Welcome To the e-travelguide to Hotels, guest houses and attractions in Dorset

Make the most of your time in Dorset, use the information provided on this web site by clicking on the links above to plan your visit.

Dorset is a county on the South Coast of England, and shares borders with Devon, Somerset, Wiltshire and Hampshire. It is a rural, picturesque county with rolling green hills and pretty market towns, and is also blessed with beautiful, unspoilt coastline. These qualities, allied with a delightfully laid-back pace of life, a host of top attractions, a selection of first-rate hotels, and many excellent restaurants and country inns, make Dorset a popular destination.

Evidence of habitation of Dorset in the Mesolithic period has been uncovered, and many artefacts have been found in the region dating from the Bronze Age, but it was the Romans who established civilisation in the county. Dorchester – Durnovaria – was established early in the occupation of the British Isles, the Romans having landed, according to some historians, at nearby Poole Harbour. After the Romans were overrun by the Saxons, Dorset became part of the Kingdom of Wessex; the first recorded use of the name Dorset – Dorseteschire – was made in AD940. Dorset’s history from the Norman Conquest onwards became increasingly turbulent, and the many strongholds that were built in the county in this period, such as at Corfe and Sherborne, are evidence of the need to fortify the area. Corfe Castle was largely ruined by Parliamentarian forces during the English Civil War, and is one of many ruins in the county.

Dorset’s scenery is pleasing and varied, with beautiful downland and rolling hills interspersed with meandering rivers and picturesque vales and plains. Dorset’s coastline however is perhaps the jewel in the crown; much of The Jurassic Coast has been declared a World Heritage Site in recognition of its great scientific importance and splendid beauty, and the unique and sometimes bizarre landforms along its length are a real joy – secluded coves, arches and of course the many wonderful beaches make the Dorset coast a popular place to visit. Dorset also has more than its share of seaside resorts; such was the regions popularity during the Victorian era that resorts such as Bournemouth, Lyme Regis, Weymouth and Swanage sprung up with typically ornate architecture. Dorset, the county and the coast, are still a remarkably popular holiday destination today.

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