Moreton
Moreton is the little Dorset village with a big literary heritage. Writer and adventurer T.E. Lawrence - better known as Lawrence of Arabia - made nearby Clouds Hill his rural retreat and you can follow his footsteps through the region on the Lawrence of Arabia Trail. Cross the River Frome, through the Moreton Plantation, calling at Clouds Hill and the Bovington Tank Museum, before finishing in Moreton, where Lawrence found his final resting place at St Nicholas Church.
St Nicholas Church – image: Michael Garlick
St Nicholas Church itself is a highlight of not only Moreton itself, but of all the many attractions found in Dorset’s towns and villages. The church was almost entirely destroyed after a direct hit from a German bomb in 1940. Its reconstruction saw the original stained glass replaced with plain glass, with artist and poet Lawrence Whistler commissioned to design and engrave the 13 windows in 1955. His final window, the ‘Judas’ window, was considered so controversial that it was not installed until 2014.
The Walled Garden is just behind the church, home to five acres of pretty Georgian and Victorian inspired landscaping. Its Dovecote Cafe is the perfect place to refuel with a hearty brunch or afternoon tea.
- • Distance from Silverlake: 3 miles
- • Must-dos in Moreton: Lawrence of Arabia Trail, St Nicholas Church, The Walled Garden and Dovecote Café
Puddletown
The name ‘Puddletown’ could have come straight from a storybook and as one of the quaintest towns and villages to visit in Dorset, it certainly looks the part.
Puddletown has a suitably storied past as the birthplace of Thomas Hardy and features heavily in his novels, including Far from the Madding Crowd. The Hardy Way extends his birthplace, Hardy’s Cottage in nearby Puddletown Forest, through to his one-time home at Max Gate on the outskirts of Dorchester.
Puddletown Forest in autumn. Image: Mark Simons
Langham Wine Estate is just a cork’s pop from Puddletown and is one of the best days out near Silverlake. Famous for producing some of the finest English sparkling wines, Langham was recently recognised as one of the top wineries in the country. Tours of the 34-hectare vineyard and winery make for a great day out, especially when combined with lunch at the Vineyard Cafe. Tuck into the set menu or order a table full of small plates to share.
- • Distance from Silverlake: 5 miles
- • Must-dos in Puddletown: The Hardy Way, Langham Wine Estate
Osmington
Osmington is one of the prettiest seaside villages in Dorset. The hamlet sits on a particularly rugged stretch of shoreline, and while swimming isn’t encouraged, the great Jurassic Coast tradition of fossil hunting is. Boulders along the beach at Osmington Mills are studded with fossils, dating back millions of years. It is an important geological site and a great place to get the kids excited about our prehistoric past.
The Smuggler’s Inn. Image credit: Andrew
With beautiful Dorset villages come cosy country pubs and Osmington’s Smugglers Inn is one of the most charming and historic. The thatched roof pub sits on a clifftop above the beach below, with views extending out across the English Channel from its terrace. Smuggling was once rife along Dorset’s wild coastline, with wine, brandy and lace bypassing customs on its way into the country from France. Many of the wares ended up at the Smugglers Inn, but today you are far more likely to find an exceptional Sunday lunch than contraband.
- • Distance from Silverlake: 5.5 miles
- • Must-dos in Osmington: Fossil hunting at Osmington Mills, Sunday lunch at the Smugglers Inn
Dorchester
Dorchester is one of the larger market towns in Dorset and its array of museums make it a fun day out from Silverlake whatever the weather. From teddy bears to Tutankhamun and the Terracotta Warriors, Dorchester’s many museums appeal to a whole spectrum of interests.
Its shopping is equally varied, ranging from tiny antiques emporiums and a weekly Dorchester Country Market, to Brewery Square, a landmark new shopping and dining quarter where high street names rub shoulders with local independents.
