Nature events in Dorset
When you visit Dorset, you are transported into an unspoilt world of outstanding natural beauty, a place where sea, coastline, hills, streams, meadows and woods stretch out as far as the eye can see.
One of the great draws of this beautiful county is the chance to unplug from the daily rush and indulge in the simple pleasures of country life.
Get even closer to the natural world in Dorset by taking part in these nature-based events.
Lend nature a helping hand
Whether you want to get stuck in helping with practical management of a reserve, or your children want to join in with face-painting, nestbox making and pond-dipping, you’ll love taking part in the hands-on activities here in Dorset.
There’s plenty going on throughout the year at Moors Valley Country Park, Durlston Country Park and the National Trust's Brownsea Island. The RSPB and Dorset Wildlife Trust also run a range of exciting events where you can get involved.
You could be building a den one day to embarking on a mini-beast safari the next!
Get to know Dorset better
Guided walks help you get better acquainted with the wildlife of an area, whether you are local or on holiday, plus it really helps to enrich your experience of the countryside.
Expert guides lead these group walks, and will be able to answer all your burning questions along the way.
So, if you’ve always wanted to know how to recognise what bird is making that beautiful melody, or what species of butterfly has those striking markings, then book on to a walk at your nearest nature reserve and you can find out…
Mindful Dorset
The Dorset countryside is a place to stir the senses and calm the mind, a place where you can feel Mother Nature’s spirit all around you!
There is a fantastic selection of heath and wellbeing events on in Dorset that take advantage of our glorious surroundings.
From practicing yoga on the beach and relaxation walks to stargazing workshops and dancing at ancient sites, you’ll find a deeper connection with the landscape here.
Environmentally conscious accommodation
You’ll find lots of accommodation here in Dorset that adopts a sustainable approach, so rest assured you’ll be doing every bit to protect this area of outstanding natural beauty.
Look out for accommodation that takes part in the Green Tourism Scheme or has a David Bellamy Conservation Award.
Or, what better way to feel at one with nature than to camp outdoors?
Nature eventscoming soon!
Abbotsbury Swannery Interactive Brambly Hedge Trail
The wonderful Brambly Hedge are back for a final season with us. The interactive trail is based on The High Hills book, along with a charming story trail-based Sea Story from the Brambly Hedge...
Chip & Willow's Wildland Adventures
This summer our two beavers - Chip and Willow - invite children to explore Mapperton and discover the natural world. With a Nature Passport in hand, children can hunt for minibeasts, help build a bug...
Cliff Towler - Wildlife Artist at Local Makers Shop & Gallery, Mangerton Mill, Mangerton, DT6 3SG
Cliff Towler is a contemporary British wildlife artist, landscape painter, and photographer based in Dorset and Cornwall, South West England. Born in Poole in 1957, he is renowned for...
Dive into the Oceanarium this summer for an underwater adventure!
This summer, come face to fin with hundreds of different species of animals. SAVE up to 30% online in advance! Buy at least two days ahead for the best price! Dive in with a splash and take a voyage...
Events at Durlston Country Park: Wild Wednesdays
Wild Wednesdays Drop in for painting crafts and activities. Doations welcome. These take place in Learning Centre.
Exhibition: Changing Landscapes
Our Changing Landscapes exhibition celebrates 25 years of the Jurassic Coast as a World Heritage Site. Explore fossils including ammonites, see a model Jurassic seabed, watch short films about coastal...
Holistic Water Retreat
Step aboard for a deeply restorative three-hour holistic retreat cruise through the tranquil waters of Poole Harbour. This is more than a boat journey – it's an invitation to reconnect with...
Poole Harbour Osprey Cruises
Our highly-popular Osprey Cruises return for another season! The trips see us setting out into the harbour in search of the 'mullet-hawk' during their peak autumn migration. Through mid-August...
Room on the Broom Family Trail
Join Witch's magical adventure! Join Witch and her friends on an enchanting adventure at Moors Valley Country Park. This interactive family trail is packed with Room on the Broom themed...
Sand Pit Play
Have a break from the beach and bring the kids to the sand bowl, where we will have badminton, giant snakes and ladders, twister and sack races, amongst others. We will also have the volley balls...
Seaside Summer Outdoor Trail
Running on selected dates from 25 July-30 August Set off on our outdoor adventure with our I Do Like to Be Beside the Seaside summer trail. Begin your journey by collecting your trail card from the...
Summer Art Exhibition at The Wild Seas Centre
Visit The Fine Foundation Wild Seas Centre to view this mixed media exhibition by local artists Karen Schwamm, Nicola Stockley and Teresa Robertson inspired by their passion for wildlife and the sea....
