Explore Brownsea Island and see if you can spot a rare red squirrel © National Trust
Keen birdwatchers can spot Peregrine Falcons on coastal cliffs © Peter Moore Photography

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Nature and Wildlife

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Highlights

Best bird watching spots
Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty

Dorset is blessed with two areas of outstanding natural beauty, covering more than half of the county with inspiring landscapes and a diverse selection of nature and wildlife.
Nature Reserves and Country Parks in Dorset

Looking for a destination where you can see rare and endangered wildlife in their natural habitats? Or enjoy all that nature has to offer? Then Dorset is certainly the place for you.

With over half of the county being Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, it's no surprise that we have some of the best wildlife and natural landscapes found anywhere in the UK.

Dorset is a diverse haven which many different species call home, some of which are so rare that they can't be found anywhere else!

With all of our fabulous wildlife to enjoy, it really is a nature lover’s dream location to visit. So pack your binoculars and venture out into the great outdoors.

Get back to nature

Dorset is filled with country parks, nature reserves and wide open spaces where you can run free, breathe in fresh air and truly feel at one with nature.

The Blue Pool is surround by 25 acres of heathland and woodland in the beautiful Isle of Purbeck. The tranquil pool is ever-changing in colour, from blue to turquoise to green. Follow the sandy paths down to the waters edge and up to the viewpoint looking towards Corfe Castle.

Dorset also has a number of fantastic RSPB and Dorset Wildlife Trust reserves which give an incredible chance to see a wide variety of wildlife up-close within their natural habitats.

Best places for bird watching

Being located in the most southerly position in Dorset, the Isle of Portland's unique geology and climate are ideal for a wide variety of birds and animals. So, if you enjoy bird-watching of coastal or migratory birds, then it’s a great place to indulge your passion. Plus over half of Britain's fifty seven butterfly species can be seen on Portland, along with rare plants species only found in a handful of locations in the UK.

Some of Dorset’s other bird watching hotspots include Durlston Country Park’s coastal location on the Isle of Purbeck, the sheltered fleet lagoon found nestled behind Chesil Beach and Poole Harbour – Europe’s largest natural harbour.

Unique species

Red squirrels are very rare in southern England, only existing in small populations and Brownsea Island is one of those places. Surrounded by Poole Harbour, the water keeps grey squirrels at bay, meaning the endangered reds are kept safe and sound and can eat as many pine cones as they can manage!

Dorset's heathlands are an important part of a global resource and are home to all six of Britain's native reptile species. More sand lizards and smooth snakes are found on these heaths than anywhere else in the country. It is also home to the extremely rare lady bird spider, so rare in fact that it was thought extinct in Britain until it was discovered in 1980 and is now being re-introduced to a small corner of the county.

Get up close and personal

There are always interesting events and courses taking place across the county, giving you the opportunity to learn from an expert or get close to wildlife without disturbing or damaging the environment. So grab your ID guides, binos and camera and get ready to be amazed.

Abbotsbury Swannery is home to the only managed colony of free-flying mute swans in the world that visitors can walk among. During the nesting and hatching period (end May-end June), it is possible to stand next to hatching eggs and see the very cute sygnets getting used to family life.

Unleash your inner Chris Packham

If you’re a fan of BBC’s Springwatch and Autumnwatch, why not visit BadgerWatch Dorset and star in a nature documentary of your own!

From the hides, thrill at the sight of badgers emerging from their setts and foraging for food.

The area is floodlit for perfect vision and visits from other wildlife such as owls, foxes, rabbits and bats add to the spectacle.

Stay a little longer

With all of this available right here in Dorset, we hope that we’ve given you more than enough reason to visit.

We're got a great selection of accommodation to stay over or places to eat out in-between wildlife watching.

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Number of results: 36

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TripAdvisor Traveller Rating
1373 reviews
Abbotsbury Swannery

Type

Type:

Animal Collection

ABBOTSBURY

The only place in the world where up to 1,000 swans can be visited during the nesting and hatching time (end May- end June). Audiovisual presentation. Ugly duckling trail. Mass feeding by hand at 12 and 4pm daily.

Price Free to £10.00 Per Ticket
TripAdvisor Traveller Rating
1294 reviews
Moors Valley Country Park and Forest

Type

Type:

Country Park/Nature Reserve

RINGWOOD
Awards
- Visit Britain We're Good to Go 2021
Get active in the outdoors and have yourself a family adventure. Children will love the ‘Play Trail’ with its unique wooden play structures. Fans of Julia Donaldson can come face to face with a life-sized sculpture of The Gruffalo, Gruffalo’s Child…
Price £1.70 to £85.00 Per Ticket
TripAdvisor Traveller Rating
2427 reviews
Brownsea Island

Type

Type:

Country Park/Nature Reserve

POOLE

*LATEST UPDATE* Brownsea Island has now re-opened and tickets need to be booked in advance. You will need to purchase a separate ticket for the ferry from the kiosks on Poole Quay. A beautiful island with wonderful views, history & wildlife…

Price Free to £22.50 Per Ticket
TripAdvisor Traveller Rating
31 reviews
Hardy's Birthplace and Thorncombe Woods

Type

Type:

Country Park/Nature Reserve

DORCHESTER

Discover more about Thomas Hardy's early life at the Hardy's Birthplace Visitor Centre. The Centre is located on the edge of Thorncombe Wood Local Nature Reserve and a short walk from Hardy's Cottage. Thorncombe Woods is home to a great diversity of…

Free
TripAdvisor Traveller Rating
145 reviews
Avon Heath Country Park

Type

Type:

Country Park/Nature Reserve

RINGWOOD
Awards
- Visit Britain We're Good to Go 2021
A mosaic of glorious heathland and forest, laced with waymarked trails and picnic spots, together with a visitor centre, play equipment, cafe and gift shop.
Free
TripAdvisor Traveller Rating
548 reviews
Sherborne Castle and Gardens

