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DRIVE 4: Hardy Country and the Jurassic Coast
PLAN YOUR DRIVE
Start/finish: Swanage to Sherborne.
Number of days: 3 days allowing a
half-day’s tour of Dorchester.
Distance: Around 129 km (80 miles).
Road conditions: Good roads, but
sometimes narrow and steep.
When to go: It is possible to tour the
area any time of year, but best to try
and avoid public holidays and
summer weekends, when traffic is
heaviest around the coast.
Opening times: Museums and
attractions are generally open 10am–
5pm, but close earlier (or are closed
altogether) Nov–Easter. Shop opening
hours are longer. Churches are usually
open until dusk.
Main market days: Swanage: Tue
(Apr–Oct); Wareham: Thu & Sat;
Weymouth: Thu; Dorchester: Wed;
Sherborne: Thu & Sat, also Farmer’s
Market on 3rd Fri of month.
Shopping: Dorset is famed for its
creamy Blue Vinny cheese; sweet
cinnamon-rich Dorset apple cake,
and delicious locally produced
chutneys and jams.
Major festivals: Swanage: Jazz
Festival, Jul; Wareham: Music Festival,
Sep; Weymouth: Seafood Festival, Jul;
Weymouth Regatta, Jul–Aug;
Dorchester: Dorchester Festival
(various arts events) Jun.
Above The peaceful country village of Abbotsbury, see p61
KEY
Drive route
DAY TRIP OPTIONS
Dorchester’s many museums and
ancient sights have something for
everyone – but especially dinosaur
hunters; follow the theory with some
practical fossil hunting on Chesil
Beach and Portland. From Swanage
enjoy a ride on a steam train, visit a
crumbling Norman castle and then
head to the coast to explore the
beach and awesome rock
formations near Lulworth. For full
details, see p63.
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