A trip into town

Dorchester is not only Dorset’s county town but also the birthplace of famous author and poet Thomas Hardy. The town enjoys a rich history dating back as far as the Iron Age and is home to the Roman Town House, the finest example of its kind in Britain. It houses many of the county’s leading museums, including the Dorset Museum and the Keep Military Museum. Learn more of Dorchester’s grizzly history and the trial of the Tolpuddle Martyrs with a visit to the newly refurbish Shire Hall Historic Courthouse Museum.

Discover the quirky artefacts inside the Minster Church, which sits in the middle of this pretty little market town. Enjoy browsing the shop and exhibitions at Walford Mill Crafts, relax with a coffee and cake at the Squash Court and then explore its interesting shop or just take a wonder around the town and soak up the atmosphere. No visit to Wimborne is complete without seeing the Model Town - it’s based on what the town looked like in the 1950s. There are plenty of cafes and lots of outdoor seating where you can sit and watch the world go.

A lively and attractive market town surrounded by beautiful coast and countryside. Bridport has an enviable reputation for arts, culture and food. On Wednesdays and Saturdays, the high street is bustling with local producers selling their wares. Here you can find anything from antique jewellery to handcrafted pottery and artwork. On the second Saturday of every month, there’s a farmers market in the art centre, where there is free range eggs, and vegetables grown on a nearby farm as well as a number of other tasty artisan makes.

Set high on a hilltop 700 ft above the Blackmore Vale, the historic town of Shaftesbury offers stunning views over the Blackmore Vale below. Its unique location ‘on top of the world’ inspired Kings to settle here over 1100 years ago. It’s best known for Gold Hill, a picturesque cobbled street made famous by the ‘Hovis’ bread ad in the 70s. Follow in Thomas Hardy’s footsteps and explore one of England’s highest, ancient hill-top towns.

The pretty, charming, honey-coloured town is brimming with history and heritage, including a magnificent Abbey that’s well worth a visit. Sherborne is a shopper's paradise offering a mixture of independent shops, high-street brands and markets. The main shopping area in Sherborne is centred around Cheap Street. This traditional high street is packed with boutiques, art galleries, delis and antique shops.

Our nearest town is Blandford and it has many of the major supermarkets, including Morrisons, Tescos and Lidls, if you need to do a food shop. Check out the shops in the side streets and alleys including Barnack Walk, Hardys Yard, Georgian Passage and Tabernacle Walk. For a local 'tipple' pay a visit to the Hall and Woodhouse Brewery. There are also a number of indoor and outdoor markets in the town throughout the week.