Things to do with teenagers near to Dorchester.

[Muchtoomuchtodo]

2 boys aged 13 and 16. They love being outside generally. The oldest really likes mountain biking but we can’t get all of our bikes there so we’d need to hire bikes to do that.

Any suggestions of what’s likely to be enjoyable at the end of November for a weekend?

There must be something!

Have you tried googling? Maybe there's a theme park nearby?

I’ve googled and looked at trip advisor. There’s Peppa Pig land at Paulton’s park and a Sea World place. They won’t be thrilled with either of those tbh. I was hoping for some local knowledge of more off the beaten track things..

Lulworth cove do rib /ridesrafting maybe not November' but check it out. There is a tank museum, in Bovington

Thanks. I’ll take a look.

The Tutankhamen exhibition is quite cool www.tutankhamun-exhibition.co.uk

There’s a really big decent skatepark www.dorchester-tc.gov.uk/Services/Skatepark

Portland Bill lighthouse has a fairy new visitor centre with interactive exhibits and an experience called ‘The Dark’ www.trinityhouse.co.uk/lighthouse-visitor-centres/portland-bill-lighthouse-visitor-centre

Boat rides have stopped from Lulworth Cove

Warmwell has a dry ski slope can do snowboard lessons or ski lessons

There is a good skate park in Weymouth

Moors Valley is about 45 minutes away. It has Go Ape and Segway experiences.

(You can also hire bikes at Moors Valley)

Henley Hillbillies in Alton Pancras has quad biking etc

Also Gorcombe Extreme Sports

Brilliant. Thanks all.

Boat rides have stopped from Lulworth Cove,

I thought they might.

Dorchester is lovely. When we went they had museums and exhibitions on almost every street corner.
Monkey World is nearby and very enjoyable. Supporting good works too.

There isa fantastic skate park in Dorchester and on the sea front in Weymouth... if the like scooters etc

Dorchester has a cinema too
Tank world isn't too far and is huge

My boys loved Portland bill too, lots of climbing.

I think the kayac place in studland has closed for the winter but we loved doing that around old Harry's rocks

There is a place called Gorcombe between Dorchester and Blandford which has quad biking and paintballing

www.gorcombe.co.uk/

Monkey World is great, and the tank museum but they are both a fair drive from Dorchester.

I'm not a teenage boy and I have DDs, so maybe I am out of touch but I think there is plenty to do in Dorchester itself, without having to drive. The area around the station where the fountains are is a great place to sit with a drink or picnic lunch. Badbury Rings just next to that, are great for walking around. The High Street is pedestrianised so it's good for strolling and/or shopping. The County museum is recently refurbished and I think is really well designed and quite interactive and has a nice cafe. Just up the road is the Shire Hall Museum and The Keep Military Museum. Also a short stroll from all of those is the Roman Villa which is surprisingly large and interesting. There's enough for at least two days' worth of activities in the town IMO . If you wanted something cheap and simple nearby, Weymouth is very close and has a fabulous beach and very pretty harbour both of which are great for walking along in any weather, especially if you can fit fish and chips in. There are some particularly good chippies there!

When I was a child my parents used to keep driving miles from our holiday base to find things to do, and I just wanted to potter about. Often there is plenty to do within walking distance and that makes for a less stressful, cheaper and more eco friendly holiday. Maybe teenaged boys are different though.

The tank museum is really good.

Splash down is fun
www.splashdownwaterparks.co.uk/

Re the pp mention of the dry slope at Warmwell, it used to be open to non-residents but now it's been taken over by Parkdean I'm not sure they let others in. You'd need to phone and check.

Lots of ideas to show them. It’s always better to let them have input into what we do!!
Splashdown is closed for the winter which is a shame as it looks good.

@Muchtoomuchtodo

Lots of ideas to show them. It’s always better to let them have input into what we do!! Splashdown is closed for the winter which is a shame as it looks good.

What????? Closed for the winter. That's such a shame. It's so much fun there. I used to love going on the bit of the river rapids that went outside when it was freezing cold outside. Dancing Ledge was always a popular place to visit. Tyneham is quite interesting too. The village was abandoned during the war so it feels quite eerie there.

Monkey World and the Tank Museum are about 20 minutes from Dorchester

We have used ten ski slope at Warmwell as non residents recently

Its shut until Jan but I would email and ask
www.lymeregisfossilsforsale.co.uk/fossil-walks.html