Dorset holiday recommendations

[ML1980]

Hi, can anyone recommend somewhere in Dorset with nice beaches, ideally not too crowded (? Wishful thinking in school holidays!!!) with local shops and beach walking distance but not a huge town to go with a 3 and 5 year old... Bournemouth is too crowded at that time of year but is there anywhere else along that coast as it is lovely. Many thanks.

Ps or Norfolk!!! Thanks

What about Swanage? Lovely seaside town, a bit quieter as further from London etc, but close enough to Bournemouth for a day trip there if you wanted. Just getting there is a fun experience - take the car ferry across the mouth of Poole harbour and drive through the hills and nature reserves, or drive round by road and pass ruined Corfe Castle. Nice beach, gently sloping & sandy. And more beaches nearby, Studland etc - quite unspoilt, looked after by National Trust. Or try Weymouth and Chesil beach for something a bit different - pebbly with lots of local things to do, bit of a bigger town. Abbotsbury swan reserve nearby for the kids. Beaches get pebblier towards the West til you reach Chesil. If you're after somewhere really secluded (though maybe for older kids - lots of lovely walks & hikes) try Lulworth.

I second Swanage - we have spent many family holidays there and there are some lovely cottages available. It's still small enough to feel quite rural and although it's more touristy now than it was ten years ago, it's not heaving on summer days. (like Sandbanks would be, for example.)

Argh yes Swanage I went there many years ago and it was lovely. Sounds an ideal mix of a small town with shops for essentials but not as busy as somewhere like Bournemouth. Thanks will have a look for accommodation options xx