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Kids
Days Out in Dorset and things to do for all ages from 1 to 100! |
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Dorset is one of my favourite counties,
famous for its Thomas Hardy novels, and the World Heritage Jurassic Coast
it is also one of the prettiest and sunniest counties in England. Dorset
is a great place to go for a holiday, short break or just a day out. For beaches head to Studland, Swanage, Sandbanks, Weymouth or Bournemouth. For walks check out the Isle of Purbeck - there are great coastal walks including Swanage to Old Harry Rocks and Swanage to Worth Matravers. At Durlston Country park besides the many seabirds you may also be luck enough to see Dolphins. For fossil hunting head to Kimmeridge Bay - there is a large car-park overlooking the sea - just ideal for picnics. If you are searching for a day out or things to do check out our listings. Finally we always welcome feedback on our Facebook page. |
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We always
suggest you ring beforehand if visiting with disabled children as all
attractions within the place you are visiting may not be accessible,
depending on disablement, and whether or not if you have a helper. |
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Place |
Doing What |
Wheelchair friendly |
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Go Ape! Moors Valley
Moors Valley Country Park,
Horton Road, Ashley Heath, Nr. Ringwood, Dorset, BH24 2ET. Tel: 0870 444 5562 www.goape.co.uk |
Spend a fun-filled three hours up in the trees, trekking from tree to tree via an assortment of rope bridges and Tarzan swings. Minimum age 10yrs, min height 1.4m (4ft7in). Nearby cafe. Pre-booking advised. |
No |
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Farmer
Palmers Farm Park, Wareham Road, Organford, Poole, BH16 6EU Tel 01202 622022 www.farmerpalmers.co.uk |
Great for children 8 years and under! Hands-on animal events all day, play areas, indoor soft play, tractors, straw mountain, bouncy castles, child-friendly restaurant. Great fun whatever the weather! |
Yes: part concrete & wide ramps, doorways, etc. |
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Zorbing
South UK Ltd, Pinelodge Farm, Ilsington Road, Bockhampton,
Dorchester DT2 8QN Tel: 0844 8094007 www.zorbsouth.co.uk |
Come
Zorbing!
Choose from Hydro Zorbing, cross between a waterslide & roller coaster
(age 6+) or Harness Zorbing (height restriction 4ft 5), head over heels
down our man-made hill. Guaranteed a great experience for children and
parents! |
Partial: please call to check
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Oceanarium,
Pier Approach, Bournemouth, Dorset, Tel 01202 311993 www.oceanarium.co.uk |
Meet a vast array of creatures, from piranhas to clownfish. Get even closer to sharks, turtles and stingrays in the underwater tunnel and experience the UK’s first virtual dive cage! An attraction for all the family. |
Yes |
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Dinosaur
Museum, Icen Way, Dorchester,
DT1 1EW. Tel 01305 269880 www.thedinosaurmuseum.com |
Britain’s original dinosaurs museum. Award-winning museum combines fossils, skeletons and life-sized dinosaur reconstructions with multimedia and hands on displays, and is a treat especially for children. |
Partial access - ground floor only |
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| Putlake
Adventure Farm, Langton Matravers, Swanage, Tel 01929 422917 www.putlakeadventurefarm.com |
Adventure Farm set in 30 acres on the Dorset Jurassic Coast, indoor & outdoor activities including: farm animals, owls, rabbits, ponies. Lamb & kid feeding. Bouncy castles, pedal tractors, trampolines. Cafe. Children's parties. |
Yes
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| Swanage
Railway, Swanage, BH19 1HB, Tel 01929 425800 www.swanagerailway.co.uk |
Great preserved steam railway runs 6 miles from Swanage to Norden & Corfe Castle through Purbeck countryside. Special events including Thomas The Tank Engine Days & adult driving experience days. Shop, Buffet cars. |
Yes
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| The
Great Big Tree Climbing Co at locations in Dorset & Wessex Tel 0800 0556760 www.thegreatbigtreeclimbing.co.uk |
