Dorset holiday in January - good idea?!

[lolacola1977]

We are looking at having a weeks holiday in January to Dorset (two young children, can't afford / deal with flights to go abroad) so am thinking a cosy, English holiday somewhere by the seaside with roaring fires, walks, nice pubs etc...Dorset seems like a good option as it's not too long a journey and I'm just wondering if there are any particular towns / villages people would recommend which might be OK in the middle of winter as I don't know it at all - or, do you think it would just be freezing and not fun at all...? thank you!!

I'd go for Isle of Purbeck - sandy beach at studland, Corfe castle, little train at swanage.

Brilliant, will take a look - thanks!

I'm here now. In fact we are setting off to go home soon.

We stay with friend three times a year but don't do February. We start coming down in may because we find it too chilly for days out.

Funnily enough this friend does holiday cottages but she's near Shaftesbury so not near the coast.

Weathers been ok this week having dodged quite a few showers but yesterday was chilly and today worse. We mainly stick to the towns Poole and Salisbury for a bit of xmas shopping. We missed out Glastonbury this autumn as we are just a bit too tired so just pootled round Shaftesbury instead.
Would think it would be more raw on the coast.

Are you sure you can't afford going abroad. We are having two weeks in benidorm in January for under £500.

Swanage???