I can confidently say that I’m a little addicted to Dorset. Despite it being over a 4-hour drive from my house, I’ve visited 3 times this year alone (and several times last year as well).
It’s somewhere I keep coming back to - and not even for Durdle Door! During our last two trips, we didn’t actually visit Durdle Door at all!
Instead, we found ourselves road-tripping around the countryside, discovering some of the county's many hidden gems, exploring the history, and culture. There’s a lot more to Dorset than the natural archway that we all know and love.
If you're unfamiliar with the county, it’s located in the southwest of England. It’s mainly known for the Jurassic Coast, a long stretch of coastline that's littered with fossils. Unsurprisingly, many people come here for a beach break and to relax by the ocean.
However, in this itinerary, I’ve purposely gone off the beaten track and included some spots in the countryside. But, since it’s aimed at first-time visitors, I’ve also added a few of the famous must-sees.
So, if you’re planning a long weekend in Dorset, here’s the perfect 3-day itinerary to see a little bit of everything, from the coast to the countryside.
Day 1 - Arrive in Dorset
Your first day in Dorset is likely going to be a half day depending on when you arrive. If you’re travelling from London, the drive will likely take around 3.5 - 4 hours depending on the time of day and traffic. I’m going to assume that you’re arriving in Dorset just after lunchtime.
13:00 - Visit Corfe Castle
Start your trip with a blast from the past! This is one of the best castles to visit in Dorset. Located in the Purbeck Peninsula, it’s a National Trust Site so, if you have a membership, you’ll be able to visit for free. If not, tickets are £12 per adult off-peak and £13 during peak times.
The castle sits high up in the Purbeck Hills and is one of the most iconic survivors of the English Civil War. It was built shortly after 1066 and partially destroyed in 1649.
Today, it’s an empty shell, but it’s fascinating to walk around the castle and learn about everything that happened here. Plus, the views from the top are beautiful.
If you love historical sites, you definitely won’t regret a visit here.
15:00 - Explore the Blue Pool
Next, head just 8 minutes down the road from Corfe Castle to the beautiful Blue Pool. This is a bit of a hidden gem in Dorset but it’s so worth the visit if you love the great outdoors. It’s a place that I’ve been wanting to visit for years, so I’m very glad we finally made it there.
Formerly a hand-quarried clay pit, the Blue Pool was dug out in the 17th century to support the growing English pastimes of smoking tobacco and drinking tea. The clay was used to make pipes, mugs, and teapots.
After years of use, it was abandoned in the 19th century, and, unsurprisingly, considering British weather, it slowly filled with rainwater. This water turned a beautiful shade of blue due to the clay particles in the water.
Because of its beauty, it was opened again in 1935 as a tourist attraction and nature reserve.
Today, there are some beautiful walking trails here. Some of the paths allow you to view the pool from above, while others will take you right to the water’s edge. We did a lovely walk around the whole of the pool and explored some of the forest that surrounds it.
The Blue Pool is also home to the UK’s longest suspension bridge. There are plenty of family-friendly attractions too, such as the fairies and gnome trail where you can search for toad stall signs pinned to the trees.
Parking for the Blue Pool is free, but entry to the reserve is £7.50 per adult. They will give you a map when you arrive that shows you all the walking routes and you can visit the tea rooms afterwards for a slice of cake and a coffee.
Don’t forget to look out for the peacocks!
17:00 - Check into Your Accommodation
After you’ve explored the Blue Pool, head to your accommodation. Dorset Forest Garden Glamping is the perfect place to stay for your 3 days in Dorset. It’s a beautiful pair of shepherd’s huts located near Beaminster in West Dorset.
If you’re looking to get off the beaten track, this place couldn’t be more perfect. The huts are situated in the countryside, away from the busy coastal areas, and you will almost drive straight past the road to the huts if you don’t know it's there!
When you arrive, the hut itself is a short walk from the parking area. Even though there are two different huts on the site, you wouldn’t know that as the area is completely private.
We stayed in the Novelist, a pair of shepherd’s huts attached via a small walkway. In the first hut, you’ll find a kitchenette and a pair of bar stools. There’s also a small cloakroom, a squashy sofa opposite large double doors, and a log burner.
When you walk through to the second hut, you’ll find a huge bed and a beautiful copper roll-top bath. There’s also a skylight above the bed where you can see the stars on a clear night.
