Days out Dorset/Somerset borders.

[HarrietJ0nes]

We are staying around there in half term. Dds are 12,10,1.
12 yo hates anything other than reading. Dd2 is very lively and dd3 likes being outside!

Shaftesbury is nice for an afternoon as is Wells.

Lots of beautiful countryside to walk in.

Depends whereabouts you are and how far you want to travel to do things.

How about Tyneham, a village commandeered during WW2 for training purposes. It's still owned by the military and only accessible at weekends. It's fascinating, and has a stunning beach not far from Lulworth.

Up to an hours drive? Don't want to spend too much but paying to get in somewhere for a day is ok.
We have national trust membership so any recommendations of which are good for kids/a bit more unusual. Dds very into history and dd3 likes gardens.

Ooo, there's loads of NT properties. Kingston Lacey is lovely (nice house with extensive gardens & woodland) & Badbury Rings (iron-age hill fort). There is a good ice-cream shop near White Mill. Any of the Dorset coast is gorgeous and Corfe Castle is worth a visit (not far from Tyneham but might be more than an hour drive from you)

Bath is about an hour away & Cheddar Gorge is good for kids.

Tyneham is lovely but miles away, open all the summer holidays and most weekends.

Bovington Tank museum is very child centred and Swanage and Weymouth have nice seaside feel. Dolphins and seals MIGHT be seen from Portland Bill.

We know Bath. Dh is from there & we've been a lot. We will probably have a day there.

Dh said he remembers Corfe & a model village? I have a weakness for them

Cheddar gorge , I forgot about that. Dh mentioned it when we booked.

Yes, there's a model village at Corfe - go to the castle first then the model village and tearoom - you can play croquet & giant connect four etc. I DS loves it.

There's also a good model village in Wimborne, which isn't so far & it's a nice town to wander around. Honeybrook farm is lovely too but not sure if your DC are a bit old for it.

Dd1 is Too old for everything

Dd2 is quite happy to live life at dd3s level.

At least you have a chance of making two out of three of them happy.

Why not use DD1 as an unofficial tour guide for her siblings ?

That gives her a chance to 'know it all'. Shes good at helping dd3 when she stops carrying her

Stourhead is my favourite NT garden; depending on which bit of Dorset/ Somerset you're at, it should be within an hour. You can walk up to Alfred's tower from there (maybe get DD1 some history books to go with the destination?)
Old Wardour castle is English heritage, lots of special events
Cheddar is really pricey IIRC
Wet weather, you could get a train to Bristol, loads to do there. SS Great Britain is brilliant, there is also a hands on Science museum
I have never seen dolphins or seals off Portland and I grew up round there. Porpoises though and basking sharks. Fossil hunting can be fun anywhere along the Jurassic coast.

Some of these suggestions sound great. We are going to Dorset for half term as well.

We might also go to the caves at Beer and the Seaton tramway as we aren't too far from Devon.

If you don't mind the drive A la Ronde is a really unusual NT place to visit.

I second Bovington Tank Museum - its had a huge revamp recently and is really family-friendly. It's worth then also going to Lulworth to walk round to see Durdle Door.

If you go to Lulworth you might as well go to the next cove along, which is where Tyneham is. :)

Charmouth beach brilliant for fossil hunting.They have an interactive museum and you can go on a guided walk looking for fossils. Friends 6 year old DS was breathless with excitement recounting how they had done this bless.

Bunbaker- that NT place looks interesting!

Loads of ideas here( and cheap too!), thanks everyone!

Monkey world is great fun and near the Tank Museum (but might appeal more to younger children, it has lots of climbing frame type stuff)