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.

Number of results:

Number of results: 37

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TripAdvisor Traveller Rating
1345 reviews
Abbotsbury Swannery

Type

Type:

Animal Collection

ABBOTSBURY

CLOSES 01/11/2020 FOR THE SEASON UNTIL SPRING 2021, DATE TBA
The Swannery is now open for pre-booked ticket holders. You can book tickets online, indicating date and time of arrival. Visitor numbers are limited to 60 people per hour to ensure…

Price Free to £10.00 Per Ticket
TripAdvisor Traveller Rating
2407 reviews
Brownsea Island

Type

Type:

Country Park/Nature Reserve

POOLE

A beautiful island with wonderful views, history & wildlife including rare red squirrels and birds, and is also the birthplace of Scouting and Guiding.

Price £7.00 to £44.50 Per Ticket
TripAdvisor Traveller Rating
1269 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
Badger Watch Dorset

Type

Type:

Animal Collection

Dorchester

Badger Watch Dorset has now re-opened - booking essential. From our 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,…

Price £15.00 Per Ticket
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 & Tearooms will reopen in 2021
Price Free to £5.00 Per Ticket
TripAdvisor Traveller Rating
424 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
1143 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
142 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
28 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
537 reviews
Sherborne Castle and Gardens

Type

Type:

Historic House/Palace

SHERBORNE
Awards
- Visit Britain We're Good to Go 2021
Public open season from 1st April 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…
Price Free to £9.00 Per Ticket
TripAdvisor Traveller Rating
1316 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 9am to 5pm. Toilets are open at Shell Bay, Knoll Beach and Middle Beach. There are limited spaces, so if the car park is full please come back another…

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
St Catherine's Hill Nature Reserve

Type

Type:

Country Park/Nature Reserve

CHRISTCHURCH

The highest area of land in Christchurch is also part of the largest and most significant area of heathland in the Borough providing habitat for rare species such as the Smooth Snake and Sand Lizard.

Free
Fine Foundation Chesil Beach Centre

Type

Type:

Country Park/Nature Reserve

Portland

Managed by Dorset Wildlife Trust, the centre's exciting displays and programme of activities will help you make the most of your visit to Chesil Beach and Portland.

Free
Tout Quarry Nature Reserve and Sculpture Park

Type

Type:

Country Park/Nature Reserve

Portland

Tout Quarry Nature Reserve and Sculpture Park is an abandoned stone quarry which has now been turned into a stone sculpture park. Now one of Portland’s most popular attractions, you can discover over 60 hidden sculptures in the Quarry, such as…
Wareham Walls

Type

Type:

Historic Site

WAREHAM

The Walls are Saxon ramparts which surround the historic town of Wareham. Paths on the walls give good views of the River Piddle and town, and link into the ‘Bowling Green’ open space. Walks leaflet from Discover Purbeck Information Centre, Wareham.

Free
Wareham Forest

Type

Type:

Forest

WAREHAM

Walk or cycle through heathland and forest by Morden Bog National Nature Reserve: one of the largest valley mire habitats in England. Numerous picnic benches and a waymarked walk. Cyclists welcome on 2 metre paths or the Sika Trail - a 7 mile family…

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
Abbotsbury Beach - Chesil Bank and Fleet Lagoon

Type

Type:

Beach

Nr Weymouth

A shelving beach made up of pebbles and shingle, popular with both local anglers and families for mackerel fishing.
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

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Stay a little longer

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