Brewery Square. Image: Dorset Council
As one of the prettiest towns in Dorset, Dorchester attracted the gaze of many bygone civilisations. Amongst them were the Romans, who coined the town Durnovaria and left their mark. Walk in their footsteps on original Roman mosaics at Dorset Museum or visit the only fully exposed Roman Town House in the country, just a few minutes’ walk from the town centre.
- • Distance from Silverlake: 6 miles
- • Must-dos in Dorchester: The Teddy Museum, Terracotta Warriors Museum, Brewery Square, Roman Town House
Weymouth
Weymouth is the quintessential British seaside town and its golden beach is still home to some of the best traditional seafront attractions of years gone by. Ride the helter skelter or embrace the vintage humour at one of the last Punch and Judy puppet shows in the country. The beach’s clear and calm seas make it popular with families, while the quieter Greenhill end has rocks perfect for crabbing and is a quieter spot during the busy summer season.
Weymouth Harbour at sunset. Image: Richard Murgatroyd
As one of the busiest coastal towns in Dorset, a host of activity is centred around Weymouth’s pretty pastel harbour. Eat grilled lobster or seafood chowder from the Hatch on the Harbour as you watch yachts, tall ships and fishing boats jostle for space in the water.
If you are planning to walk some of the South West Coast Path during your time in Dorset, the stretch between Weymouth and Durdle Door is a must. The four-hour route passes through charming Ringstead Bay and ends at Lulworth beach, where you can reward yourself with a pint at the gorgeous thatched Castle Inn pub.
- • Distance from Silverlake: 10 miles
- • Must-dos in Weymouth: Weymouth Beach, Weymouth Harbour, Weymouth to Durdle Door coastal walk
West Lulworth
West Lulworth epitomises the Dorset villages you see in postcards - all thatched cottages and dramatic coastal backdrops. Its star attraction is Lulworth Cove, the poster image of Dorset and the Jurassic Coast with its crescent of glassy blue waters and iconic limestone arches. One of the best ways to explore the impressive stretch of coastline is by paddleboard. Beginners can meander around Lulworth Cove itself, while the more experienced can take on the 5km loop to Durdle Door and back to the cove, filling up on ice creams at The Boat Shed café afterwards.
Lulworth Cove. Image: Visit Dorset
West Lulworth has its share of lesser-known treasures for those willing to wander past the tourist trails. Stair Hole and its layers of crumpled limestone is a sight to behold when the waves are crashing dramatically below, while Fossil Forest lends a fascinating insight into Dorset’s prehistoric past on a trail of ancient petrified tree stumps.
- • Distance from Silverlake: 10 miles
- • Must-dos in West Lulworth: Paddleboard from Lulworth Cove to Durdle Door, Stair Hole, Fossil Forest, The Boat Shed Café
Cerne Abbas
Cerne Abbas is one of the must-visit villages in Dorset, not least because it is home to the famous Cerne Abbas Giant. The origins of the chalk figure carved into the hillside have been a mystery for centuries, with some theories suggesting it dates back to prehistoric times and others claiming it to be a Pagan fertility symbol or a depiction of Hercules. Whatever its backstory, the 180ft giant on the hillside is a must-see during your time at Silverlake.
The Cerne Abbas Giant. Image: Pete Harlow
Like many Dorset towns and villages, Cerne Abbas has an interesting past. The village originally radiated outwards around Cerne Abbey, a Benedictine monastery whose remains can still be seen today. While the abbey itself was all but lost to the dissolution of the monasteries in the 16th century, the village continued to thrive, in part thanks to beer! The geology of Cerne Abbas cultivates water ideal for beer making and the village once exported its boozy wares as far as New York. Fast forward to 2016 and the Cerne Abbas Brewery is marking a return to the village’s beer brewing heritage. A visit to their taproom in the Cerne Valley is a must for craft beer enthusiasts.
