Hooray - we 've finally booked a holiday in Dorset - suggestions of where to go?

[extremelychocolateymilkroll]

We've finally booked a week in Frome St Quintin from 9 May. Any suggestions where to go - we have a 20 month old dd - and what to do - gratefully received.

not monkey world
it is hell on earth

Lulworth castle is nice

Thanks - will avoid monkey world. Any suggestions as to where to eat?

The train line near Corfe castle (and the castle too) was fun. Near Swanage. I was on a Hen Weekend so wasn't really looking for kiddy things. Nice restaurant in Swanage (looked like tea room, but was quite posh inside) but can't remember the name, sorry. Good fish and chips too.

Thanks mumofmanyboys.

I've just come back from camping near Swanage, and I'd recommend walking along the coastal path around there, absolutely beautiful, loads of coves and bays and cliffs, dancing ledge is lovely, and there are caves to explore too. Hmmm, actually, witha 20 month old it might be a treck unless you have a backpack carrier type thing?

Corfe castle is spectacular.

Thanks overmydeadbody. I have posted another thread but as you're all so helpful - any suggestions for a cottage with a seaview ideally for a long weekend at the end of May? All the cottages I've found seem only to be available for a week at a time.

Places I take my kids are:

Swanage/Studland beach
Swanage steam railway
Blue Pool
Moreton, Laurence of Arabia buried there but little tea room and river shallow for pond dipping
Portland for walks/crabbing, can't go up lighthouse as too young

Thanks saggy - you're all really whetting my appetite.

agree with corfe castle and lulworth. Also worht a visit is studland and take the boat over to brownsea island too! Avoid Durdle door with toddlers, too dangerous on the cliff path

Corfe Castle-have spent 2 wks here myself on & off with & without child, over the last 15 yrs!! Train from Corfe to Swanage is nice. If you like boat trip, highly recommend-can't remember the name of the boat we took-but will post once DH has put DD to bed! We've always seen the land FROM the land (IYKWIM!!) So we took this trip and it was excellent, DD was 2yrs 9 mths-highly recommend warm clothing, even in June!! Blue pool. www.putlakeadventurefarm.com
We found Monkey World OK, but DD still a bit small for the bigger climbing spider web things!! She was desperate to go on them, but not on her own, and once she was up, she wanted to go back down, and not via the slide!! At Kimmeride Bay there's a marine world, but it is VERY small, nice beach to fossil hunt, but not much else to do, and you have to pay as access is via a toll road. Nice sandy beach, go to studland bay. very shallow water for a godd 300 yards!! swam with fish (not dd-me and DH). Dorchester's nice. (I've just realised that you're about 25 miles from the area I'm talking about!!) I can't advise on anywhere further west. Let me know if you do want any other info round here.

Which end of Dorset is Frome St Quintin?

We went to the Lyme Regis end last year - a toddler would enjoy the Donkey Sanctuary near Beer.

Lymebayholidays do short breaks, as do cottages4you.