About to Holiday in Dorset with my 2 SN/DIS children IDEAS HELP PLEASE!!!

[helpforautism]

Hi there. I am so lucky that my parents have used their savings to pay for a family holiday in Dorset in two weeks time. I have 2 severley autistic sons and my younger boy has other disability conditions, plus I have a perfectly happy healthy 2 year old girl! Any suggestions from Dorset livers or lovers on places we can go gratefully received! Is there any sensory centres or specialist play centres? If not any other ideas? Oh and its my mums 60th while im there, so a nice village with a pub would be great too!!! Thankyou and good luck with the hols to you all x

[TheHumanCatapult]

Monkey world looks good am going next week so will report back .Im f/t wheelchair and ds has sn.so may be able to cover some of your bases

[Chundle]

Monkey world is fab with a big play area park there. Get there at opening time to avoid busy period x

[signandsmile]

how far into Dorset? I know Devon stuff, (north and south), if that's any use message again and I will detail.

[helpforautism]

Thankyou for the advise on Monkey World that sounds great and I guess is outdoors as my younger boy cant bear noise...! Advise on wheelchairs would be brilliant humant catapult thankyou.
Sign and smile thanks for reply, we are staying near Weymouth? I think this is a way in? (sorry so much else on my mind havent looked where we are going!)

[TheHumanCatapult]

one thing i do know is that they have dual controll powerchairs you can book/hire for the day not sure if they do child size .and yes it is mostly outside .

Have been told that footpaths are good but shall see

[purplepidjincantatem]

Weymouth is the opposite side of the county to me but if you need respite let me know although I might be abroad with youth club during your stay

Weymouth sealife centre

Bournemouth pier and amusements

Swanage steam railway (not sure about access on trains, but it's flat to the platform iirc)

Ringwood has a Raptor and Reptile centre which (again iirc) is flat. It's quite small and rural so likely to be quiet

Adventure Wonderland opposite the airport

I'll try and have a think but I don't do much tourisy or kiddy type stuff as I work with adults nowadays!

[helpforautism]

Bless you thankyou purple for the respite message...the battle for respite care is another issue altogether these days isnt it (managed to use mine on the day before we go to pack...!) thankyou for suggestions. I will def look at the reptile centre!

[maddiemostmerry]

Moors valley park is lovely with lots to do. It does get very busy so get there early.

Alice Lisle pub in New Forest is lovely. Outside area, kids welcome. Good food.

Have a lovely holiday

[helpforautism]

Maddie, thankyou, moors valley looks brilliant and thankyou so much for the pub recomendation! I need to keep my parents happy too!!

[fivegomadindorset]

Abbotsbury the swannery is lovely and wheel chair accesible as is the gardens and the childrens farm.

Weymouth beach is nice. If it is wet try Sharkeys on the harbour, good soft play.

[EllenJaneisnotmyname]

Another vote for Sealife centre. In Weymouth itself there's a discovery sciencey place in Brewer's Quay which my boys loved for an hour or so. There's a playbarn place just on the other side of the harbour from Brewer's Quay, across Town bridge. Abbotsbury swannery is quite nice. We liked Portland Bill lighthouse but there are lots (and lots) of steep steps. Osmington Mills has a large foodie pub on the coast. Lulworth Cove is interesting for the grown ups as is Durdle Door, but Durdle Door is a bit of a trek. Hope you have a lovely time. Don't say 'rabbits' if you go to Portland!

[EllenJaneisnotmyname]

Crossed with five! Sharkey's is the same playbarn!

[purplepidjincantatem]

Helpfor pm me your dates because I'll have dnephew for the 2nd week in august (respite for dsil as dniece has asd) and we'll be doing the ringwood one!

[helpforautism]

Five go mad, thank you for the swannery looks lovely, and we are hopeing to book the weather for the beach!
Ellen Jane the sealife centre and playbarn are defo's for mt older boy and daughter thankyou. Have looked at the pub and my dad will love it thanks! We will do a family day to Lulworth Cove as my profoudly dis son loves to see the twinkle on the sea (dont see much of it in the south midlands!) and they all love fresh air........OK why the rabbits??????? :/

[helpforautism]

Hi Purple, we are the 30th till the 13th!! a lovely (I hope :?) long time....I am already packing my security gates!

[EllenJaneisnotmyname]

They are very superstitious on Portland and rabbits burrows were supposed to cause rockslides in the numerous quarries. They only ever say 'bunnies!'

[alowVera]

Haha rabbits rabbits rabbits! Apparently you must say bunnies.
Portland has been mined for years, mines collapsed killing miners, rabbits blamed. Thus don't say rabbits. Unfortunately Portland is overrun with rabbits and in whose mind does it make sense to mine under where people live.

Votes for sea life, monkey world and Brewers quay. Swannery is gravel paths. Portland bill is nice. Weymouth beach is nice and has a lovely promenade.

[alowVera]

I think that in being an island they got confused between the superstition about hares and applied it to rabbits?

[purplepidjincantatem]

Yay, dneph will be with us from about the 6th for a week

Ps we would happily have dniece (the one with asd) but she doesn't like new places. Nt dneph (nearly 4) will enjoy the adventure.

We're planning to do a ferry trip to the isle of wight and possibly hire a little boat to go from christchurch to tuckton for the afternoon. But, as I say, wrong side of the county!

[purplepidjincantatem]

Iirc (haven't been for 20 odd years) sandbanks beach is sandy and flat to pavement level. Nice easy trip on the ferry from swanage

[helpforautism]

Good to know the local bunny issue on Portland!

Genuinly grateful for everyones advice and ideas thankyou x

[fivegomadindorset]

Come for tea if you are in Lulworth Cove we live there. Can i say avoid it the first weekend as Lulworth is hosting CAmp Bestival.

[helpforautism]

Oh thankyou five, it does look gorgeous...and we will def avoid your festival, much as I hope you enjoy it!

[AlysWho]

Peppapig world? Isnt that near Dorset? DD would love it but its too far from us and she doesnt cope with hotels/b&b's etc... x

[TheHumanCatapult]

peppapig world is not far from southhampton we are going there day after Monkey world .and is about a hour between them