Countryside

Both genteel and wild, there’s nothing quite like the English countryside for rural escapes with its patchwork hills, dramatic dales, ancient woodlands and winding country roads. All well and good, but what is there to do in England’s countryside exactly? Quite a lot, actually. Admire the grand interiors of a stately home before catching a play in the surrounding gardens, travel back in time with visits to ancient stone circles and crumbling castles, or step into a chocolate box of quaint villages and market towns and live like a local, trying farmhouse cheeses, cream teas and real ales along the way.

19 Experience Results

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Kingston Lacy: an Italian palace in Dorset

Home to a rather fabulous collection that includes pieces by Rubens, Van Duyck, Titian.

Location: Poole, Dorset

 

Make friends at Monkey World Ape Rescue Centre

Home to over 250 rescued and endangered primates, this sanctuary lets you get up close and personal with all kinds of monkeys, gorillas and apes.

Location: Wareham, Dorset

 

Find romance in the depths of Thomas Hardy Country

Enjoy woodland walks and cosy inns, and immerse yourself in the romantic landscape that this renowned writer called home.

Location: Dorset

 

Have yourself a Famous Five adventure

Follow in the footsteps of Enid Blyton’s Famous Five with some castle capers and a seaside adventure by steam railway.

Location: Corfe Castle, Dorset

 

Take to the slopes in Dorset

The Snowtrax alpine activity centre will transport you to the mountains for the day.

Location: Christchurch, Dorset

 

Enjoy high-wire and two-wheeled adventure in the Moors Valley

Enjoy adrenaline-fuelled activities for all the family in Moors Valley Country Park in the lovely Dorset countryside.

Location: Ashley Heath, Dorset

 

Take a walk through history in Cranborne

Explore the landscape of Cranborne Chase which inspired the father of modern archaeology, William Fox Pitt.

Location: Cranborne, Dorset

 

Visit a movie star house

Discover Bathsheba's 'Everdene Farm' from Far From the Madding Crowd in Dorset.

Location: Beaminster, Dorset

 

Enjoy a luxurious camping trip at Crafty Camping

Luxury glamping in a beautiful forest setting alongside Guy Mallinson’s Woodland Workshop, featured in the BBC Mastercrafts series.

Location: Holditch, Dorset

 

A botanical treasure trove on the Jurassic Coast

Sniff your way around the award-winning Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens, a coastal haven filled with rare and exotic plants from all over the world.

Location: Abbotsbury, Dorset

 

Watch Indie A-listers at the End of the Road Festival

The intimate surroundings of the End of the Road Festival give you the chance to get up close and personal with the bands and their music.

Location: Larmer Tree Gardens, North Dorset

 

Give your taste buds a treat at the Furleigh Estate vineyard

Explore the peace and tranquillity of the Furleigh Estate vineyard, before getting down to the real business of testing out the wines for yourself.

Location: Bridport, Dorset

 

Enjoy an eco-friendly stay in green and pleasant Dorset

Come and enjoy Dorset’s incredible scenic beauty and rich wildlife this spring on a sustainable seaside holiday.

Location: Dorset

 

Visit one of Capability Brown’s finest landscapes

Celebrate Capability Brown’s tercentenary as you explore 42 acres of Sherborne Castle's beautiful gardens and soak up the beauty, peace and tranquility of this natural setting.

Location: Sherborne, Dorset

 

Take the family pet along on a dog friendly break in Dorset

Thanks to Dorset’s dog friendly places, there’s no need to leave your favourite canine companion at home on a family holiday.

Location: Dorset

 

All the fun of the fair with Dorset’s summer festivals

Dorset entertains the whole family all summer long hosting an array of amazing events and festivals that are unique, nostalgic or just plain fun!

Location: Dorset

 

Admire sculptures under blue skies in Dorchester

Get up close to beautiful works of art while exploring the glorious Dorset countryside at Sculpture by the Lakes.

Location: Dorchester, Dorset

 

October events: Be wowed by Abbotsbury's Illuminate

Discover an illuminated winter wonderland at one of Dorset’s finest annual events.

Location: Abbotsbury, Dorset

 

Stay in a magical forest lodge in Dorset

Enjoy a romantic winter break in a luxury woodland lodge.

Location: Near Corfe Castle, Dorset

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