Interesting range of independant shops. Street market Wednesday and Saturday | Bruton | Hauser and Wirth: Durslade Farm | BA10 0NL | 28 | 46 | Buckland Newton | Badger Watch Dorset | ST 695 043 | DT2 7BL | 19 | 35 | no | Bulbarrow Hil | Hill fort | ST 777 055 | DT11 0ER | 25 | 50 | yes | Burrowbridge | Burrow Mump Historic hill. (NT) | ST 359 305 | TA7 0RB | 20 | 45 | yes | Cadbury Castle | Hill fort | ST 628 253 | 23 | 34 | yes |
| Flat-topped open hill fort with few trees. | Cannington | Walled Gardens | ST 257 395 | TA5 2HA | 33 | 56 | Castle Cary | Town | 25 | 39 | Castle Neroche | Norman Motte and Bailey, Forest (FC) | ST 273 156 | 18 | 34 | yes |
| Good woodland walks | Chickerell | Aldi | DT3 4FL | 25 | 40 | Corfe Castle | Village, Model village | SY 958 814 | 41 | 59 | yes | Corfe Castle | Swanage Railway | 41 | 59 | Cothay | Manor and gardens | ST 085 213 | TA21 OJR | 32 | 58 | Cranmore | East Somerset Railway | BA4 4QP | 32 | 51 | Crawthorne | Langham Estate Wines Vinyard | SY 774 858 | DT2 7NG | 26 | 40 | Curry Rivel | Village on ridge South of Somerset levels. | ST 392 254 | 15 | 32 | Dalwood | Burrow Farm Gardens | SY 243 993 | EX13 7ET | 31 | 38 | yes | Dumpton Hill | Hill fort | SY177 042 | 23 | 40 | yes | Dumpton Hill | Nature reserve: The Rough (DoWT) | SY 178 040 | 23 | 40 | yes | Duncliffe Hill | Ancient woodland, bluebells | ST 825 224 | 29 | 55 | Durdle Door | Natural limestone arch | SY 805 804 [SY 811 804 600m] | 32 | 52 | Ferne | Animal Sanctuary | ST 275 075 | 14 | 34 | Fiddleford | Manor. (EH) | ST 802 136 | 28 | 49 | Fifehead Magdalen | Fivehead Wood | ST 773 215 | 26 | 50 |
| Bluebells and wood anemones | Fivehead | Greenshutters Garden Cantre / Nursery | ST 347 232 | TA3 6PT | 15 | 36 | Folke | Folke Wood (old orchard) (WT) | ST 658 134 | 19 | 36 | yes | Fortuneswell (Portland) | Town, Lidl | 30 | 50 | Gillinghham | Town | 35 | 47 | Glastonbury | Town. Aldi | 29 | 50 | Glastonbury | Tribunal. (EH) | 29 | 50 | Golden Cap | Highest point on South coast (NT) | SY 384 9344 | DT6 6EP | 15 | 32 | yes |
| SatNav is for Langdon Hill car park | Hadspen | The Newt garden | ST 659 311 | 26 | 41 | no | Hawkswood | Wood (DvWT) | SY 200 978 [SY 203 975] | 23 | 43 | yes | Hemyock | Lickham Common (DvWT) | ST 128 122 | 27 | 49 | yes | Hestercombe House | House and Gardens | ST 240 286 | 25 | 46 | grounds | Hilfield Hill | Nature reserve | ST 637 040 | DT2 7BE | 12 | 39 | yes |
| Woodland and wild flower meadows. Flat. Narrow entrance to car park. | Hod Hill | Hill Fort (NT) | ST 855 106 | 33 | 56 | yes |
| Dorset's largest Hill Fort | Holway woods | (DoWT) | ST 63418 20211 | 18 | 36 | yes |