Tree climbing adventures for all ages and abilities across Dorset and Wessex and especially for those who can't wait to be swinging 60ft above the ground! Zip lines, big leaps and more. Individuals, groups, schools |
No |
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| Tutankhamun
Exhibition, High West Street, Dorchester, Tel 01305 269571 www.tutankhamun-exhibition.co.uk |
Spectacular re-creation of Tutankhamun's tomb and treasures. This internationally acclaimed exhibition spans time itself. Extensively featured on television throughout the world. Full school service plus specialist Egyptian shop including books. |
Yes - ramps available foe entrance |
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| Sunshine
Ceramics, 39 Station Road, Swanage, Dorset, BH19 1AD, Tel: 01929 422332 www.sunshineceramics.co.uk |
Paint it yourself Pottery and Craft Studio, plenty to keep the kids happy, and at affordable prices. Create a unique gift for someone! Birthday Parties, Special events, all the year around. Give it a go. |
Please ring |
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| Teddy
Bear Museum and Shop, Easgate, Corner of High East St and Salisbury
Street, Dorchester. Tel 01305 266040 www.teddybearhouse.co.uk |
The Dorset Teddy Bear Museum, Dorchester's unmissable family museum, plus Teddy Bear House, a unique family house with people sized bears. Be sure to visit the museum's charming period shop stocking top brands: Steiff, Robin Rive and more. |
To be advised |
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| Moors
Valley Country Park, Horton Road, Ashley Heath, Nr. Ringwood, BH24 2ET, Tel 01425 470721 www.moors-valley.co.uk |
750-acre country & forest park with Children's Play Areas, lakes, walking & cycle trails. Narrow gauge steam railway. Play & Adventure Trails including Tree Top Trail. Ranger-led activities for school & holiday visits. Picnic area, restaurant, shop. A great day out in Dorset. |
Yes |
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| SEA
LIFE, Lodmoor Country Park,
Weymouth, Dorset, DT4 7EH Tel 01305 788255 www.sealifeeurope.com |
SEA LIFE - Experience close encounters with a wealth of marine life including seals, otters, penguins and a collection of rare turtles in the only National Turtle Sanctuary in the UK. Educational trips, birthday parties. Cafe. |
Yes |
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| All
Fired Up Ceramics Cafe, The Square,
Bourne Avenue, Bournemouth, BH2 6DT, Tel 01202 558 030 Website |
Children love painting pottery. All Fired Up Ceramics Café offers a wide range of ceramic items that can be hand painted, ranging from plates, mugs, piggy banks and flower pots. First footprints - for all time! - All Fired Up! |
Yes - Call to check |
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| The
Clay
Studio, 12a Castle Street, Christchurch, BH23 1DT, Tel 01202 475000 www.theclaystudio.co.uk |
Pottery
painting is great for children: bring out their creative side and
encourage and inspire them. Kidz Painting Academy courses in school
holidays. Healthy Kidz Menu. Parties. |
Yes |
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| Chococo,
21c Commercial Road, Swanage, Dorset, BH19 1DF Tel 01929 421777 www.chococo.co.uk |
Discover delectable, fresh chocolates handmade on the premises. Watch the team in action through the window into our tiny factory. Try our small yum, yum cafe with choc dips and more, and gift shop. |
Yes |
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| Brownsea
Island (National Trust), Poole, BH13 7EE Tel 01202 707744 website |
Peaceful
island of woodland and small beaches set in Poole Harbour. Great
location for walks, wildlife, including red squirrels. Why not take a
picnic. Shop & Cafe. Free entry for members - see side banner for our special offer. |
Yes in places |
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| Corfe
Castle (National Trust), The Square, Corfe Castle, Wareham, BH20 5EZ Tel 01929 481294 website |
Majestic ruins of historic castle destroyed in the civil war. Interactive exhibitions and regular programme of events for children during holidays. Free entry for members - see side banner for our special offer. |
Partial disabled access |
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| Burngate
Stone Carving Centre Kingston Road, Langton Matravers, Swanage,
BH19 3BE Tel 01929 439405 www.burngatestonecentre.co.uk |
Traditional
stone carving for all the family in the Isle of Purbeck, Dorset.
