Dorset towns for families?

[CrazyCatLady1993]

Hi everyone

I live in Reading with my husband and three children. We are looking at move out of Reading and in certain areas of Dorset. I have seen some lovely houses on right move from the below areas.

Can anyone tell me about the following areas?

• Gillingham
• Sturminster Newton
• Stalbridge
• Dorchester
• Beaminster
• Blandford Forum
• Shaftesbury
• Winterborne Kingston
• Sherborne
• Piddlehinton

We are looking for somewhere not too built up or busy, lots of places to walk, good schools, not too far away from independent shops or cafes (we don’t mind if we have to drive). And a real community feel, we are really friendly and will talk to anyone. Human contact is really important to me so if the people aren’t friendly, I don’t want to go there 😂

The two biggest are Dorchester and Blandford Forum, from your list. The other places are much smaller. I live in Poole, so further away.

Dorchester is the main County Town. It’s not great for shops. But Poole and Yeovil are only 30 mins away. Dorchester has a really good secondary school and 6th form-Thomas Hardys. Plus 15 mins from Weymouth so get access to lovely coastline. Gillingham, sturminster Newton and Blandfird forum are more inland. If you want a real community feel look up Poundbury. Great community, and great for families. Local shops and independent cafes. 1 mile from Dorchester Town.

Have you considered Wimborne? Lovely community, beautiful town, lots of events. Museum, library, Minster, independent shops.
Dorchester is great, I disagree with lack of shops (the new bit - brewery square has joules etc I think?) and train links to south West and London.

I grew up in Blandford. It is all houses and no amenities. One mid size Tesco, a small M&S Food Hall and small Morrisions, Lidls is on the northern outskirts.
The High street is all chemist's and charity shops.

The nearest cinema, bowling in fact all entertainment is in Poole or Salisbury.
The nearest hospitals are Salisbury Dorchester or Poole. There is a a small cottage hospital in Blandford itself.

Primary Schools are not bad, choice of 3 in the town and others in surrounding villages. I don't have that age so not sure which is best.
Only 1 secondary school, again do t know what it's like anymore as my kids grown up.

Lots and lots of new builds surrounding the town centre, older houses within the actual town.

Large Army presence as Blandford Camp is very close by.

Few nice things within the community, such as the Georgian Fair on the first May bank holiday and Teddy Rocks Festival in the summer.

Wimborne is a good shout and is only about 5 miles from Poole and Bournemouth for bigger shops etc. only downside is it doesn't have a railway station.

We made the move from Reading to Weymouth at the start of the year and we are loving it.
Great community feel, loads of free events, independent shops, award winning eateries and of course beautiful beaches.
Good luck house hunting and feel free to dm if you’d like any more info.

Thank you everyone! That is so helpful 🤗

Ah no way! That’s very good to know, I will DM you if I need any help or advice. Thank you 🩷

I especially like Wareham in Dorset. It’s a lovely small town and not far from the glorious Studland Bay. Dorset is a beautiful county. Good luck with your search.

Sherborne is not a great place for families. I have relatives there and the children are very bored every time we have to visit. It’s a beautiful town and the abbey is something very special. Lovely to visit, not to live!

There really isn’t much in Beaminster. Have you considered bridport? Lots of independent shops and community events.

I'd also suggest Wareham. Bridport is lovely too but it doesn't have a railway station - not sure how important that is to you?

Wareham is nice, safe, etc and close to Poole for shops but there's little there and its
Population is v old.

It depends on what you're looking for. It has the community vibe, lovely walks, not too far from the coast, mainline station. It also has a folk festival and an independent cinema.
Purbeck school has over a 1000 children on it's roll. I know some of them come from surrounding villages and towns but a good proportion will live in Wareham itself.
OP, how old are your children?

Some relatives live in beaminster and while it's a lovely village there's not that much going on and it's a pain to get anywhere from.

There's an active church community and a few independent shops and cafes but that's it really. The schools are good but it's just not that big and everywhere needs driving to.

West bay is the nearest slightly bigger place with a market, walks, good playground, funfair in summer but house wise I'd say bridport if you're wanting to be in that area.

We stay with them at least once a year and

What do you and your DH do for work? Employment opportunities can be pretty limited in some of the more rural parts of the county and the single carriage roads can make commuting somewhere bigger arduous.

Yes, we are all old and infirm in Wareham, well my teenagers think I am

Wareham is a good shout, schools, railway station, buses to Swanage and Poole, cinema, two small supermarkets,

We have 6 year old twins and a 3 month old so still very young 😊

I’m a self employed beautician so I’d end up starting my business up again from scratch. My husband is a senior contracts manager for a construction firm across the south of the country, he works 80% of the time from home and then sometimes has to travel so he wouldn’t need to look for another job 😅

And soon to have a Lidl!!!! 🎉💥❗

North Dorset is a black hole for healthcare. It would take you an hour to get to Poole or Salisbury . Beware of this if any of your family has health conditions . It is prettty countryside though but takes forever to get anywhere

Dorchester is way better for shops than Yeovil now, unless you really need several options for phone repairs and vapes! 😂

I live in North Dorset and if you're looking for a town feel stalbridge and piddlehinton are tiny!!

Gillingham - largish, not as nice as other areas but cheaper house prices
Sturminster Newton - fine but small and not much going on
Stalbridge - tiny, not a town feel
Dorchester - nice, poundbury area also nice. High street not exactly buzzing but close to lots of other areas and only 15 minutes from beaches
Beaminster - no experience
Blandford Forum - more houses than anything, not as nice as other areas but cheaper house prices
Shaftesbury - fine I think, not much experience
Winterborne Kingston - tiny again middle of nowhere
Sherborne - fine but quite a lot of older people
Piddlehinton - tiny middle of nowhere

If you want more town style than small village, i would personally be looking at areas such as

-dorchester
-poundbury
-wimborne
-wareham
-sherborne
-bridport
-frome (Somerset but close)

And nightmare traffic all through summer!

OK if you live there - you are usually going the other way to the jams.