| Chestnut trees | Honiton | Town, Adi, Lidl | 24 | 41 | Jordan Hill | Roman Temple. (EH) | SY 699 821 | 26 | 40 | Kilver Court | Garden, Designer village | BA4 5NF ST 626 436 | 29 | 44 | Kingsbury Episcopi | Burrow Hill Cider, Brandy etc | S|T 415 200 | 22 | 38 | Kingston Lacy | House and gardens (NT) | ST 986 009 | 40 | 59 | Kingston Maurward | Animal park and gardens | SY 714 910 | 21 | 33 | gardens | Langdon Hill | Wood (NT) and walk to Golden Cap | SY 413 931 | 13 | 36 | yes |
| Pine and Larch woodland. Good car park and walk to Golden Cap | Langport | Town | 17 | 36 | Long Sutton | Harry's Cider Co. | ST 462 260 | TA10 9NS | 20 | 32 | Lulworth | Castle and park | SY 855 822 | 36 | 55 | yes (park) | Lulworth cove | SY 823 800 | 33 | 53 | yes | Lyme Regis | Town | 17 | 35 | Lyme Regis | Axmouth to Lyme Regis undercliff (SSSI, NNR) | SY 336 920 | 17 | 35 | yes | Lyme Regis | Dinosaurland Fossil Museum | 17 | 35 | Lyme Regis | Marine Aquarium | 17 | 35 | Maiden Castle | Hill Fort, one of largest in Britain. (EH) | SY 672 884 | DT2 9PP | 21 | 36 | yes | Meare | Monastic fishery building. (EH) | ST 459 417 | 29 | 48 | Midsomer Norton | Somerset and Dorset Railay | BA3 2EY | 36 | 59 | Milton Abbas | Village (historical) | ST 805 018 | 30 | 46 | Moreton | Walled Gardens. Tea room | SY 805 893 | 28 | 43 | yes | Moreton | River Frome. Ford. Long bridge. | SY 805 893 | 28 | 43 | yes | Muchelney | Abbey (EH) | ST 428 247 | 15 | 32 | Muchelney | Priest's House | TA10 0DQ | 15 | 34 | Nightingale Farm | Wood | ST 451 050 | 23 | 38 | yes | North Perrott | The Manor Arms (on foot) | ST 475 094 | 2 | 40 | North Petherton | Town | 26 | 45 | Nunney | Castle. (EH) | ST 737 468 | 37 | 56 | yes | Offwell | Woods, lake, open access (FC) | SY180 994 | 24 | 39 | yes | Osmington Mills | Coastal village. Pub, Rock pools, clifftop walks | SY 735 817 | 28 | 44 | yes | Otterhead Lakes | Nature reserve, old disused garden | ST 224 141 TA3 7EE | 19 | 36 | yes | Ottery St Mary | Town, walk to Tipton St John | SY 0940 9515 SY 0920 9176 | 32 | 53 | yes | Pallington | Sculpture park and walks | SY 786 913 | 24 | 41 | Payhembury | Hembury Hill Fort | ST111031 | EX14 3LA | 28 | 50 | Poole | Town | 42 | 59 | Portesham | Vinyard | SY 625 857 | DT3 4ER | 21 | 38 | Portland | Castle. (EH) | SY 683 743 | 29 | 51 | Portland | DoWT. Tout Quarries Sculpture park | SY 68443 72446 | DT5 2LN | 31 | 54 | yes | Portland | Portland Museum | 31 | 54 | Portland (Fortuneswell) | Town, Lidl | 30 | 50 | Prior's Park & Adcombe Wood | Public access. (SSSI) | ST 225 170 | 23 | 40 | yes | Puddletown Forest | Woodland (pine & mixed), heathland (FC) | SY 74439 92534 | 22 | 37 | yes | Ringstead | Seaside village, shore (NT) | SY 753 814 | DT2 8NQ | 28 | 45 | yes | Seaton | Tramway | SY 253 294 | 23 | 41 | Yes (£2) | Seatown | Coastal village, beach, Golden Cap, walks, pub | SY 420 917 | 14 | 31 | (officially) no | Shepton Mallet | Chaplin and Cork's Cider | BA4 5ND | 29 | 45 | Sherborne | Town | 15 | 34 | Sherborne | Castle and gardens, Vinyard | ST 651 163 | 17 | 33 | yes | Sherborne | Old Castle. (EH) | ST 648 168 | 17 | 34 | yes | Sherborne | Museum | 17 | 34 | Shilligstone | North Dorset Railway | DT11 0SA | 29 | 53 | Shipton Gorge and Hill | 4½ mile walk - Shipton Hill | SY 498 915 | 14 | 31 | Shute | Lyme Bay Winery | SY 249 964 | 19 | 38 | Shute Barton | House (NT) | SY 252 974 | EX13 7PT | 21 | 35 | Sidbury | Sand House and Garden | SY 146 925 | 34 | 53 | Sidmouth | Town | 30 | 56 | Sidmouth | Donkey sanctuary | SY160 891 | 27 | 47 | Smeatharpe | Southey and Gotley Moors open access (SSSI) | ST 192 110 | 24 | 41 | Somerton | Town | 20 | 31 | Somerton | Great Breach and Copley woods | ST 505 325 | 22 | 36 | Staple Hill | Mount Fancy Farm Butterfly reserve | ST 251 163 ST 246 159 | 18 | 34 | Staple Hill | Ruttersleigh woodland (SSSI) | ST 250 165 | 19 | 32 | Stonebarrow Hill | Cliff top walk to Golden cap (NT) | SY 381 933 | DT6 6RA | 18 | 35 | yes |
| Excellent cliff-top walks. | Stourhead | House and Gardens (NT) | ST 777 344 | BA12 6QF | 35 | 45 | yes (informal areas) | Street | Hecks Cider | ST 483 260 | 24 | 39 | Sturminster Newton | Town | 27 | 50 | Sturminster Marshall | 18th century mill | BH21 4BX | 37 | 55 | Swell Wood | RSPB Nature reserve | ST 363 236 | 17 | 35 | Tarrant Hinton | Dorset Steam Fair | DT11 8HX | 39 | 59 |
| Held every August, late Bank Holiday | Taunton | Town, Aldi | 23 | 42 | Thorncombe Woods | Hardy's Cottage (birth place) | SY 726922 | 21 | 35 | Thorncombe Woods | Nature Reserve, Hardy's cottage, Woods | SY 726922 | 21 | 35 | Throop | Ford and long bridge on River Piddle | SY 827932 | 29 | 45 | yes | Tipton St John | Walk by river Otter. Scenic drive through Blackdown Hills and East Devon | SY 0872 9210 SY 0940 9515 | 36 | 56 | yes | Tiverton | Town. Cheese festival | 43 | 57 |
| Cheese festival in September | WarehamQ | Town, quay | 36 | 50 | Wareham | Monkey World | BH20 6HH | 30 | 50 | Wareham | Blue Pool | BH20 5AR | 39 | 59 |
| Nature reserve and tearoom: !! acres of woodland, heathland | Wellington | Town | 29 | 47 | Wells | Town | 33 | 58 | yes | Wells | The Bishops Palace | ST 553 458 | BA5 2PD | 33 | 58 | yes | Weymouth | Town Aldi, Sainsbury's, Morrisons | 27 | 40 | Weymouth | Beach | SY 648 797 | 25 | 39 | designated area | Weymouth | Bennett's Water Garden. | SY 648 797 | 25 | 39 | no | Weymouth | Radipole Lake RSPB reserve | SY 675 804 | 26 | 41 | on lead. Pick up | Weymouth | Tudor House Museum | 26 | 41 | Weymouth | Sea Lfe Adventure Park | DT4 7SX | 26 | 41 | Wimborne | Chained Library in Minster | 41 | 59 | Wimborne | Town, model village | 41 | 59 | Wareham | Caves | ST 543 473 | 34 | 58 | Wookey Hole | Ebbor Gorge (SSSI, NNR) | ST 531 476 | 35 | 59 |
Document URI: https://westdorset.org/places/60.html