Outside, there’s a wood-fired hot tub, a fire pit which doubles as a BBQ, lounge chairs, a seating area, and an outdoor rainfall shower, which turned out to be really lovely.
The whole hut is artfully decorated and so cosy. It’s perfect if you want to get away from it all.
Top Tip: Before you check into your accommodation, I recommend popping into a shop and grabbing some food for breakfast and picnic lunches. There’s a fridge in the huts, so you’ll be able to store everything you need.
Day 2 - Coastal Views and a Few Classics
For the second day of this 3 day Dorset itinerary, we’re going to be heading along the coastal route. We’ll also be seeing some of the most well-known places to visit in Dorset, that you need to tick off your bucket list!
I also recommend packing a picnic lunch for today as we don’t drive past any lunch spots.
11:00 - Go Wine Tasting at Furleigh Estate
Start the day with a relaxing morning at Dorset Forest Garden Glamping before heading to Furleigh Estate.
The Estate is just a 20-minute drive from your accommodation, so you’ll have plenty of time to soak in the bath in the morning or cook sausages al-fresco on the decking!
Wine tasting is one of the more unique things to do in Dorset. I had no idea that Dorset even had a vineyard before I visited Furleigh, but it was fascinating to learn about the estate.
The tour lasts around 2 hours and starts with a walk around the vineyard itself. Our guide gave us loads of information about the grapes and the vineyard’s history.
The land was originally a family-owned dairy farm from 1954 until it was sold in 1993. More than a decade later, the following generation of the same family bought back the farm and turned it into the award-winning vineyard that’s there today.
Furleigh Estate is now one of the most prestigious wine sellers in Dorset, producing over 75,000 bottles per year. They make delicious still and sparkling wines and all of their grapes are hand-picked.
After exploring the vineyard, we were taken inside to see the wines in production. Our guide explained how the wines go from grape to glass - a process that takes up to 3 years.
Following this, we were taken back into the farmhouse for the tasting. We were given 5 wines in total, 3 still and 2 sparkling. My favourite was by far the Bacchus dry which was surprising because I’m not usually a fan of white wines, but this was delicious!
Furleigh Estate is also really beautiful and the views are phenomenal.
14:00 - Visit the historic Tyneham Village
From here drive along the coastal road B3157 to Tyneham Village. It’s technically quicker to go inland, but the views this way are amazing. It’s one of the prettiest drives in the whole of southern England. The journey will take around an hour and 15 minutes.
Once you’re at Tyneham, there are quite a few things to do. Exploring the village itself is an absolute must. This lost village in the heart of Dorset is like a time capsule to the 1940’s.
It was once a vibrant community but this all changed during World War II, when the British military requisitioned the village and the surrounding land for training purposes.
The entire population was evacuated in December 1943 with the promise that they could return after the war. But this never happened. The original residents have never been allowed to return to their homes and the village has sat empty for 80 years.
Today, the area is still owned by the Ministry of Defence, but it’s also a public heritage site and is completely free to visit. Although several of the buildings have been destroyed, you can still walk around the remnants of the school, church, and several of the old houses.
It’s a surreal place to visit, completely frozen in time with its dusty books, old piano, and crumbling cottages. You can still see the names of the children engraved on the coat hooks in the school.
Top Tip: While you’re in the area, I also highly recommend a visit to Tyneham Beach, which you can reach via the coast path opposite the village. This is also a great place to eat your picnic with a view.
15:30 - Visit Stair Hole
Next, make your way back along the coast to some of Dorset’s most famous spots - along with another hidden gem! The first place I recommend visiting is Stair Hole.
Despite being right next to the famous Lulworth Cove, this is often missed. I’ve visited Lulworth Cove twice previously and walked straight past it!
You’ll need to park in Lulworth car park to visit. Parking here is £10 for 4 hours, so I really recommend making the most of your visit.
To visit Stair Hole, continue along the path towards Lulworth Cove and then take a right. You should see signs for Stair Hole. Follow the path up the cliff. When you get high enough, you’ll be able to see Stair Hole on the right, and Lulworth Cove on the left.
Along the way, you’ll also find several viewing platforms for Stair Hole. You can see the magnificent rock formations formed by years of erosion and caves that have been carved out by the waves.
