Activities

Gold Hill the quaint cobbled street in the Dorset town of Shaftesbury

Visit Stonehenge and Salisbury on the same day tour

Visit Salisbury Cathedral and Stonehenge on the same tour day

Visit The Roman Baths on your tour of Bath and the Southern Cotswolds

Site designed and built by Paul & Susy Wilson

Updated: 21 March 2008

Walking

In the county of Dorset where we are situated there are over 2500 miles of public footpaths and trails open to the public 365 days of the year. We can offer you a wide range of walks from beautiful green rolling countryside to cliffs and coast walks. Depending on your preference we can drop you at the start and pick you up at the other end of a walk or walk with you all the way. We also provide maps and mobile phones just in case you loose your way.

It really is a great way to see the countryside giving you the opportunity to “get local” and learn about the history, geology, agriculture, botany and bird life as you walk with your guide. Take a look at the Rural Dorset website and be inspired to pack your walking boots.

Cycling

For those of you that like to cycle while on vacation we have some great places for you to visit. Get away from the traffic and take in the beautiful scenery of the New Forest along the many forest tracks. Or, if you prefer your cycling on the flat we can take you to the Kennet and Avon canal towpath where you can cycle for miles without encountering a single hill! Other attractions of the tow path are the many pubs and tea-rooms along it’s banks where you can stop for refreshments and enjoy the slow pace of canal life.

See the links below for more details:

Cycling in the New Forest

Rural Dorset cycling

Kennet and Avon Canal cycleway and other routes around Bath

Bird Watching (Birding)

We have a wide diversity of habitats from sea cliffs, lowland marshes and wetland to dry heathland in our area that support an impressive range of birdlife. To find out more take a look at the links below.

RSPB reserves - Arne, Radipole Lake, Lodmoor Nature reserve,

West Sedgemoor

Brownsea Island Nature reserve

Durlston Country Park

Local places to watch birds

Steam Railways (full scale)

The following links will take you to the websites of steam railways in our area.

Swanage steam railway

West Somerset railway

Mid-Hampshire line (The Watercress Line)

Isle of Wight railway

East Somerset railway

Forest of Dean railway.

Narrow Gauge, small scale lines, tramlines and static steam engines

Moors Valley

Pecorama - home to the famous PECO model railway exhibition and the Beer Heights light railway

Exbury Gardens steam railway

Royal Victoria railway

Seaton Tramway

Crofton Beam Engine

Experience the thrill of riding in the surf along the Dorset coast

The beautiful Dorset countryside - perfect for walkers

Cycling only the many open tracks in Dorset

Wide variety of bird life to be found in the Dorset countryside

A wide variey of bird life to be found in Dorset

A train steams past Corfe castle on the Swaanage railway

ACTIVITIES

To compliment the wide variety of tours you have available when staying with us, we are also able to organise activities such as horse riding, walking, cycling and birdwatching. Also for those of you interested in Steam railways we have a number of very well run full sized and narrow gauge lines within easy reach of Church House.

Horse riding

Susy recommends riding at Studland Stables who offer riding in beautiful and varied countryside, including Dorset heathland, the cliff tops at Old Harry Rocks and on the sands of Studland beach. Good quality mounts with the option of English or Western style riding. Or try the all-day pub ride to Corfe Castle. A wonderful experience awaits you.