Abbotsbury Swannery

Advantages: Beautiful scenery, lots of things to interest anyone & everyone
Disadvantages: Can get crowded in the summer months

..., and is often less crowded in the summer. The campsite is about 10 miles east of Weymouth (one of the principal towns in Dorset) which has fantastic golden sandy beaches, and all the attractions of a seaside resort (complete with Sealife Centre, pier and a road train along the front). Other attractions in the area include MonkeyWorld (does what it says on the tin!) a few miles north of Wool (only 15 minutes drive); the Tank Museum at Bovington (again, very close to the campsite); Splashdown (a large waterpark at Poole); the Swannery at Abbotsbury (a wonderful wetland centre where visitors can observe the wildlife, feed the birds & take a ride in a traditional horse & cart); and Portland Bill with it's lighthouse. There are also some wonderful walks (with lovely pubs along the way!) - one of my favourites runs from Lulworth Cove, all along some... Read review

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Advantages: beautiful clean site
Disadvantages: big drop a few yards into the sea

...to book ahead if planning to eat there. As you sit on West Bay Pier just over a mile from the site you can see the private beach of freshwater and if you are feeling fit you can walk either along the pebbled beach or along the cliff top to get there. The popular programme Harbour Lights was filmed at West Bay so you may feel you know the area quite well already. I will add my own personal photos when I can work out how the scanner part of my new all in one printer works but for now I have used a few of freshwaters own website photos so you can get an idea of what the site looks like. There are many interesting places to visit in the area including Hardy's Monument just a few miles away. If you visit in May you will be able to see the signets hatching at The Swannery at Abbotsbury as well as visiting the Tropical Gardens right next door to it... Read review

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Advantages: Preserving a Phenomena. Tourism. International Recognition
Disadvantages: None

...of the Cerne Abbas Giant in the chalk hills at Cerne Abbas. I could advocate you go to Corfe Castle and see the Norman settlements. Go to the Swannery and Nature Reserve at Abbotsbury and watch the cygnets hatching. I could tell you to visit the Tutankhamun Museum in Dorchester. But I don’t want to tell you that. I want to tell you about The Dorset Jurassic Coast and The World Heritage Status. World Heritage Status will benefit Dorset, principally by creating new opportunities to improve the educational use of the coast, support scientific study, and increase our potential in visitor management. We need tourism and recognition in Dorset. Many peoples livelihoods rely on the much required income they generate. Dorset is often overlooked by the exodus of visitors from the North, Midlands and the South East in the summer, and all year round... Read review

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