The layers of rock here are known as Lulworth Crumple which are basically different bands of limestone pressed together. It’s really quite beautiful.
I suggest walking to the top of the cliffs and admiring the views before heading down to the bottom. This route is a little slippy, so be careful, but the views are worth it. It’s also much quieter than Lulworth Cove, so we found it very peaceful here.
16:30 - Admire Lulworth Cove
After you’ve taken in the views at Stair Hole, head across to Lulworth Cove.
There are several things you can do here. Because of the sheltered nature of the bay, it’s a great spot for kayaking or paddleboarding when the weather is warm. We bought our kayak on a previous visit and had a fantastic time. It’s also a great spot for wild swimming.
Alternatively, if you aren’t a fan of water activities, you can walk around the bay where you’ll find another little path up the cliffs for more panoramic views of the cove.
If you’re feeling peckish, there’s a little fish and chip shop near the car park as well as a few smaller food vendors near the beach.
17:30 - Watch the Sunset at the Famous Durdle Door
Last but not least, finish your day at the most famous spot in Dorset. I deliberately left this for the last activity of the day for two reasons: when the sun starts to set it gets cooler and many people start to leave, so it’s much less crowded, and secondly, the sunset can be incredible.
Durdle Door is just a 7-minute drive from Lulworth Cove, so it won’t take long to drive to.
Alternatively, if you have time (in the summer months, the sun sets much later than this), then I suggest a walk along the coastal path between the two.
The walk will take you around an hour and the views are magnificent all the way. Plus, you’ll save money by leaving your car at Lulworth as you won’t have to pay twice!
Once you reach Durdle Door, it’s a pretty steep walk down to the beach, however, it’s well worth it for the views. You can either head down to the pebbles or stick to the cliff path. I also recommend checking out Man O’War Beach opposite which is incredibly picturesque
It’s the perfect way to end your second day in Dorset!
Day 3 - Explore the Hidden Gems of Dorset
For the last day on this 3 day Dorset itinerary, we’re going to be exploring some of the hidden spots in the county. These will be a lot quieter than some of the spots we explored the day before but are just as beautiful.
10:30 - Hike up Golden Cap
After a final morning at Dorset Forest Garden Glamping, check out of your shepherd’s hut and drive to Langdon Hill National Trust car park. This walk will take you to one of the highest points on the UK’s southern coast and the views stretch for miles.
The trailhead begins in the car park and there are several different routes you can take. We decided to go for an out-and-back hike considering we had several other places we wanted to visit that day, but you can also do this as a longer loop if you have more time.
The hike starts down an old forest track that was originally planted for timber. After that, you’ll pass through a gate into a field and the track starts getting a little steeper.
Once you reach the other side of the field, you’ll pass through another gate and climb the final steps to the trig point of the Golden Cap. All-in-all the hike shouldn’t take much longer than 30 minutes each way.
Once you’re at the top, you can see for miles over the Jurassic Coastline. When we visited, there was hardly anyone there - perhaps two other couples - so it felt like we had the whole place to ourselves.
I recommend walking past the trig point a little, though. The best views are about 10 minutes further down the path.
Once you’ve taken in all the views, head back down to the car, or start the loop around Langdon Hill if you have time. Everything is very well signposted, so it’s fairly easy to navigate.
12:00 - Grab an Ice Cream at Seatown Beach
Seatown Beach is only around an 8-minute drive from the car park and is another of Dorset’s hidden gems.
The car park here is £8 for 4 hours. However, you can use the parking ticket in exchange for money off your ice cream!
The pebbly beach is huge and the golden cliffs make for a really dramatic backdrop.
Plus, the ice cream here is delicious - I highly recommend a scoop of salted caramel. They also sell pizza at the same stand, so it’s the perfect place to stop for lunch.
And you can use the parking ticket for a pizza discount or money off a meal at the nearby Anchor Inn pub too, instead if you’d prefer!
13:00 - Explore Symondsbury Estate’s Sunken Holloways
Next, head to Symondsbury Estate. This place has been on my radar since I fell in love with Lydford Gorge in Devon, but I have only recently managed to visit. It did not disappoint. My fiancé even said it was his favourite place that we visited during our 3 days in Dorset!