Type

Type:

Historic House/Palace

SHERBORNE
Awards
- Visit Britain We're Good to Go 2021
Built by Sir Walter Raleigh in 1594 and the stately home of the Digby family since 1617. Walk in the footsteps of SIR WALTER RALEIGH in the home he built more than 400 years ago. Take a leisurely stroll around 42 acres of our beautiful ENGLISH…
Special Offers
- Whether you're visiting for the weekend or taking a longer break, make sure your days are packed to the brim by booking some of our great deals on activities...
  More offers like this - Activity Offers
Price Free to £13.50 Per Ticket
TripAdvisor Traveller Rating
1154 reviews
Durlston Country Park National Nature Reserve

Type

Type:

Country Park/Nature Reserve

SWANAGE
Awards
- Visit Britain We're Good to Go 2021
Durlston Country Park is a fabulous 320 acre countryside paradise. With stunning views, walking trails, the historic Great Globe, superb geology, fascinating wildlife and Durlston Castle, there is always something different to see and do. There are…
Free
TripAdvisor Traveller Rating
569 reviews
The Blue Pool Nature Reserve & Tearooms

Type

Type:

Parkland/Woodland Garden

Furzebrook, WAREHAM
Awards
- Visit Britain We're Good to Go 2021
The Blue Pool Nature Reserve is a Site of Special Scientific Interest and a true gem in the heart of the Isle of Purbeck. Family friendly trails and places for quiet relaxation. Tearooms, Icecream Parlour, Plant Centre and Giftshop.
Special Offers
- 'Friends of The Blue Pool' annual membership available on request. Please email info@thebluepool.co.uk or call us on 01929 558150 - we look forward to hearing from you.
  More offers like this - Attraction Offers
Price Free to £5.00 Per Ticket
TripAdvisor Traveller Rating
427 reviews
Lulworth Castle & Park

Type

Type:

Castle/Fort

EAST LULWORTH, Wareham
Awards
- Visit Britain We're Good to Go 2021
Welcome to Lulworth Castle and Park, situated at the heart of the privately owned Lulworth Estate. Follow the fascinating story of the castle and the inspiring past of its dedicated owners. Discover breathtaking views over the Dorset countryside…
Price Free to £6.00 Per Ticket
TripAdvisor Traveller Rating
1325 reviews
Studland Bay

Type

Type:

Beach

STUDLAND

The National Trust car parks are open at Shell Bay, Knoll Beach, Middle Beach and South Beach from 8.30am to 6pm. There are limited spaces, so if the car park is full please come back another time. Toilets are open at Shell Bay, Knoll Beach and…

Free
Hambledon & Hod Hills

Type

Type:

National Trust Property

BLANDFORD FORUM

Hambledon Hill is a National Nature Reserve and one of Dorset's most impressive Iron Age hillfort with multiple ramparts. The hilltop is encircled by an Iron Age earthwork and there are extensive Neolithic features, making it a major archaeological…

Free
RSPB Arne Nature Reserve

Type

Type:

Country Park/Nature Reserve

WAREHAM

Arne is celebrated for its lowland heathland, which is rare in Europe, and its wildlife including Dartford warblers, nightjars, all six species of British reptile, plus many species of butterflies, dragonflies, and moths.

Free
Radipole Lake Nature Reserve

Type

Type:

Country Park/Nature Reserve

WEYMOUTH

Radipole Lake is a quiet ‘wildlife oasis' in the heart of Weymouth and a great place to get close up with nature. Look for otter prints, go pond dipping and visit the bird hides.

Free
Stanpit Marsh Nature Reserve

Type

Type:

Country Park/Nature Reserve

Stanpit, CHRISTCHURCH

Stanpit Marsh is situated on the north side of Christchurch Harbour, just below the confluence of the rivers Avon and Stour. The Marsh is home to over 300 species of plants, 14 of which are nationally rare and endangered.

Free
Spyway

Type

Type:

National Trust Property

SWANAGE

Towering sea cliffs and grasslands rich in wild flowers. A distinctive limestone landscape on the South Coast where sea birds soar and rare orchids hide among rich grasslands. Centuries of stone quarrying have left their mark in the form of sea…

Free
Lambert's and Coney's Castle

Type

Type:

National Trust Property

BRIDPORT

The car parks at Lambert's and Coney's Castles are open. There are limited spaces, so if the car park is full please come back another time. Walk in the footsteps of previous generations along these ancient hill forts.

Free
Lorton Meadows Conservation Centre and Reserve

Type

Type:

Nature Trail

Weymouth

At the start of the Legacy Trail, the Lorton Meadows Reserve has fantastic views down the Lorton Valley Nature Park, and across Weymouth Bay to Portland. It has a lovely variety of meadows, woodlands and hedgerows with plenty of wildlife to look…
Purewell Meadows Nature Reserve

Type

Type:

Natural Wildlife Site

Purewell, CHRISTCHURCH

Purewell Meadows is a nature reserve with four hectares of public open space, most of which is grasses and sedges but there are also a large number of flowering plants. These include Ragged Robin and Devils Bit Scabious.

Free
Chesil Beach

Type

Type:

Natural Feature

WEYMOUTH

Chesil Beach is 18 miles (28 kilometres) long and, on average, 160 metres wide and rises to 12 metres in height. It is a pebble and shingle tombolo connecting Portland to Abbotsbury and then continuing north-westwards to West Bay near Bridport. It…
Hengistbury Head

Type

Type:

Natural Wildlife Site

Bournemouth

Hengistbury Head is a relatively unspoilt and south-facing pebble beach, with imposing clay and ironstone cliffs.

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