5 Reasons to Visit Dorset with Kids

5 Reasons to Visit the Dorset with Kids www.minitravellers.co.uk
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Between Hampshire and Devon, Dorset can be overlooked for a holiday but here are 5 reasons why you should visit Dorset with kids.

  • 1. Beaches

Miles and miles and miles of amazing beaches. The Jurassic Coast is 96 miles of glorious coastline between Old Harry Rocks at Studland, all the way to Lyme Bay in West Dorset and into Devon.  It doesn’t have to be sunny to enjoy the beaches in the UK and your kids will love you for taking you to the beach come rain or shine, just pack the buckets and spaces and off you go.  Weymouth Beach is UK number one in Trip Advisor Traveller’s Choice Awards for 2017!  You’ll need to go to find out why and if you agree!

5 Reasons to Visit the Dorset with Kids www.minitravellers.co.uk
Photo Credit to Matthew Hartley
  • 2. Moors Valley Country Park

A trip to Moors Valley Country Park is free but you will have to pay £9 a day (at the time of writing) for parking.  It is however a place that is raved about by Have Kids Can Travel, they write “Leaving aside the amazing visitor centre, the Go Ape Trail and the miniature steam railway, there’s a couple of things you shouldn’t miss.
Firstly, Moors Valley has the Best Play Park In Dorset. Seriously – if your kids love the park, Moors Valley is their heaven. And best of all, it’s not just for the small ones – it’s a play park that appeals to young teens too, with really challenging climbing net, a zip wire and a climbing boulder. Younger children can choose the smaller quiet sand play area, where the big kids don’t go!” They also recommend the play trail and taking your bikes for hours of fun on the cycling trails.

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Moors Valley Country Park is only twenty minutes away from Wimborne Minster and this incredible property Dulcima Cottage.  It’s an immaculately presented detached thatched cottage, picture perfect from the front but with a fabulous addition to the back.  The cottage has 4 bedrooms and a huge garden with children’s play equipment including a wooden swing and slide, separate games room with table tennis, plus the piece de resistance; a large and well equipped BBQ hut that can easily seat up to 8 people. Great for al fresco dining in style all year round!

5 Reasons to Visit Dorset with Kids www.minitravellers.co.uk

  • 3. Abbotsbury Swannery, Children’s Farm and Subtropical Gardens

Abbotsbury in Dorset is home to a trio of wonderful attractions.  You can buy a ‘passport’ which will give you entry to the Swannery, and also to Abbotsbury Children’s Farm, and the Subtropical Gardens. Abbotsbury Swannery is on the fleet, a short walk from the village of Abbotsbury. It is home to hundreds of swans who come back every year to breed and bring up their cygnets before they all depart again in the Autumn.

You can read the full review from Kids Days Out Reviews here

If you do fancy visiting Abbotsbury Swannery, Farm and Gardens you can stay in Charmouth in West Devon.  I really fancy a stay at Buzzard’s Haunt as I love the name and perhaps more importantly for the kids it has access to the the Fernhill Heights hotel outdoor pool and communal BBQ area.

5 Reasons to Visit Dorset with Kids www.minitravellers.co.uk

  • 4. River Kayaking in Wareham

You can hire kayaks from Wareham Boat Hire which is just a little outside Wareham. I thought the best way to show a family having fun doing this was to show you this video of Little Stuff messing about on the river.

An hour’s Kayak Hire from Wareham Boat Hire costs £10 per kayak, and they include all safety equipment too. Double kayaks are £15.

If you do decide to head to Wareham for River Kayaking then take a look at this beautiful cottage in Arne less than 15 minutes from Wareham, the Old Dairy House is situated on the edge of the RSPB nature reserve, with walks leading out towards Poole Harbour.  Multiple doors lead out onto the large garden that children and adults alike will enjoy exploring. It even has a trampoline, wooden swing and rope swing!

5 Reasons to Visit Dorset with Kids www.minitravellers.co.uk

 

If you are a member of the National Trust then this is a free day out, but even if you aren’t  a member, this day out comes highly recommended by Amy over at Everything Mummy.  The view from Corfe Castle is stunning and even on an over cast winters day you can see across miles and miles of stunning Dorset country side.  Her three girls aged between 3 and 7 also loved it too!

5 Reasons to Visit the Dorset with Kids www.minitravellers.co.uk
Photo Credit to Everything Mummy

If you are considering a Half Term Holiday in Dorset, why not check out this post too.

There are also 10 more almost free Things to do in Dorset, that have been recommended by Have Kids Can Travel! 

Featured Imaged Credit to Andrew Nash

NB: This post has been created in collaboration with Original Cottages and Dorset Cottages.

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5 Reasons to Visit Dorset with Kids www.minitravellers.co.uk

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Karen Beddow founded Mini Travellers in 2014 while doing what she loves most...going on holiday!

Mini Travellers is for parents looking for holiday ideas, destination reviews, days out and things to do with the kids. We also have family travel tips, activity ideas and all other things family holiday related. Take a look at some of our latest reviews for holidays and day trips in the UK.

8 thoughts on “5 Reasons to Visit Dorset with Kids”

  1. Dorset is one county I would love to explore more – I’ve visited quite a bit of Devon and Hampshire but for some reason never seem to stop on the middle. Corfe Castle is on my list, and hunting for dinosaurs on the Jurassic coast.

    Reply

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