Corfe Castle is the latest place to get the Google Streetview treatment! Google have included the historic site on their controversial streetview mode. Users can explore the castle in a virtual world made from a patchwork of photos taken of the site.
We embedded the streetview map on our site - see Corfe Castle streetview.
The Dorset coastline
On this coast are the major resorts of Christchurch; Bournemouth; Poole; Swanage; Weymouth; Lyme Regis; together with a number of smaller towns. In 2001 the coastline stretching from Poole Harbour, one of the world's largest natural harbours, to the East Devon resort of Exmouth was designated the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
Inland Dorset
Inland there are many other interesting towns to visit such as the county town of Dorchester; Blandford Forum; Bridport; Shaftesbury; Sherborne; Wareham; Wimborne Minster, whilst Dorset also has many unspoilt rural villages and magnificent countryside.
Dorset transport links
Dorset enjoys good road and rail connections to the rest of the country, and Poole and Weymouth are ferry terminals for journeys to France and the Channel Isles. Dorset can also be reached by air from Dublin, Edinburgh and Glasgow. Ryanair operate services from these cities to Bournemouth International Airport. Dorset has a wide range of hotels, family bed and breakfast accommodation, or cosy country cottages. There are also a number of holiday centres for camping and caravanning enthusiasts.
Dorset's night life
The main towns of Bournemouth and Poole are a hive of night-time activity. Poole Arts Centre is the home of the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. Theatres include the Pavilion and Pier in Bournemouth, the Pavilion in Weymouth, the Regent Centre in Christchurch and the Tivoli in Wimborne. In addition the Bournemouth International Centre is one of England's leading venues for appearances by international stars, and conferences and exhibitions.
Dorset culture, museums & gardens
There is much more to see and do for the visitor and resident alike, including animal parks; museums, country houses, gardens and castles; sporting activities; spectacular air festival, trips in a hot air balloon.
Dorset is home to Monkey World near Wool, where visitors can see more than 240 primates of 15 different species; the Sea Life Centre at Weymouth; the Oceanarium in Bournemouth, RSPB reserves at Weymouth, Arne near Wareham, Garton Wood near Shaftesbury; Dorset has many country houses, museums and other historic sites to visit. Kingston Lacy near Wimborne is run by the National Trust, as is both Hardy's Cottage (the birthplace of the author) and Max Gate (the author's later home) near Dorchester. The world's leading Military Tank Museum at Bovington, the Russell Cotes Museum and Art Gallery in Bournemouth. the Dorset County Museum in Dorchester, are some of the better known examples. Compton Acres and Upton Country Park, both close to Poole, are well worth a visit.
Famous Dorset
It's this county which was home to authors such as Jane Austen, William Barnes, and Thomas Hardy. The latter, probably Dorset's most famous son, immortalized the County town of Dorchester as 'Casterbridge'. His novels still attract thousands of visitors each year keen to see the real life settings for many of his novels including The Mayor of Casterbridge.
Dorset leisure
Dorset boasts several new leisure centres, and two dry-ski slopes. Sporting activity is available everywhere including sailing, diving and wind-surfing, golf, cricket, soccer, tennis, bowls, rugby and fishing, to name a few. More informal leisure pursuits which take advantage of the scenery are walking, horse-riding and rambling. Poole Harbour, where the sheltered and shallow waters provide a perfect location for making your first attempts at water sports, will be home for Animal Windfest, the premier UK wind and kite surfing championship in 2009.
2012 Olympics in Dorset
The London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Sailing events will be hosted at the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy (WPNSA), and the adjoining Portland Marina, which offers world-class facilities and some of the best small boat sailing conditions in the world.
Sailing will be a non-ticketed event - spectators are free to watch from the shore outside the marina, or from any point along the coastline.
Bournemouth air show
From 20th - 23rd August 2009, Bournemouth will be the venue for Britain's largest free summer event - the "More Bus" Bournemouth Air Festival. This will bring four days of spectacular air displays including the Red Arrows, along side the RAF Falcons, the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight of the Lancaster, Hurricane and Spitfire and the Typhoon.
Bournemouth Eye Baloon
The Bournemouth Eye Balloon rises 500 feet above the beautiful Lower Gardens where riders will be amazed at the spectacular views of the English Channel and surrounding area for up to 20 miles from the highest public observation point in Bournemouth.
Finally for those of you with left over Euros, head for Bournemouth and Poole where many businesses across the towns will now accept the European currency.
Transport links between France and Dorset are served by Ryanair who operate 4 routes between French airports and Bournemouth International Airport, Brittany Ferries who sail between Cherbourg and Poole, and Condor Ferries who sail from St. Malo to Poole and Weymouth.
Other convenient travel options from France to Dorset include Southampton Airport (50 Kilometres) and Portsmouth Ferry Port (80 kilometres).