June heralds the arrival of summer in Dorset with long days, sunny skies and warm temperatures, meaning there’s plenty of outdoor fun in store if you’re visiting Dorset this month.
Dine Al Fresco!
With the sun shining in all its glory, it’s the perfect time of year to dine al fresco! Here in Dorset you can sip your morning coffee and people watch at a trendy market town cafe, head out for a scrumptious Ploughman’s lunch overlooking the fields at a village pub garden and finish the day enjoying a glass of wine and fresh seafood at a beachside restaurant.
National Picnic Week takes place in mid June, so grab your blankets and baskets out of the cupboards and get out to the great outdoors for a good old fashioned picnic. If you’re looking for the best spot for a view, take a look at our local’s recommendations.
Go Glamping
Dorset boasts some of the best scenery in Britain and what better way to experience it than with a holiday in the great outdoors? The long, balmy evenings make glamping a fantastic option in the summer months and it offers the opportunity to get closer to nature without sacrificing any home comforts.
Glamping offers an undeniably unique aesthetic and there are plenty of stylish places to stay in Dorset from cosy shepherds huts to treehouses and bell tents, perfect for that Instagram reel.
Our friends over at Parkdean have come up with 5 top reasons why you should give glamping a go in Dorset this year!
Celebrate the Summer Solstice
For a unique experience, join meditation and yoga teacher Sonja Lockyer for an inspiring evening yoga session on the beautiful Brownsea Island. There'll be yoga practice followed by a picnic dinner, then a deeply calming meditation session. End the evening with a special nightjar walk, where the heath is filled with the enchanting churring of nightjars as they glide and swoop overhead.
The Ashmore Filly Loo is an ancient and magical celebration marking the longest day and the filling of the village pond and is held on the Friday nearest 21 June. With a green-man, the Hambledon Hopstep Band, Morris Men and lots of dancing in the village street, it promises to be a day of merriment.
Or you could simply choose to pay homage to the sun by watching the sunrise or sunset at one of Dorset’s remarkable beauty spots. Check out the top spots in Dorset.
Folk Festivities
The Wessex Folk Festival is held on the first weekend in June each year against the picturesque backdrop of Weymouth Harbour. The weekend starts with ‘warm up’ sessions in the harbourside pubs on the Friday to set the festival atmosphere, then the whole of Saturday and Sunday are filled with FREE music and fun, with two stages hosting around thirty of the best folk music acts from the UK and abroad.
Head to Wimborne Minster the following weekend for a three days of family friendly entertainment, activities and shows with live music across the town’s pubs and bars for the Wimborne Folk Festival.
Father’s Day
It’s time to say thank you to your Dad in June and there’s plenty of places in Dorset that would make for a special Father's Day outing.
Farmer Palmers Farm Park and Monkey World are offering half price entry for Dads on Father's Day. Adventurous Dads can enjoy a foraging or watersports adventure with Fore Adventure, or brave the pier to beach zip wire at PierZip in Bournemouth.
But if your old man just wants to relax with a beer and a Sunday Roast, we’ve got you covered there too with plenty of places to eat out!
Fossil Fun
Lyme Regis Fossil Festival, the biggest palaeontology event in the UK returns to Lyme Regis in mid June. It invites fossil enthusiasts of all ages to its FREE expert talks, exhibitions and educational activities, guided walks, author talks and book signings, creative workshops, street performances and much, much more!
Go Wild
Camping is always great fun, but why not go a little bit wild this year!
You can camp out on Brownsea Island (up until the end of September) with a minimum 2 night stay. Immerse yourself in nature and get to be one of the few people to stay overnight on the island once all the day visitors have left. You can bring your own tent or upgrade to a Bell Tent or Tree Tent, and you might be lucky enough to see a rare red squirrel during your visit!
Red squirrel on Brownsea Island © Paul Williams Photography
Book your June short break or holiday
Sometimes a day just isn't long enough, so why not stay a little longer and book overnight accommodation in one of Dorset's B&Bs, hotels, campsites, cottages or holiday parks.
