To provide you with the best experience, cookies are used on this site. Find out more here.
Accommodation in Dorset
Things To Do in Dorset
What’s On in Dorset
Explore & Discover Dorset
Welcome to the Itinerary Planner. Use this tool to build your own journey or choose from an exciting range of specially selected tours.
To build your own Itinerary, click to add an item to your Itinerary basket.
Cerne Abbas is a charming and quaint village that is world renowned for the Cerne Giant, a 180 ft high ancient chalk figure carved out into the steep sloping hillside above the village. The origins of the Giant, now owned by the National Trust, are a mix of fact and speculation. Some believe that he represents the Roman god, Hercules and is over 1500 years old or that he is a Pagan fertility symbol. However, there is no known historical record before 1694 and it has been argued that the Giant is a more recent caricature of a historical figure, the most probable being Oliver Cromwell.
The village of Cerne Abbas grew around a great Benedictine Abbey, which was founded in AD 987 however the dissolution of the monasteries in the 16th century sadly saw the Abbey destroyed. Remains of the Abbey can still be seen today and are well worth a visit. Despite the loss of the Abbey the village managed to not just survive but prosper; Cerne’s fresh underground water supply fuelling a highly successful brewing trade. The quality beer was sold as far afield as London and was even exported to the Americas. Due to this industry, Cerne Abbas at one time boasted no fewer than 15 public houses with a population of only 1500. Waterpower also gave rise to many other small industries including milling and silk weaving.
Today, the village survives from its tourist industry, enticing people not only from all over Britain but also from across the globe to view the huge ‘Rude Giant’. Visitors can enjoy food and drink in some picturesque surroundings in pubs such as The New Inn, The Giant Inn and The Royal Oak and Abbotts Tea Rooms.
From our hides, thrill at the sight of badgers emerging from their setts and foraging for…
Quad Biking (8yrs +) and shooting activities (12yrs+) - Thrills on the hills of Dorset!
The Keep is the Military Museum of Devon and Dorset. Housed in an extraordinary…
Dorset County Museum closed in October 2018 for a two-year multi-million pound…
Executed for arson. Transported for asking for fair pay. Given six months hard labour for…
The world's greatest discovery of Ancient Treasure - Tutankhamun's tomb, treasures and…
Fossils, skeletons, life-size dinosaur reconstructions plus hands-on and multimedia…
This museum, devoted to the wonderful world of the teddy bear, contains a wealth of bears…
Brewery Square is a vibrant and stylish regeneration in the heart of Dorchester which…
The new £8 million centre provides the local community with a first-class swimming and…
Athelhampton House & Gardens is one of the finest English manor houses, with beautiful…
Built by Sir Walter Raleigh in 1594 and the stately home of the Digby family since 1617…
Sherborne Museum is housed in what used to be the gatehouse and almonry of the monastery…
Historic Abbey Church dating from Saxon times. Wealth of 15thC fan vaulting built of Ham…
Spectacular formal valley gardens beside 16th-17thC manor. Pools, orangery, fine views…
Copyright 2019 Visit Dorset. All Rights Reserved.