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UK travel

Welcome to our UK travel forum where you can get advice on everything from holidays to exotic destinations, to tips on London travel.

Original poster

weymouth or Swanage ? Or anywhere else by sea in dorset for that matter...

33 replies

louise66 · 08/02/2009 21:05

We are hoping to visit Dorset at end Aug/ 1st wk sept. I felt weymouth to be best family option with so much to do but am finding it very hard to locate any reasonably priced accommodation there that's not already booked up. Just wondered what Swanage was like or any other similar places. Thanks in desperation, louise

OP posts:
twinsetandpearls · 08/02/2009 21:06

We love swanage, I would choose it over Weymouth which you can always visit.

ChippyMinton · 08/02/2009 21:10

Swanage is lovely, but much smaller than Weymouth. But you can easily reach Bournemouth/Poole if you want more stuff to do.

What sort of accommodation are you looking for?

Original poster
louise66 · 08/02/2009 21:21

self catering cottagey type thing but am a bit picky regarding decor!! DS's school doesn't go back till sept 7th so we thought we were onto a winner...

OP posts:
MaplePecanPlait · 08/02/2009 21:21

Studland

twinsetandpearls · 08/02/2009 21:23

Beaches at studland are amongst our favourite we also love Lulworth.

BlueCowBackToWondering · 08/02/2009 21:26

lovely! We went to Swanage every year for at least 10 years as children. The most child friendly beach you could have!

Wrestlingwithadilemma · 08/02/2009 21:26

Swanage is lovely. Weymouth has its charms, but is a bit more faded in the manner of many British coastal resorts, alas.

slayerette · 08/02/2009 21:27

I have just booked a lovely looking campsite near Weymouth for £129 for the first week in August - if the credit crunch really starts to bite, there's always camping!

slayerette · 08/02/2009 21:29

We camped near Swanage last year - it was lovely.

ChippyMinton · 08/02/2009 21:32

Lyme Regis?

MaryMotherOfCheeses · 08/02/2009 21:34

Weymouth smells of chips.

(Sorry, it had to be said...)

ChippyMinton · 08/02/2009 21:34

But Swanage has a fabulous chippy

duckyfuzz · 08/02/2009 21:36

we camped near weymouth a couple of years ago and DTs still talk about the holiday - it was v simple, beach fun, day trips, ice creams etc, lovely (weymouth is not my cup of tea tbh, but the beach is v child friendly, if a little scary!)

IlanaK · 08/02/2009 21:36

We went to Weymouth last year and loved it. There was so much to do and we had no car (took the train from London) and could walk everywhere. We stayed in a nice place: www.baylodge.co.uk/ It was a bit out of date (the decor)in that flowery sort of way but a nice standard and very clean. Good location too.

BexieID · 08/02/2009 21:37

We spent a few wet and windy hours in Swansea last August. We had come off the train and had a wee walk along the coast. I'm pretty sure we spent the day there as a child. I plan to spend a day in Weymouth this year, as it has a sea life centre there. Portland is nice, spent the day there summer 07.

twinsetandpearls · 08/02/2009 21:37

Was it at Fleet ducky? We camped there last year quite late on - October I think and it was lovely.

slayerette · 08/02/2009 21:57

Twinset, our campsite is at Fleet. Glad you can recommend the area. What was the name of your site?

twinsetandpearls · 08/02/2009 22:01

sea barn farm

duckyfuzz · 08/02/2009 22:05

yes east fleet farm, lovely site but a bit too noisy for my liking, we got the bus from there to the beach most days, simple pleasures, great fun

slayerette · 08/02/2009 22:07

That's where we've booked! It looks gorgeous on the website - nice to know you enjoyed it.

twinsetandpearls · 08/02/2009 22:10

The bathrooms are the best we have ever seen on a campsite and the walking was fantastic. I thought you meant you owned a campsite at fleet.

duckyfuzz · 08/02/2009 22:10

slayerette it is a fab site, great showers etc well stocked shop and on site pub doing reasonable typical pub grub, because of this its v popular, therefore not the quietest site I've been to!

slayerette · 09/02/2009 17:10

Good to know it's a great site. Bit of a shame about the noise potential but hey! - I have earplugs and I intend to use them!

Notquitegrownup · 09/02/2009 17:13

Another vote for Swanage here too - it has everything Weymouth has (except for the aquarium) but is smaller. Lots of places around to visit, especially if the weather is good.

slayerette · 09/02/2009 19:02

Lovely chocolate shop in Swanage...