With its great mixture of coastal scenery, sandy beaches and great rural scenery, Dorset is a popular location for holidaymakers. One of the most popular destinations is Weymouth, a traditional seaside resort on the south coast. In addition to the beach and a great choice of hotels Weymouth has some excellent attractions and heritage sites to explore.
The beach at Weymouth is a great place for families to enjoy with its clear water and clean, sheltered beaches. Due to its safety records, cleanliness and the quality of the amenities and attractions here, Weymouth beach has won a whole host of awards. The family friendly aspect of the beach is reflected in the full-time lifeguard patrols, lost children centres and changing facilities available here too, as well as ramp access to the beach for visitors with buggies and prams, or for disabled visitors.
As you would expect from a traditional seaside destination, you will find plenty of activities on and around the beach. This includes the time honoured tradition of the seafront Punch and Judy shows and donkey rides, alongside more modern attractions like roller coasters and huge bungee trampolines that are very popular with younger visitors.
The beautiful coastline of Dorset and East Devon is known as the Jurassic Coastline and is England's first natural World Heritage site. This 95 mile stretch of coastline includes some beautiful beaches but also rugged cliffs that have stood unchanged for centuries. Walking along the coastline here is like stepping back into pre-history with the rocks around you recording an astounding 185 million years of history.
>From the coastline you can also see the beautiful isle of Portland, which can be reached by a narrow causeway at low tide from Chesil beach. Portland is known for its extreme sports, such as diving, watersports and hand gliding. However, it is also a great place to relax with several spas on the island. One of the best ways to explore the island is by bike to cover the 4.5 mile span.
The natural island also has a rich history. Portland is best known for being where Sir Christopher Wren, then the MP for Weymouth, took some of the beautiful natural stone to help rebuild London after the Great Fire. It is also the location of Portland Castle, which was built in 1539 on the orders of King Henry VIII to protect the south coast from attacks from the French at that time. It can be found in the Portland town of Castletown and visitors will be treated to a vivid retelling of the castle's rich 450-year history. As well as experiencing the magnificent Great Hall and Tudor kitchen, you can enjoy the amazing views of the coastline and sea from the top of the fort. Outside the castle, you can explore the extensive grounds too with gardens mimicking how they would have looked in the past with authentic flowers and amazing scenery.
Not far from Weymouth, you will find the county town of Dorset, the historic town of Dorchester. In the centre of the town you will find the original Roman fortifications that are known as the Durnovaria Town Walk. Following the beautiful ruins through the town will take you past the lovely Borough Gardens and Salisbury Fields, which provide great areas to stop and take in the views or to enjoy a picnic. The great Thomas Hardy lived here for many years and wrote many of his best works of literature here, inspired by the stunning landscapes of the Dorset countryside. His house in the town can be visited and there is a wonderful statue tribute to him in the heart of the town.
Accommodation in this area is of an excellent quality. Whether you prefer to stay in a seafront locations or town centre hotels Weymouth has plenty of great hotels to offer you.
There are some lovely boutique guesthouses to choose from, which offer a unique and quirky place to stay with plenty of little luxuries. Here you can enjoy mod cons like free Wi-Fi and flat screen TV's in elegantly, individually decorated hotel rooms.
As you would expect from a British seaside resort, there are also a number of inexpensive B&B's on offer in Weymouth with comfortable hotel rooms, a friendly personable service and often sea views. As well as the budget B&B's and smaller seafront hotels Weymouth has some grand establishments, often located in historic Victorian and Georgian buildings. These typically provide excellent hotel restaurants, some boasting awards for the excellent cuisine they provide. They also typically have great leisure facilities including fitness suites, spas and even golf courses.
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