Dorset is one of England's most beautiful counties — mostly rural, with rolling chalk downs, wide clay valleys full of small dairy farms, and a coastline that is genuinely spectacular. The Jurassic Coast, a 95-mile stretch of cliffs and beaches from Studland to Lyme Regis, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the finest geological exposures in the world. Fossils tumble out of the cliffs after every winter storm.
The county's towns are a mixed bag. Bournemouth and Poole are busy seaside resorts with good beaches. Dorchester, the county town, has a quiet Georgian centre and strong Thomas Hardy connections — Hardy's cottage at Higher Bockhampton and his house Max Gate are both open to visitors. Weymouth has a fine harbour and a sand beach. Lyme Regis, Swanage, and Corfe Castle are smaller and more atmospheric.
Inland, the landscape is deeply rural and very English: hedgerows, stone villages, thatched cottages, and narrow lanes. The Purbeck Hills, Cranborne Chase, and the Blackmore Vale are all excellent walking country.
