Bovington Tank museum - other things to do in the area oh wise AIBU ones please.

[FoxRedGreySquirrel]

DH & DS have booked a few days away to visit Bovington tank museum, possibly going to head to the Jurassic coast, Monkey World maybe.

Know this isn’t AIBU but it’s a busy old place and full of knowledgeable MNetters who might know the area to add further suggestions of what they can both do, restaurant recommendations, other places to visit etc.

They’re going to stay in Bournemouth, close to the pier. Four days.

Any other places you’ve been to in the area for this short trip would be really appreciated.

I know AIBU posting here but it’s the summer holidays so hope you’ll have mercy!

I don’t want to sound too emotional on AIBU, as I know it’s frowned upon, but sod it! Every suggestion has been just up their street! Seriously! Thank you!

I’m going to have to write them a spreadsheet 🤣and then can decide where they would like to go in the four days they’ve got down there.

I hope your DS is in a much better place now 💙

There is a small D Day museum on Portland which is very good

Where are you coming from? It's just Beaulie and Fleet Air museum are not exactly close. As for Paultons Park- for a 16year old???

I'm not sure 'strolling' is the correct word for most of the coastal path, but it is definitely worth the visit. Durdle Door to Lulworth and then across Lulworth cove to the fossil forest would be good if fit ish.

When exactly are they going as Poole Quay has some good car nights on Fridays in August

Brownsea Island is currently closed because of bird flu, I think.

It's not closed but it is pretty boring for most 16 year olds

I would recommend booking onto a fossil hunting walk - if you've never done it before then it's tricky to know what to look for. Charmouth visitor's centre does some good ones.

Would also recommend Monkey world - it's a rescue place and not overly aimed at children.

If it’s a nice day, park on sandbanks and then take the ferry to Studland. Walk 5k across Studland beach and along a bit of the SW coastal path to the Pig on the Beach pub and restaurant and have a flatbread ( basically a posh pizza but they call them flatbreads) and a beverage at their outdoor bar. Then get the open top bus back to your car ( or can walk back but I’m too lazy). Right by the Pig there is a WW2 bunker that was built to defend Studland bay. Btw the gate at the Pig says residents only but it’s fine to use it if you’re going to eat there.

Minor point of interest is that Lawrence of Arabias house is really near Bovington and there is a memorial to him as well down there.

For water sports there are loads of paddle board hire places along sandbanks ( around the Tesco) and the Watersports academy does lessons in windsurfing/ kitesurfing etc. Also if he likes cars on nice evenings you get a lot of youngsters cruising around there in their souped up fiats /golf’s etc. it’s kind of interesting and a bit of a thing. They park up along the harbour between Tesco and the sandbanks carpark.

Monkeyworld is actually good and I think ageless. He’s be too old for the playgrounds but the monkeys themselves are v cool.

Paultons Park not that far but $$$. it’s not just Peppa Pig world. It’s got a load of rollercoasters and stuff too but admittedly it is expensive if you’re not interested in peppa pig. Agree fleet is nowhere near ( Yeovil). Further than it looks as slow roads.

They’re heading down the last week in July, mid week, from Cheshire.

Tank museum is the number one place they want to visit but cars, fossils, WWII museum, Monkey World are also up there with interesting places they’d like to visit/see.

Abbotsbury Swannery has a prototype bouncing bomb, if he wants war stuff - they tested them on the Fleet.

The tank museum is really good. Unless they are experts already I recommend doing a few of the guided talks as otherwise it’s a LOT of tanks and hard to really understand what you’re looking at.

I’ve only just come in to say the tank museum is so bloody interesting! I scoffed at dhs suggestion and thought dds would be bored, but OMG! It’s one of the best and most interesting places I have been to. We were there all day, I thought it would be done in a few hours

And if you’re coming from Cheshire then air museum in Yeovil might work if they did it on the way there or back.

Bucklers Hard Maritime Museum - some ships that fought at Trafalgar were built at the yard here

Monkeyworld Is very relaxing it's lovely to wander round. Your ticket to tank museum is yours for a year so you can go back

Thank you @Monkeymonkeymoo the Lyme Regis/Twynham suggestions might just be a really great option so for them. DH is driving down so this could work.

Yeovil on the way back?

Also it is Tyneham, if they put Twynham into the sat nav they will get an uninspiring secondary school.

I think Teynham is just opened the weekends or at certain times you need to Google it and check. Train into swanage is great as is a wander round swanage.

Tyneham* sorry.

I used to really like the Go Ape at MV but the last few times I’ve been it hasn’t been great. Always running late and so crowded so you’re just waiting on platforms for people to move. They need more staff actually keeping it moving and just fewer people on it at a time.

That’s good to know! Thank you! I could go down with them next time! Used to watch Monkeyworld relentlessly and loved all of the successful rescues.

Yes, will be open for the summer on 26th July

Well not the most direct route but easier than going there and back from Bournemouth as a day trip IYSWIM.

Ah OK we usually go that way on holiday June or September so its weekends only.

Sorry sounded short, your point was good.