Summer of Play Activity Trail
Embark on a wild colour chalk rubbing trail filled with fun activities and games for the whole family. Play like a chicken, leap like a sika deer, and try some bunny yoga. As you explore, you'll...
Summer of Play: Wild Wednesdays
Get ready to get messy, creative, and hands‑on with nature. Join us as we make wildflower seed bombs, little clay balls packed with pollinator‑friendly seeds. During the session, children can mix,...
Young Birders Club
We at Birds of Poole Harbour understand the importance of inspiring the next generation and getting them involved in nature conservation so that they can go on to protect wildlife in the future....
Plan Your Visit
Why notstay a while?
Bookham Court
Bookham Court Holiday Cottages enjoy panoramic views over Thomas Hardy's Blackmore Vale in Dorset. Personally run by Nicola Foot, the 5 Holiday Cottages are furnished to a high standard, making...
Brace of Pheasants
Nestled in the Plush Valley just off the Wessex Ridgeway, ‘The Brace’ is a quintessential Old English thatched country Inn. The perfect location to enjoy a break away from it all. Enjoy...
Chideock Grange Holiday Cottages
This is a small, quiet holiday cottage complex, on the outskirts of the village of Chideock, set in a hollow by Winniford Stream and surrounded by rolling farmland. A mile inland off the main road, it...
Cliff Cottage
4 Star VisitEngland Grading: 85% Gold Award Lyme seafront cottage for four with private parking, Cliff Cottage is one of the quaint pink cottages seconds away...
Coppet Hill
Just three miles from the Jurassic Coast, and surrounded by some of Dorset’s most spectacular hills, our 600-acre family farm is a peaceful haven for walkers, campers and wildlife lovers. Our...
Corfe and Purbeck Holidays
Corfe & Purbeck Holidays specialise in letting quality self catering holiday properties in the beautiful Isle of Purbeck, Dorset. All of our our cottages are well equipped, comfortably...
Crabbers' Wharf
Discover the Charm of Crabbers’ Wharf luxury apartments – Your Seaside Escape. Nestled on the edge of Portland Harbour, Crabbers’ Wharf offers a unique self-catering experience where...
Curated Cottages
Curated Cottages offers a handpicked selection of Dorset holiday cottages, each chosen for its character, comfort and location. As a Dorset-based, independent company, we take a more personal approach...
Doles Ash Farm Holiday Cottages
Located in the heart of Hardy’s Dorset, Doles Ash Farm Holiday Cottages offers a relaxing break surrounded by beautiful countryside and set in 12 acres of West Dorset’s Piddle Valley. No...
Dorset Hideaways
Dorset Hideaways is a Holiday Cottage Agency showcasing a range of properties from cosy cottages crammed full of Dorset charm to luxury retreats oozing with coastal chic. Our aim is to make it easy...
Grand Hotel
Located in the heart of the Isle of Purbeck, The Grand Hotel has stunning views across the bay and has direct access from the gardens to the private beach. The Burlington Health Spa and...
Graston Farm Cottages
A warm welcome awaits you at Graston Farm Cottages nestled in the beautiful Bride Valley, just a mile from the sea, a perfect location for outdoor lovers. Enjoy excellent walking and cycling routes...
Helpful Holidays
Helpful Holidays offers a diverse selection of self-catering cottages in Dorset, catering to various preferences and group sizes. With properties in both West and East Dorset guests can choose between...
Kingston Country Courtyard
Kingston Country Courtyard is a 16th century B&B accommodation. We have 26 rooms located around two courtyards with car parking facilities onsite. We have a wide variety of rooms available...
Loose Reins
Loose Reins is where the world slows down. It’s where the daily grind is left at the gate and a place of experience, discovery and relaxation opens up. It’s where you reconnect, come...
Newlands Holiday Park
Newlands is a family run park located in the picturesque World Heritage village of Charmouth, just a stones throw from the fossil-rich Jurassic Coast near the Dorset/Devon border. Set in 23 acres of...
Riverside Park
We are located on the banks of the River Stour in the centre of the beautiful historic town of Christchurch, within walking distance to the shops, restaurants, spectacular natural harbour, Hengistbury...
Rosewall Camping
Rosewall is a family run camping park, set in an area of Outstanding Natural Beauty on the World Heritage Coast, in the hamlet of Osmington Mills five miles east of Weymouth. Our thirteen-acre south...
Spurwing Guest House
We are Steph and Richard, owners of Spurwing Guest House. We pride ourselves on our bed and breakfast Dorset being a friendly, popular and comfortable chalet-style bungalow, with ground floor...
Strongate Cottage Rural Retreat nr Bridport & Jurassic Coast
Strongate Cottage is a welcoming 17th-century thatched self-catering Cottage, full of character, charm, and original features. Set in the peaceful village of Salway Ash, the Cottage lies at the end of...
