Summer in Dorchester
Friday, August 5th, 2011With the school holidays in full swing and the glorious summer weather finally making an appearance, you’re probably wracking your brains for enough different fun and outdoorsy things to do to keep the young’uns entertained for the next 7 weeks.
To give you a hand, over the next few weeks on the DBID blog we’ll be talking about some of our favourite places, events and activities around Dorchester that you and the family might enjoy this summer. Here’s a few ideas to kick off with this week…
Borough Gardens
The Borough Gardens have been a popular summer hangout since the Victorian era, and it’s still a fantastic place to go for a picnic on a warm sunny day. You can read or sunbathe on the grass and let the kids run off and play, meaning you get time to relax while the kids go and tire themselves out!
The gardens often play host to special events, such as the All Day Gymathon sponsored by British Heart Foundation on 14th August. Go down and cheer on the cyclists – they’re going to need all the encouragement they can get!
Ratty’s Trail
Ratty’s Trail was created in 2005 to encourage people to explore the Dorset countryside and discover the incredible range of wildlife that lives in it, including the elusive water vole.
The trail begins in Dorchester by the County Hall and takes you out into the surrounding countryside following the River Frome, before leading you back into Dorchester where you started. For the full route, you can downlaod a print a PDF here.
Ratty’s Trail is a leisurely way to spend an afternoon, and there are plenty of benches along the route, enabling to sit down and enjoy the wildlife and country surroundings before heading back into the town.
Dorchester Market
Always popular, always buzzing, the market is one of the most famous attractions in Dorchester, and runs every Wednesday opposite the Brewery Square development. With locally grown fresh produce, bric-a-brac, and lots of sweets, toys and puzzles to get the youngsters excited, it’s a great way to pass a morning in town, but be aware it can get quite crowded at times!