- • Distance from Silverlake: 14 miles
- • Must-dos in Cerne Abbas: Cerne Abbas Giant, Cerne Abbey, Cerne Abbas Brewery
Abbotsbury
Abbotsbury isn’t only one of the prettiest villages in Dorset but also the only place in the world where you can walk through a colony of 600 free-flying mute swans. A visit to the wildlife sanctuary is a magical experience, offering the chance to hand-feed the herd and to watch as sweet grey cygnets hatch in cygnet season. Visit the swannery early in the morning to avoid the crowds and watch the swans as they wake for the day.
Image: Alison Day
The walk to Abbotsbury Hill viewpoint is more of a hike than a leisurely amble, but make it to the top and you will be rewarded with views to Chesil Beach and over the Fleet, the UK’s largest saltwater lagoon. Equally as captivating are those from St Catherine’s Chapel, a storied 14th-century chapel gazing out over the Dorset countryside and coast.
- • Distance from Silverlake: 15 miles
- • Must-dos in Abbotsbury: Abbotsbury Swannery, Abbotsbury Hill Viewpoint, St Catherine’s Chapel
Corfe Castle
With its grey Purbeck limestone houses and cobblestone streets, Corfe Castle village is one of most ancient Dorset villages. Its skyline is dominated by Corfe Castle, standing guard at the gateway to Dorset as it has done for more than a thousand years. Cross the bridge to the castle ruins, seeking out its eerie ‘murder holes’ and taking in panoramic views across the Purbeck Hills. The National Trust-owned castle is one of the best dog-friendly attractions near Silverlake.
Image: Richard Murgatroyd
The Swanage Railway is another popular dog-friendly day out in Dorset. Hop aboard one of the beautifully restored heritage steam trains and embark on a scenic jaunt through the Purbeck countryside. The journey can also be combined with a ‘Seatrain Adventure’ sailing around the eastern tip of the Jurassic Coast.
If it’s the kids that need to let off some steam, head for Dorset Adventure Park. Set in 18 acres of woodland, with Corfe Castle in the background, the attraction features an obstacle-packed Mud Trail and a huge Woodland Waterpark spread across two lakes.
- • Distance from Silverlake: 16 miles
- • Must-dos in Corfe Castle: Corfe Castle ruins, Swanage Railway, Dorset Adventure Park
Burton Bradstock
Burton Bradstock is an example of Dorset seaside villages at their most charming. Tucked at the western edge of Chesil Beach - widely renowned as one of the best beaches in Dorset and backed by the largest lagoon in Britain - Burton Bradstock was a fishing village in years gone by and has held onto its quaint character.
Image: Visit Dorset
Days out in Burton Bradstock tend to take on a slower pace, alternating between coastal walks and tucking into seafood caught fresh on the Jurassic Coast that morning. The village is a short stroll from Hive Beach, where golden sand dramatically meets sky-reaching sandstone cliffs and where the famed Hive Beach Café serves up crab sandwiches that are the stuff of local legend.
The achingly pretty Three Horseshoes is another tasty post-walk option, its award-winning food as delicious as the thatched pub is charming. On a bitterly cold winter’s day, there is quite simply nowhere cosier to hideaway for the afternoon, before making the scenic drive back to Silverlake for a film night with the family.
- • Distance from Silverlake: 21 miles
- • Must-dos in Burton Bradstock: Chesil Beach, Hive Beach, Hive Beach Cafe, The Three Horseshoes
Discover the best of Dorset from Silverlake
Silverlake puts Dorset on your doorstep and owning a holiday home here means you can spend more time really getting to know some of the best Dorset seaside towns and most beautiful Dorset villages.
Wake up in your architect-designed holiday home and enjoy leisurely days exploring the region without a time limit, returning to the purpose-built Silverlake estate for an early evening dip in the heated infinity pool and dinner with a view at the Hurricane Terrace and Bar.
And on those days when you’re just too tired to venture far, Silverlake offers plenty for all the family to see and do without leaving the estate.
Discover more about owning a property at Silverlake and make Dorset your home away from home on the Jurassic Coast.