Strongate Orchard Farm Stay nr Bridport & Jurassic Coast
Strongate Orchard is your ideal farm stay, a secluded static home set within the Orchard on our small working farm where we have beef cattle, sheep, ducks, and chickens and lambs. Surrounded by...
Strongate View Apartment nr Bridport & Jurassic Coast
Rated 4★ by Visit England, Strongate View Apartment is located in the peaceful village of Salway Ash near Bridport, offering fabulous rural views of the beautiful Marshwood Vale. It’s the...
Summer Lodge Country House Hotel and Spa
Summer Lodge Country House Hotel and Spa is tucked away in the picturesque village of Evershot in the heart of the Dorset Downs. An 18th Georgian Manor House, made famous by its links with the...
Swanage Holiday Properties
Swanage Holiday Properties offers a carefully curated collection of self‑catering holiday homes across Swanage and the Isle of Purbeck, perfect for families, couples and coastal explorers looking to...
Sykes Holiday Cottages
Sykes Holiday Cottages have over 30 years' experience in letting exceptional self-catering holidays. We are the leading UK holiday cottage booking company and are experts in giving customers the...
The Fleur de Lys
The Fleur de Lys, located in the historic village once frequented by Thomas Hardy, offers stylish boutique rooms, exceptional food and a peaceful escape in the heart of Cranborne Chase National...
The Grange at Oborne
A charming country house hotel with a boutique-feel, set in a pretty village just one mile from Sherborne, one of the most beautiful towns in England. The Grange is just seven miles from Yeovil,...
The Grosvenor Arms
The Grosvenor Arms is a gorgeous coaching-inn with 16 high-end boutique bedrooms in the heart of Shaftesbury. With a show-stopping Georgian frontage, contemporary rustic design, and fabulous seasonal...
The King's Arms
The King’s Arms is a gorgeous newly refurbished hotel and foodie pub on Dorchester’s high street. With a history entwined with Thomas Hardy and a roll call of glamourous guests from former...
THE PIG on the beach
Perched on a cliff above Studland Bay on Dorset's Jurassic Coast, THE PIG-on the beach is a mellow yellow hotel with sweeping sea views. Expect Kitchen Garden food, roaring log fires, gargoyles...
The Pines Hotel
We are an independently run, 43 bedroom cliff top hotel, enjoying stunning, panoramic views of Swanage Bay with our own private access to the sandy beach below. Quietly situated close to the South...
The Victorian Barn Dorset
This is the Dorset dream you've been longing for; stunning scenery, rolling hills, and a prehistoric coastline. And this, right here, is the Dorset holiday accommodation you have been dreaming of...
Toad Hall Cottages
Toad Hall Cottages is a leading provider of holiday cottages throughout the South West, and with an office in Lyme Regis in the heart of the region, they know Dorset inside out. ...
Warmwell Holiday Park - Parkdean Resorts
Brilliant new investments have transformed Warmwell Holiday Park into a park packed with fantastic facilities and amazing accommodation. There is so much fun available to you at this park, including...
West Bay Holiday Park - Parkdean Resorts
West Bay Holiday Park is the perfect base for exploring the fantastic Jurassic Coast and gorgeous nearby harbour setting. The park offers a fun-filled, action-packed getaway with its fantastic...
White Horse Farm
White Horse Farm offers its guests a peaceful and relaxed self-catering holiday in beautiful rural Dorset. We have four attractive barn conversion cottages and a 4 star three bed roomed lodge cabin;...
Boutique Retreats
Embark with Boutique Retreats on an otherworldly escape with a spellbinding sojourn in Dorset. Nestled amongst the most enchanting corners of the county, our handpicked collection of luxury retreats...
Bowleaze Cove Holiday Park and Spa
Enjoy reduced prices on selected children's meals between 25 June and 1 September 2026 as part of the Great British Summer Savings scheme when you dine-in at one of our sit-down restaurants.*...
Burnbake Forest Lodges
Tucked away in the heart of Purbeck, between the historic village of Corfe Castle and the golden sands of Studland, Burnbake Campsite and Forest Lodges is the perfect base for discovering Dorset's...
Character Farm Cottages
Welcome to Character Farm Cottages Nestled in the heart of the beautiful Dorset countryside, Character Farm Cottages is a family-run collection of five charming self-catering holiday cottages located...
Chesil Beach Holiday Park
Enjoy reduced prices on selected children's meals between 25 June and 1 September 2026 as part of the Great British Summer Savings scheme when you dine-in at one of our sit-down restaurants.*...
Classic Cottages
Classic Cottages have the perfect holiday home waiting for you in Dorset. From family-sized homes with sea views in Lyme Regis to chic couple’s boltholes in the heart of Bridport,...
