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Swanage Railway, Swanage
The award-winning Swanage Railway currently operates on the six miles of track between Swanage and Norden, through the beautiful Isle of Purbeck, passing the magnificent ruins of Corfe Castle.

Kingston Lacy House, Gardens & Park, Wimborne
Home of the Bankes family for over 300 years, having replaced the ruined family seat at Corfe Castle, this 17th-century house was radically altered in the 19th century by Sir Charles Barry. The house contains the outstanding collection of paintings and other works of art accumulated by William Bankes. It is famous for its dramatic Spanish Room, with walls hung in magnificent gilded leather. The house and garden are set in a wooded park with attractive waymarked walks and a fine herd of North Devon cattle.

Corfe Castle, Swanage
A medieval castle, commanding a gap in the Purbeck ridge, is now an imposing ruin and a popular tourist centre drawing on its many years of history.

Tank Museum, Bovington
The Tank Museum houses the world's finest international collection of Armoured Fighting Vehicles.

Compton Acres, Poole
Compton Acres invites you to escape to a different world. Twelve individual gardens, set in ten acres with spectacular views over Poole Harbour, Brownsea Island and the Purbeck Hills.

Athelhampton House and Gardens, Puddletown
One of the finest 15th Century Houses in England with an abundance of history - both architectural and cultural. Surrounded by glorious Grade 1 gardens.

Dorset County Museum, Dorchester
Fourteen fascinating display rooms including the award-winning Dorset Writer's Gallery, Dorchester Gallery and archaeological gallery. Rare and intriguing geology, wildlife, local history, marvellous Roman mosaics and Thomas Hardy's famous study.

Portland Castle, Weymouth
Portland Castle was built by Henry VIII as part of that monarch's ambitious scheme of coastal defences against the French and Spanish. It has survived largely unaltered since the 16th century, making it one of the best preserved examples of Henry's castles.

Bennetts Water Gardens, Chickerell
Bennetts Water Gardens is a family run business founded in 1959. The site is now an established tourist attraction where visitors can enjoy a tranquil walk around the gardens and lakes growing thousands of water lilies.

Milton Abbey, Milton Abbas
Situated in the grounds of Milton Abbey School, Milton Abbey rests below a gentle hill in a secluded natural amphitheatre.

Maiden Castle, Dorchester
Maiden Castle is the largest hillfort in England extending 45 acres, and lies about 2 miles to the south of Dorchester town centre. The hillfort was first occupied around 3000 BC, and contains a complex arrangement of ramparts and ditches.

Brownsea Island, Poole Harbour
Approximately 1½ miles long by ¾ mile wide, Brownsea Island lies just inside the entrance to Poole Harbour. It offers magnificent views across the harbour, the Purbeck Hills and Studland Bay.

OTHER ATTRACTIONS

Cerne Abbas, Dorset
Famous for its ruined Abbey and 180 foot high chalk giant

Jurassic Coast
England's first natural World Heritage Site This unique stretch of coastline has joined the ranks of the Great Barrier Reef and the Grand Canyon as one of the wonders of the natural world. The Dorset and East Devon Coast has become a World Heritage Site due to its outstanding geology, which represents 185 million years of history in just 95 miles. It displays not just superb Jurassic, but older Triassic and younger Cretaceous rocks too.

Clarkes Shopping Village, Street, Somerset
As the first purpose built factory outlet centre in the UK, Clarks Village has established itself as one of the premier outlet centres in the country.

West Dorset Beaches: Charmouth, West Bay, Weymouth, Lyme Regis, Chesil Beach, Swanage

NEAREST TOWNS

Dorchester (Market day is Wednesday)
Yeovil (Market days are Tuesday and Friday)
Sherborne
Bridport

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