What to see and do in Dorset with kids?

[NotFrozenYet]

We are off for a short holiday trip tomorrow for 5 days and unfortunately haven’t had a chance to plan anything apart from accommodation. We will be near Hilton Heath nature reserve. It is to the east of the county. 3 small kids and two disorganised parents.
I’d appreciate any recommendations! Hiking, sightseeing, some kids friendly places. Anything that would make this journey worth it. After two long weeks of everyone being sick and ill I just want a smooth nice break.
we have a car and also happy to hike

Can I check before give tips - do you mean Holton Heath?

Things we love round that area:
Poole park
Bournemouth seafront/ pier (they have a climbing wall and mini golf course, lovely parks, often some fairground rides, plus beautiful long beach)
Swanage, you can get the train to/from Corfe Castle which is NT and great.
if you have NT, then try Brownsea Island and Kingston Lacey.
Peppa Pig world (Paultons park) is good for all ages. The peppa pig but is just a small section.
There is an indoor water park in Poole (Splashdown)
Its a great area!

Steam train to Swanage https://www.swanagerailway.co.uk

The Blue Poole
Monkey World.

Lots of sandy beaches within reach so take some “treasure” 50 p pieces, small toys, even painted stones. Mark out a square of sand with a skipping rope, or just shoes and let the kids dig for the treasure you’ve buried. Used to keep my grandchildren quiet occupied for ages.

The blue pool
Farmer Palmers
another vote for the train and also brownsea

Moors valley is great.
Head over to Swanage, do Corfe castle, stream train. Lulworth cove. Monkey world. Studland has great beaches and sand dunes.

Bournemouth - seafront, gardens, climbing wall.
New Forest.

Arne near Wareham nature reserve is lovely.
Lots of great places for fossil hunting.
Hengitsbury head.

@kittybloom oh exactly, sorry! You see🙄 I’m still in a blur

You’re very close to Farmer Palmers which is excellent. I also recommend Monkey World, RSPB Arne, Brownsea Island, Durlston Country Park in Swanage, Moors Valley Country Park. There’s lots to do in Purbeck, the Etches Collection fossil museum at Kimmeridge is fantastic then you can go and look for fossils in the bay. You can drive down to Tyneham village which is fascinating.

if it rains then the Tank Museum and Sea Life at Weymouth and a small one in Bournemouth. Have fun!

Oh yes Moors Valley has loads to do. And an excellent park!

The Bovington tank museum is great.

I live in Poole, so happy to give ideas! Poole Quay - you can take a harbour cruise and/or go to Brownsea Island, Bournemouth Aviation Museum (kids can sit in the cockpit of aircraft!), Swanage, Poole Park, Lulworth Cove, Bovington Tank Museum, Monkey World, Weymouth, Moors Valley Country Park (that is more at West Moors, so on the way). Model Village at Wimborne. Sandbanks beach.

Thank you so much! That gives us plenty of ideas. I will look into everything mentioned here ☺️

Heavy horse centre is a must visit for us each year. Farmer palmer. Paultons park. Tank museum is not for really little kids imho now you can’t climb over the tanks like you could when I was little 40 years ago 🤣🤣. Bournemouth aquarium. So many places

Bring your national trust or English heritage card if you have one - useful for several things and some car parks. No worries if not but it’s easy to forget and then be annoyed (experience).

If you like walking / hiking, you could walk to Old Harry Rocks - park in national trust car park by the Bankes Arms Inn Studland, and walk up there. Make sure kids don’t plummet off the edge. It’s v impressive.
Also, less well known, is Agglestone Rock in Studland - massive big rock on a slight hill in the middle of heathland, walkable from Studland again. Google for routes.

Also agree with main best ideas:
Farmer Palmers
Steam train to Corfe Castle and / or Swanage (could easily be 2 days)
Durlston country park
Etches collection and Kimmeridge Bay
Kids might be a bit young?, but Burngate Stone Carving up near Corfe is brilliant. https://burngatestonecentre.co.uk

Scott Arms pub in Kingston, not far from Corfe, has lovely big beer garden with excellent views if it’s still sunny.

Have a great time!

It's a bit of a drive, but we loved Vurlands Farm. There are animals to pet and a bouncy castle ( last time we went at least), and a lovely cafe.

You've had some really good tips on here. My thoughts:

1. Crabbing at either Poole Harbour (nr the jetty for fishing trips) or at Rockley Holiday Park (the little beach / harbour at the end of the resort). Buy a crabbing net - the type that looks like a bucket not purse and clear bucket in Poole, put chopped raw bacon in base and have a lot of fun!
2. Beaches - you are Sandbanks side. My own preference is Studland (you can get the dinky ferry over) and Shell Bay for wild expanse, Knoll Beach for facilities and sand dunes (sand dunes good because if you go inland side, yes you can't see sea but lots of sand and MUCH warmer and Middle Beach for watersports (recommend Fore Adventure). Or cliff top walk towards Old Harry Rocks and then pub at the Bankes Arms
3. Rainy day - tank museum. Really excellent, easily lose the best part of the day there. You are also quite nr a leisure park which has a Splashdown and indoor arcade, cinema etc. Not my favourite thing but fills a rainy afternoon.
4. Moor Valley - perhaps good if you are coming from A31 east direction and you can do on way there / out. Excellent cycle paths / Go Ape / play area.
5. As other said, if you have a NT card bring it as that covers a lot of the car parks too.
6. Food - Poole Harbour and High Street has some nice spots. Scotts Arms nr Corfe and Square & Compass at Worth Matravers not to be missed!
7. Pottering / fossil beach - Kimmeridge is excellent for looking for fossils and rockpooling when tide out.
8. Longer beach cliff walks: Walks around Worth Matravers. Burton Bradstock which also has an excellent seafood cafe, the Hive. Lulworth - Durdle Door but will be busy.
9. Wimborne is a nice market town and not too far away. It has a cute model town.