It wouldn’t be summer in Dorset without fields filled with beautiful yellow sunflowers and maize mazes.
Fun for all the family, you can wander through fields of yellow and green and enjoy the countrylife. Some even have PYO Sunflowers to take home as a reminder of your day out in Dorset.
As these events are subject to weather conditions, to avoid disappointment please check in advance of your visit to confirm that the trails and mazes will be open.
Farmer Palmers Maize Maze
Great fun for younger children, they’ll love navigating the labyrinth of twists and turns at Farmer Palmers Maize Maze this summer.
With towering walls of green, families will find their way to the centre of the maze, venturing through a giant tunnel along the way.
Entry to Farmer Palmers Farm Park includes entry to the Maze, along with a whole day out for younger families.
Events dates: From August to October.
Sunflower Saunter
This years Sunflower Saunter at Coppet Hill will be opening next week. The sunflower field is located on Purcombe Farm, about 15 minutes drive from Bridport. There is a tea room at the farm selling delicious homemade cakes, ice-cream, tea and coffee. And if you want to stay a little longer, there is a campsite and glampsite on the farm too!
You can book tickets for the Sunflower Saunter online – adults £5, children under 16 years free, and dogs on leads are welcome.
Event dates: 25th July to 23rd August, from 9:30am until 4:30pm.
Sunflower and Wild Flower Walk
Head over to Gorcombe Farm and The Happy Farmer Café near Blandford Forum for a charming walk around the field of blooming sunflowers and wild flowers.
Be greeted by Pumpkin, Sunny and Waffle the pigmy goats who love being petted. If you have children with you they’ll love to run, play freely and climb on haybales.
You can treat yourself to something to eat or drink from the Happy Farmer Café and even purchase Sunflowers if you wish to take some Gorcombe sunshine home with you.
This event is free entry.
Provisional event dates: 1st August to 22nd September 2024, from 9am until 4pm.
Dorset Sunflower Trail
At Maiden Castle Farm near Dorchester wander amongst 20 acres of sunflower fields along the Dorset Sunflower Trail. The main trail takes about 40 minutes to walk and there is a shorter, accessible route for those with mobility requirements.
On certain dates there will be Sundowner Sessions with live music, Storytelling For Children and Sundowner Pilates.
You can purchase local produce refreshments from the Maiden Castle Farm Café on Wheels and even buy bunches of sunflowers and sunflower gifts as well.
Raising money for charity, tickets will be available to purchase online for £5 per person, with children under 5 years old admitted for free.
Provisional event dates: 12th August to 31st August 2024, from 11am until 4pm.
Maize Maze at Blackmarsh Farm
For one final time, the giant Maize Maze at Blackmarsh Farm in Sherborne is back...there's an anagram to solve along the way and an activity sheet all about British Flowers to complete. Find the Bug Motel, the Climbing Frame and the Lookout Platform all dotted around the Maze! It is a great day out for all the family!
The farm's café is open daily from 9.30am to 4pm, and will be serving coffee, homemade cakes, pastries, breakfast rolls, seasonal salad bowls, freshly made sandwiches and baguettes, ice-creams, milkshakes and smoothies.
Tickets include entry to the farm's outdoor play area and cost £7 per person and £5 for children between the ages of 1 and 3 years old. Well behaved dogs on leads are welcome.
Event dates: 27th July to 3rd September 2024. Open Mondays to Saturdays from 9.30am to 5pm (last entrance to the Maze will be 3.30pm) and on Sundays from 10am to 4pm (last entrance into the Maze will be 2.30pm).
PYO Sunflowers at North Farm
For the first time, North Farm at Horton will be opening their fields to the public for Pick Your Own sunflowers.
The event is free entry, however if you'd like to pick some sunflowers to take home, the cost is £1 per stem.
Bring a picnic if you wish and enjoy the fantastic views.
Event dates: 27th July to 3rd September 2024. Open daily 8am until 6pm.
Sunflowers at Blandford PYO
Wander the fields and pick your own Sunflowers (and some Dahlia's too) at Thornicombe near Blandford Forum.
Hot and cold drinks, home made brownies and ice-cream available from the mobile cafe, and loads of activities for children such as, bale pyramids, giant chalk board and giants chair.
Look out for the green and yellow signs on the A354 at the entrance to the sunflower field. This event is free entry with a cost for purchasing your picked sunflowers.
Event dates: 3rd to 25th August, open Wednesday to Sunday from 10am until 4pm.
