Tourist Information for Dorset

Our local area is the Blackmore Vale, an area of old farms (ours is hundreds of years old), historic hedgerows, streams, market towns and scattered old villages.  Within view are a horseshoe of hills, with the famous coastline beyond. 

Beaches

Our favourites are Studland Bay and West Bay.  Studland is very popular and busy in the height of summer but just a little off season and it is lovely.  West Bay is a funny little place but it has a fine beach with a honey coloured cliff.  Parking is usually no problem.  Walk a short way along the beach and you soon leave have lots of space to play.

The Chesil beach is stony and the sea is often dangerous due to the undertow but for a bracing walk it is unbeatable.  At the eastern end it protects the Fleet, with Abbotsbury Swannery to the west and then West Bexington, popular with fishermen.  Walk a little further east and you are on the edge of organic fields of Tamarisk Farm, where we buy our meat and flour.  Ask us about the farm shop because it rarely opens.  The flora behind the beach as you head east towards Burton Bradstock is remarkable - species clinging on in the nooks and crannies.

For the youngsters, Weymouth is a popular seaside option. 

Lyme Regis has a good beach and a great atmosphere.  Walk along the front to the Cob to find a working harbour.  And then beyond are fossils to be discovered.

Hills

From Orchard Farmhouse you can easily climb the hills of Lyscombe, Bulbarrow and Ibberton.  The Dorset gap via the ridgeway is a famous walk.

Villages

Hazelbury Bryan is actually six hamlets.  Our own, Wonston, even has a subsidiary hamlet, called Pleck.  Originally the village centred around the fine church but in the 14th century people dispersed and built on the sandstone outcrops around, starting afresh after the plague. 

Wend your way by foot, bicycle or car to fascinating Buckland Newton, nestled amongst the folds like an unmade duvet, to Cerne Abbas and its life giving giant. Or head over to picture postcard Milton Abbas or Okeford Fitzpaine, both remarkable villages. 

Woolland and Anstey nestle below the hills beautifully and on the way to Blandford, discover Winterbourne Stickland just before the famous Bryanston school. 

Towns

Sturminster Newton is our nearest town and features a good delicatessan and a useful little department store - Hart's of Stur.  Sherborne is one of England's finest towns, much filmed and famous for its school.  Shaftesbury is lovely and well worth a visit.  Discover its steep lanes and ruined abbey which give way to outstanding views.  Gold Hill is famous from the Hovis advert.  All three are transition towns.

Bridport is great for another flavour of Dorset while Lyme Regis is romantic and fun.

Dorchester is the historic centre, offering a wide range of facilities as well as traditional charm.  Beyond Dorchester is the seaside town of Weymouth, with a good beach and activities for children.  If you seek the Olympic sailing venue, it is at Portland, a mile or two further south towards Portland Bill.

Portland Bill from Kippa (see www.kippatravels.com)

Wildlife

If birdwatching is your interest, there is likely to be plenty of interest for you.  Ask Sarah for a sample of their birdsong.  We have deer and badgers in fields nearby or just chatter to Snowdrop, our blind dove.

Cliffs

The Jurassic Coast seen from Kippa

The Jurassic coast can be toured by a bus that travels along the coast between Bournemouth and Exeter.  It passes through the best resorts.

Churches

East Fleet Church

A short walk from the Jurassic Coast bus route.

Stately Homes

Stourhead and Longleat are two of the most famous and wonderful stately homes in Britain.  Both are within an easy drive of Orchard Farmhouse.  There are several others which we can tell you about.  Kingston Lacey is particularly famous.

Alternatively how about Hardy's Cottage which is set evocatively in the woods?  If you are going that way, Kingston Maurward is worth a look - it has a delightful little animal section and fine gardens.  It is not as grand as some places but it is very manageable.  Kingston Maurward is a further education and outdoor college running short courses as well as national and degree courses.

Organic Holidays

We are part of the Organic Places to Stay network www.organicholidays.com.

By choosing organic you are saying you care about the environment, animal welfare and much more.  You are likely to find people who offer organic options are committed to quality food and living.  They are likely to have wider interests too that will make your holiday more interesting and enjoyable.

We can recommend other bed and breakfasts, hotels and guest houses where we have stayed.  Rupert has visited almost every corner of Britain by car or by boat see www.kippatravels.com.  Shropshire, Mid Wales, Norfolk and Kent and particular favourites.