Dorset for a week then Bristol for a couple of nights

[soupmaker]

That's a week self catering just outside Poole booked for our summer holiday. We like outdoors, walking, cycling, swimming. We'll have two teens with us, who enjoy outdoors too, especially being in or on water. We will have a car.

So, must dos? Places to eat? Things off the beaten track?

Then thinking a city break in Bristol on the way home. Is there enough to entertain us for 3 days. What do you recommend?

Loads in Bristol- suspension bridge, camera obscure, SS Great Britain, art gallery, museums, the Downs, Clifton...

Dorset - if the weather's good, toilu can just be outside. Harbour tour, Brownsea Island, over to Studland, Swanage, Kimmeridge, Tyneham (check the ranges are open), Lulworth, Durdle Dor, Corfe Castle. Blue Pool. Poole museum is nice. Bovington Tank Museum, Monkey World. Wimborne has the Minster and its clock. Dorchester has the County Museum, Shire Hall Museum, Maiden Castle, Maumbury Rings, Roman Town House, the Keep Museum. Weymouth has the beach and the Tudor House, the old harbour, Northern Fort, Sandsfoot Castle. Portland.

Depends a bit what you want and what the weather's like.

I'd say Bath is nicer for the 3 day break. You could do a daytrip to Bristol from there too.

Wake The Tiger in Bristol would be great for your teens. There are also loads of climbing centres if they are into that sort of thing. Agree with @Lindy2 that Bath is gorgeous. The Roman Baths are amazing but £££.

I’d definitely recommend a trip to Brownsea Island for some lovely walks and to see red squirrels.
Splashdown water park is pretty good.
Studland Watersports has lots on offer - kayaks, SUPs, RIB rides etc…

DH suggested a day trip to Bath from Bristol. I've been to Bristol with work and thought it'd be more hip and happening for the teens than Bath.

Brilliant, lots of great suggestions. We will definitely do Durdle Door, Brownsea Island and fancy doing the boat from Sandbanks over to Studland for a beach day. If the weather is good should be easy to entertain ourselves.

Wake the Tiger is right up our street. Looks great.

It's a chain ferry between Studland and Sandbanks rather than a boat, not that that's really relevant.

Look up a walk to Dancing Ledge for a swim (check tide times) and drop by the Square and Compass in Worth Matravers afterwards.

I would also second visiting Tyneham, and there is a beach (Worbarrow Bay) about 1/2 mile from the carpark afterwards, which is a lovely place to swim and be. Old Harry's Rocks is a nice easy walk.

Loads to do in Bristol.
If you're around in August, there's the balloon fiesta at Ashton Court (large former country estate owned by the council just across the suspension bridge on the Somerset side.). There's also a miniature railway that runs some weekends, a pitch and put, and mountain bike trails.
Go Banksy spotting.
Most summers theres a trail of art works to follow around the city. Last year it was unicorns painted by local artists.
In North Bristol there is Bristol Zoo, The Wave, Planet Ice, the Concorde Museum and shopping at The Mall.

@MrsMoastyToasty we'll be there before August. We'd have loved a hot air balloon festival.

Bump

I don’t know East Dorset very well and don’t know if you will come West. I actually really like Weymouth with its harbour and slightly faded seaside charm. It is a lot of fun. Bridport is great for a mooch and shopping in de decent local shops including greengrocers and decent bakeries. Very foody small town that feels real rather than a tourist enclave. 2 miles from West Bay which I also love, it is where broadchurch was filmed.

Do give feedback if you can as would love to move about East Dorset.

i lived in Bris for many years. Yes to the usual places listed already. Some other suggestions- i would avoid city centre hotels and look at an air b and b in a community so you get a real since of Bristol - Clifton / Redland etc , leafy and high end, decent but probably pricey shopping. Lovely to look at and good restaurants and bars.
Monpelier, Stokes Croft - grittier, lots of graffiti, good cafes and bars - young and vibrant but can be edgy.

middle ground - Bishopston, St Andrews, Ashley Down - not so posh as Clifton etc but leafy etc. Gloucester Road is fab for inde shops and awesome charity shopping - much more interesting place to shop and hang out than the centre.

You are likely to find inde cafes and bars galore and some great food, whereas the centre is likely to be chain. Few exceptions - St Nicks market on/ around Corn Street is fun with lots of small food outlets. I do like Park Street but hear it is gone downhill shopping wise.

Things to do - mooching and shopping in new neighbourhoods.
Walk along the harbour to Cumberland Basin - and take ferry back.
Bristol Museum - check out the taxidermy!