Children's activities and stone carving sessions in school holidays and
weekends. Activities with a difference. |
Suitable for wheelchair access |
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| Bee
a Bug Play Cafe, 16 Landseer Road, Westbourne, Bournemouth,
Dorset, BH4
9EH, Tel 01202 766710 www.beeabug.co.uk |
Soft Play - Age 5 and under soft play adventure zone. Outside play area. Kids & Dads hair salon. Various classes & activities. |
Yes |
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| Paulton's
Park Ower,
Romsey, Hampshire,
SO51 6AL Tel 023 8081 4442 www.paultonspark.co.uk
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A
great family day out with over 50 different attractions and rides
included in the price. Thrilling and gentle rides, dinosaurs, museums,
animated shows, play areas, exotic birds and other fun activities for all
ages in garden setting. Cafes, shops. Birthday parties. Accommodation |
Yes |
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| Dorset
County Museum, High West Street, Dorchester,
DT1 1XA Tel: 01305 262735 www.dorsetcountymuseum.org |
Plenty for kids here including a great Dinosaur exhibition with the jaws of a piliosaur which belonged to a creature over 18 metres long. Activities for kids - the museum is much bigger than it looks! Cafe, shop. Ideal School trips |
Yes - Please telephone |
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Free Activities and things to do - Please not car parking fees may apply |
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| Hengistbury
Head, East of Bournemouth, Dorset. Weblink
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Enjoy a family walk any time of year in this delightful country park ( free ) overlooking the sea. Nature trails, beaches. Land train from Hengistbury Head to Mudeford Sandbank which runs every day of year (Charge), except Xmas Day. Cafe at Mudeford Sandbank. | Yes | |||||||||
| Radipole
Lake Nature Reserve, Weymouth, Tel: 01305 778313 Weblink |
Great RSPB Nature reserve with trails, boardwalks, many different birds can be seen including uncommon or rare birds like Cetti's warblers and bitterns. Visitor centre | Yes trails suitable for wheelchairs | |||||||||
| Studland
Beach and Shell Bay, other side of Estuary from Poole. Studland beach access from Studland, Shell Bay access from Swanage side of ferry. National Trust. |
The perfect place to go for the beach and finding shells. Trails through the sand dunes and woodlands, where you may see deer, insects and bird life plus many species of wild flowers. | Sand | |||||||||
| Fontmell
Down, Dorset parking place approx 3 miles from Shaftesbury on Melbury Abbas Road - 1 mile after Melbury Abbas. Weblink |
Great scenic walks on the Downs here or just look out for butterflys and wild flowers and have a picnic. Just half a mile away Compton Abbas airfield where you can watch light aircraft. Here is a good restaurant serving breakfast, lunches and teas. | No prepared tracks but should be able to manage with strong helper/ Cafe Yes | |||||||||
| Kimmeridge
Bay, Near Wareham, Dorset. |
Great fossil hunting on the beach here plus lots of rock-pools. Large car park overlooking sea where you can play games or have a picnic | Access difficult for wheelchairs | |||||||||
| Durlston
Country Park, Lighthouse Road, Swanage, BH19 2JL Tel/fax (01929) 424443 www.durlston.co.uk |
See some of the most stunning scenery on the South Coast where families and children can find plenty to do. Summer programme of kids activities, every Thursday afternoon throughout the school holidays. Fabulous summer nature trail and plenty of things to do. | Partial access, disabled buggy available | |||||||||
| RSPB
Arne, Near Wareham |
Great
reserve with trails across heath where you will see many types
of wildlife including waterfowl, deer and dragonflys. Picnic area but
instead why not take your picnic down to Shipstal Beach. A lovely day out for everyone. |
Mainly unmade trails but some suitable with strong helper | |||||||||