This is located close to Seatown and will take you around 10 minutes to drive to. There is a lot to do in the estate. You’ll find a restaurant, gallery, fashion boutique, ceramics, and much more. But for some of the best views, head to the hiking trails.
We hiked in a loop from Symondsbury Estate around Colmers Hill, then headed across to the Sunken Pathways. The entire walk was fantastic, even though it rained around halfway through.
The hiking route
To do this, follow the path out of the estate, then instead of heading straight on, go through the field past the gate to the right. Make sure to shut the gate properly because of the sheep.
Head through the field, up the hill and then turn right. You’ll see the pathway quite clearly through the grass before it snakes its way to the top. This gets very steep very quickly, so you might need a few breathers before you reach the top.
From the top of Colmers Hill, the views are magnificent. After touching the trig point (a must-do), head back down the other side of the hill and across another field of sheep to the gate. Pass through this and then you’ll find the start of the Sunken Pathways.
It feels like a tropical rainforest with trees overhead, huge ferns, mossy rocks, and vines trailing down from above. As you walk deeper and deeper into the hollow, the atmosphere changes. It gets quieter and the sunlight cuts less and less through the foliage, casting an eerie light over the whole path. It’s quite magical.
You’ll also find carvings all over the walls where people have etched their names, symbols, and quite detailed artwork into the soft rock. They almost look like tribal sketches from thousands of years ago - except that some of them are Spongebob characters!
Once you reach the end of the path, it opens out again onto a tarmacked trail. Follow this and it’ll take you back to the fork where you started. Keep going and you’ll make it back to the Symondsbury Estate car park.
14:30 - Explore the Pretty Town of Abbotsbury
The drive from Symondsbury to Abbotsbury is around 30 minutes back towards the Purbeck Peninsula. This little town is home to some of the prettiest scenery in Dorset.
You can walk along the lanes lined with thatched houses and visit the Swannery to see the cygnets (if you visit in the springtime). Also, visit the gorgeous Abbotsbury Subtropical Garden, and climb up to St Catherine’s Chapel for stunning views over the countryside.
Photo credit: Richard Rakauskas
15:30 - Visit Chesil Beach
The next stop on this 3-day Dorset itinerary is Chesil Beach, an 18-mile-long shingle barrier beach that is a haven for wildlife.
Chesil Beach is not your typical sunbathing spot. You won’t find loungers here or lifeguards. Instead, you’ll find one of the most magnificent beaches in the UK with the wild ocean on one side and protected Fleet Lagoon on the other.
There’s a car park when you arrive and a small visitor centre. Inside, you’ll find information about the beach and the wildlife that calls the beach home.
You can go for a lovely walk along the shingle or go on a boat tour here on the Fleet Explorer which will take you on a wildlife-spotting cruise on the lagoon.
16:30 - Admire Portland Bill Lighthouse
For the final stop before you head back home, visit Portland Bill Lighthouse. This is located right at the end of the Isle of Portland, one of my favourite places in Dorset. If you love dramatic ocean scenery, you’ll love it here.
The lighthouse is surrounded by interesting rock formations, including Pulpit Rock, a rocky outcrop jutting out from the tip of the island.
As well as admiring the scenery, you can also go for a walk around the coast. The waves here crash into the rocks in a way that makes you want to keep watching.
Coupled with the lighthouse, it’s a very scenic part of the county and the perfect place to finish your 3 days in Dorset.
Is 3 days in Dorset enough?
If I’m being completely honest, no, 3 days isn’t enough to see all of Dorset, but it’s enough time to scratch the surface.
You’ll be able to see a few of the county’s most popular attractions and throw in a couple of lesser-visited spots. But, you could quite easily spend a month here and not see everything.
Nonetheless, hopefully this guide will help you plan an amazing 3 days in Dorset. Obviously, this is just one route you could take.
You could spend more time in the Purbeck Peninsula, you could spend the entire 3 days in Weymouth and Portland, or even spend more time in the west of Dorset, which is much less touristy.
When we return, I’d love to split my time between the countryside in Purbeck and the west as there’s a lot in that area we haven’t seen yet.
If you’re looking for more information to help you plan your trip, Alice has a really helpful website packed full of information for both Dorset and further afield. Plus, if you have any questions, you’re more than welcome to drop her a message over at www.adventuresofalice.com or connect with Alice on Instagram @adventuresofalicee
