Blimey, thanks for all the repliers thus far. Much appreciated.
Our summer hols month is july (not august) so we’ll probably be over mid to late July.
@ Adam: yeah I know what you’re saying, we’ve had way more joy on this side of the water …but short of moving back to the UK (fuck that) it’s important to us that they spend a bit more time in the UK to get a feel for their roots. Not that I have roots in Dorset, but you know what I mean
We’ve previoulsy done some home exchanges, but our new place is both recently rennovated and apparently rather partial to scuffs and knocks, so we’re a bit nervous about exchaning it
Thanks for the all the cottage suggestions. we previoulsy had a Sykes in N Yorks. Decent and bloody expensive (though by summer 19 I reckon the exchange rate will be one pound to a mouldy baking potato, so that isn’t the biggest factor
Anyone have some ideas for Devon or New Forest - i.e something either side of Dorset? I used to have some family hols in Torbay but i have no idea what it is like these days
I don’t remember much about them but I believe a good time was had. A couple of things to watch out for:
You might want to let it ‘air’ for a while, depending on who the previous occupants have been.
Don’t leave valuables lying around outside. The local kids operate a distraction racket at the end of which you could be up the creek without a paddle.
Bovington Tank museum is great, make sure you hit the outdoor display - BOOK online to avoid the long queues (you can do this whilst in the queue if you forget!!)
Monkey World is fantastic - actually not a tourist trap, proper specialist centre, good talks by staff
Beaulieu is excellent
New Forest is really only camping for accom limited, traffic can be crap (esp around Brockenhurst in season)
a wacky one? Solent Sky in Southampton, run by very knowledgeable volunteers
otherwise not Dorset;
Wye valley is lovely and quite a well kept secret
we went lama walking !
also the The Moody Cow pub serves the best sunday lunch ever, but at a price
Durdle Door & Lulworth Cove are worth a look. Corfe Castle & Swanage for the steam railway. The Square & Compass at Worth Matravers for weird. Tyneham (abandoned village).