Clifftops
Perched on the dramatic cliffs of the Jurassic Coast UNESCO World Heritage Site, Clifftops offers an exceptional coastal retreat within the grounds of Pennsylvania Castle Estate. Crafted from local...
Cove Lodge
Cove Lodge represents the very definition of laid-back luxury. The lodge provides panoramic sea views, an elegant interior, and the perfect location for short breaks, or getaways with friends. Cove...
Dorset & Devon Holiday Cottages
We are a local, family run business offering a friendly but professional service to both our home owners and guests. At Dorset & Devon Holiday Cottages we realise the importance of a holiday,...
Dorset Cottage Holidays
Dorset Cottage Holidays is Dorset's largest independent, family run agency. Established over 25 years ago and located locally in the heart of Corfe Castle in Dorset. We...
Dream Cottages
From iconic coastal escapes to peaceful countryside retreats, Dream Cottages helps you experience Dorset exactly the way you imagine it. Whether you're dreaming of morning walks along the Jurassic...
Durdle Door Holiday Park
Our Holiday Park enjoys miles of stunning coastline, endless views, and unrivalled access to the unique limestone arch of Durdle Door. With coast and countryside right on your doorstep, it's the...
Grandeur Property
Luxury Holiday Homes in Dorset with Grandeur Property Looking for the perfect place to stay in Dorset? Grandeur Property offers a collection of luxury holiday homes in Bournemouth, Poole and the...
Kersbrook
The Kersbrook is a beautiful thatched, eighteenth century Grade II listed building (1780) set in its own picturesque mature gardens just off the town centre with views across Lyme Regis. Family run,...
Knoll House Hotel
You’ll find us at Studland Bay on the Isle of Purbeck, between Poole and Old Harry Rocks. Purbeck is a quiet landscape of coast, cliffs, heath and woodland, and a haven for wildlife. It’s...
Lulworth Holiday Cottages
Escape to enchanting thatched cottages, hidden sunlit terraces, and timeless period homes nestled in the rolling parkland of the privately-owned Lulworth Estate. Here, you’ll experience some of...
Lyme Bay Holidays
Discover award-winning holidays along Dorset’s spectacular Jurassic Coast with Lyme Bay Holidays, your local experts for unforgettable self-catering escapes. Whether you’re planning a...
Mallinson’s Woodland Retreat
Escape, unwind and recharge in a stunning West Country woodland. Choose from three distinct award-winning luxury treehouses, each one a self-contained nest for two with its own facilities (and no...
Osmington Mills Lodge Park
Enjoy reduced prices on selected children's meals between 25 June and 1 September 2026 as part of the Great British Summer Savings scheme, when you dine-in at one of our sit-down restaurants....
Pennsylvania Castle
Pennsylvania Castle is an exclusive wedding, events and private rental venue overlooking the charming Church Ope Cove and UNESCO World Heritage Jurassic Coastline. The neo-gothic design of the Castle...
Sandford Holiday Park - Parkdean Resorts
The wonderful woodland surrounds Sandford Holiday Park which is bursting with new activities and facilities to make your holiday unforgettable. A Blue Flag beach is just a short drive away, perfect...
Symondsbury Estate Holidays
Charming and unique Holiday Cottages in West Dorset near Bridport and the Jurassic Coast. Symondsbury Estate offers a collection of beautifully restored self-catering holiday cottages in West...
The Front Rows Holiday Park
A collection of 20 luxurious holiday homes situated on the cliff edge of The Estate. The Front Rows provide an ideal base for those who wish to explore The Isle of Portland and experience everything...
The Heights Hotel
The Heights Hotel set on the summit of Portland with stunning sea and coastal views over Weymouth and Chesil beach towards Lyme Bay. A warm welcome awaits you at the hotel - whether you are staying...
The Priory Wareham
Nestled on the banks of the River Frome in the heart of historic Wareham, Dorset, The Priory is one of England's most enchanting country house hotels. Set within beautifully maintained riverside...
UK Lodge Breaks
UK Lodge Breaks offers a fantastic selection of lodges across Dorset, making it easy to find the perfect retreat. Whether you're looking to explore the breathtaking Jurassic Coast, relax on...
Upton Grange Holiday Cottages
From it’s location of privilege, cossetted in the centre of the tiny unspoilt hamlet of Upton, where the World Heritage Jurassic Coastline rejoices in the simplicity of nearby Ringstead Bay, the...
Wareham Forest Tourist Park
Our Park is situated midway between Bere Regis and Wareham in the heart of Wareham Forest. We have spacious and level camping, caravan and motorhome pitches in a tranquil woodland setting, with...
