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Containing some of the most attractive natural scenery in the country, as well as featuring several popular seaside resorts
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Durdle Door on the Jurassic Coast |
Photo © Sean Davis (CC) |
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The county of Dorset takes up 1000 square miles on the southern coast of England. It is known for containing some of the most attractive natural scenery in the country, as well as featuring several popular seaside resorts. |
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Its history starts a very long time ago - it is estimated that people first settled here as far back as 8000BC - more than 10 millennia ago! As a result of this, the county is scattered with Bronze Age burial mounds, and Iron Age forts. Dorset's importance continued during the Roman invasion, when the town of Dorchester was captured, and developed into a large settlement. |
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The Countryside around Dorchester |
Source WikiMedia (PD) |
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In the modern age, Dorchester has become the county town of Dorset. It is famed for its traditional weekly market, which draws people in from all around the local area. Roman remains can still be seen, including sections of the old walls, and a Grade-1 listed townhouse. On the outskirts of the settlement lies a new development called "Poundbury", which was designed by Prince Charles. |
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Dorchester Market |
Photo © Marilyn Jane (CC) |
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However, despite Dorchester's status as the county's principal town, the largest urban area in Dorset is around Bournemouth and includes the towns of Poole and Christchurch. Around half of the entire county's population live here, and hundreds of thousands more visit over the course of the year. Most of these tourists come to experience a classic British seaside holiday, as Bournemouth is known as one of the best coastal resorts in the UK. It's 7-mile-long beach features soft sand and clean water, with all sorts of water sports and entertainment available for use. |
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Bournemouth |
Photo © Christophe Finot (CC) |
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Bournemouth from above |
Photo © focalpunkt (CC) |
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The centre of Bournemouth |
Photo © focalpunkt (CC) |
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Relaxing on the Beach |
Photo © gilbrit (CC) |
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Another large settlement in Dorset is Weymouth, which makes the most of its coastal locations by featuring extremely photogenic quays and harbours, as well as several large marinas for yachts, fishing boats, houseboats, and many more types of craft. Almost any view on the shoreline would make for a perfect postcard. Most of the town's attractions continue with the aquatic theme, including water gardens, aquariums, and sea life museums. It comes as no surprise that this area will host many of the sailing events during the 2012 Summer Olympics. |
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Weymouth Harbour |
Photo © Jim Linwood (CC) |
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Weymouth lies in the centre of Dorset's coastline, acting as a halfway-point for its most famous attraction - the Jurassic Coast. This is a 150-kilometre-long stretch of huge cliffs, mysterious coves, and unusual land formations. The name comes from the fact that it is one of the most important places in the world for the discovery of dinosaur fossils. Since the 1800s entire skeletons have been found here. Even today, the area is often visited by both professional and amateur fossil-hunters, hoping to make new discoveries. |
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Dorset's Coastline |
Photo © Jim Champion (CC) |
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Old Harry Rocks along the Jurassic Coast |
Photo © glawster (CC) |
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Dorset's incredible landscapes are among the best that any county in England has to offer, and its no wonder than nearly half of them have been designated as places of "outstanding natural beauty". And with many of them enjoying protected status, they'll thankfully remain unspoiled, to be enjoyed for years to come. |
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Portland Harbour |
Photo © Steinsky (CC) |
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