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

Nature and Wildlife in Dorset

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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.

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

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 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.

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: 36

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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 £7.95 to £40.00 Per Ticket
TripAdvisor Traveller Rating
2338 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 £3.75 to £4.20 Per Ticket
Badger Watch Dorset

Type

Type:

Animal Collection

Dorchester

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, rabbits and bats add to the spectacle.

Price £15.00 Per Ticket
TripAdvisor Traveller Rating
1218 reviews
Moors Valley Country Park and Forest

Type

Type:

Country/Royal Park

Ringwood

To inject a sense of fun into your family days out then head to Moors Valley Country Park and Forest to get active in the outdoors and have yourself a family adventure. You are sure to find something for everyone.

Price £1.60 to £12.00 Per Ticket
TripAdvisor Traveller Rating
404 reviews
Lulworth Castle & Park

Type

Type:

Castle/Fort

EAST LULWORTH, Wareham

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
519 reviews
Sherborne Castle

Type

Type:

Historic House/Palace

Sherborne

Built by Sir Walter Raleigh in 1594 & home of the Digby family since 1617. View Magnificent Staterooms, Nationally Important Collections of Art, Furniture & Porcelain, Raleigh’s Kitchen & a Museum.
Explore 42 acres of English Landscape Gardens…
Special Offers
- Buy tickets on-line at www.sherbornecastle.com to receive your 10% admission discount.
  Up to four children under age 16 go free accompanied by an adult Castle & Gardens or Gardens only ticket.
  More offers like this - Attraction Offers
Price £4.00 to £12.50 Per Ticket
TripAdvisor Traveller Rating
1274 reviews
Studland Bay

Type

Type:

Beach

STUDLAND

Fine sandy beaches stretch continuously for 4 miles. The heathland behind the beach is a National Nature Reserve with many rare birds and all six British reptiles.

Free
Symondsbury Estate

Type

Type:

Country Park/Nature Reserve

Bridport

Welcome to Symondsbury Estate set in the beautiful Dorset countryside but within a few miles of the Jurassic Coast, a world heritage site with unspoilt beaches and fabulous coastal walks.
Beneath the local landmark of Colmers Hill, Symondsbury…
TripAdvisor Traveller Rating
1101 reviews
Durlston Country Park National Nature Reserve

Type

Type:

Country Park/Nature Reserve

SWANAGE

Countryside, cliffs, sea and wildlife. The Castle Visitor Centre has exhibits, information, live cliff camera and underwater sounds. Theme trails. Ranger-guided walks.

Free
Dorset Pass

Type

Type:

Outdoors

POOLE

A sightseeing pass that will gain you free entry into various attractions across Dorset and more! Available for 1 day, 2 days or 3 days. The pass activates at the first attraction you visit, which allows you to pre-book your pass before you arrive…

Price £25.00 to £60.00 Per Ticket
Abbotsbury Beach - Chesil Bank and Fleet Lagoon

Type

Type:

Beach

Bridport

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

Type

Type:

Natural Wildlife Site

Southbourne, Bournemouth,

Hengistbury Head is a relatively unspoilt and south-facing pebble beach, with imposing clay and ironstone cliffs.
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…
Steamer Point Nature Reserve

Type

Type:

Country Park/Nature Reserve

Friar's Cliff, CHRISTCHURCH

Steamer Point is a 24 acre cliff top designated Local Nature Reserve (LNR) that is situated between Highcliffe Castle and Friar's Cliff on the Christchurch coastline. It comprises of woodland, aquatic habitats, flora and fauna.

Free
Eggardon Hillfort

Type

Type:

National Trust Property

BRIDPORT

Eggardon Hill is an iron-age hillfort which, arguably, has one of the finest views of any hill-fort in the county.

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
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
Badbury Rings

Type

Type:

National Trust Property

WIMBORNE

Badbury Rings is an Iron Age hillfort in east Dorset.
The Badbury Rings site dates from around 800 BC and was in use until the Roman occupation of 43 AD.
Now forming part of the Kingston Lacy estate, and under the guardianship of The National…

Free
Fontmell and Melbury Downs

Type

Type:

National Trust Property

SHAFTESBURY

Open expanses of flowery downland and far-reaching views

Free

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Nature and Wildlife in Dorset

Accommodation

Things To Do

What's On

Food & Drink

Search Things to Do

Highlights

Get back to nature

Best places for bird watching

Unique species

Get up close and personal

Unleash your inner Chris Packham

Stay a little longer

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