[124], The two authorities came into existence on 1 April 2019, when Bournemouth and Poole merged with Christchurch, one of six second-tier districts previously governed by Dorset County Council, leaving the other five districts - Weymouth and Portland, West Dorset, North Dorset, Purbeck and East Dorset - to form a second UA. Popular towns in West Dorset include; Lyme Regis, Bridport, Charmouth, Portland and West Bay. [33] In 1686, at Charborough Park, a meeting took place to plot the downfall of James II of England. Three-quarters of its coastline is part of the Jurassic Coast Natural World Heritage Site due to its geological and palaeontologic significance. [166], As a largely rural county, Dorset has fewer major cultural institutions than larger or more densely populated areas. Disclaimer: Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information at the time of writing, It consists of the seaside resort of Bournemouth, the historic port and borough of Poole, the towns of Christchurch and Ferndown plus many surrounding villages. Check out our dorset england map selection for the very best in unique or custom, handmade pieces from our shops. In the north of the county, you will find acres upon acres of tranquil, unspoilt countryside as most of the area falls into a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty; it is easy to see how so many authors and artists were compelled to base their works on this region. The Romans conquered Dorset's indigenous Celtic tribe, and during the Early Middle Ages, the Saxons settled the area and made Dorset a shire in the 7th century. This is not just a map. It operates regularly between Bournemouth Rail Station, Sandbanks and Swanage. [153] Dorset's three ports, Poole, Weymouth and Portland, and the smaller harbours of Christchurch, Swanage, Lyme Regis, Wareham and West Bay generate a substantial amount of international trade and tourism. Dorset, along with the entire south-west, has higher winter temperatures, average 4.5 to 8.7 °C (40.1 to 47.7 °F), than the rest of the United Kingdom. [40][41], The Dorsetshire Regiment were the first British unit to face a gas attack during the First World War (1914–1918) and they sustained particularly heavy losses at the Battle of the Somme. [136], The marginal seat of South Dorset is represented by Richard Drax, who gained the seat from Labour representative, Jim Knight, in 2010. [69][70], Dorset has a number of limestone ridges which are mostly covered in either arable fields or calcareous grassland supporting sheep. [263] Bournemouth operates a two-tier system; Poole operates two and three-tier systems. [224], Two passenger sea ports and an international airport are situated in the county. [103] There are also substantial areas of green belt surrounding the South East Dorset conurbation, filling in the area between this and the Cranborne Chase and the West Wiltshire Downs AONB. Interestingly, West Dorset is where Britain’s only dinosaur bone was found. Hurn Forest Stroll is a 2.1 mile loop trail located near Christchurch, Dorset, England that features beautiful wild flowers and is good for all skill levels. [220] Additionally, the Heart of Wessex Line runs north from Weymouth to Bristol and the Swanage Railway, a heritage steam and diesel railway, runs the 10 kilometres (6 mi) between Norden and Swanage. [203] Originating from the ancient Norse and Saxon languages, the dialect was prevalent across the Blackmore Vale but has fallen into disuse. [268], Dorset contains a range of privately funded independent schools. Jurassic Safari. The county's coastline, on the English Channel, is noted for its watersports (particularly sailing, gig racing, windsurfing, power boating and kayaking) which take advantage of the sheltered waters in the bays of Weymouth and Poole, and the harbours of Poole and Portland. [15] However, by the end of the 7th century Dorset had fallen under Saxon control and been incorporated into the Kingdom of Wessex. [2][3] It is first mentioned in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle in AD 845 and in the 10th century the county's archaic name, Dorseteschyre (Dorsetshire), was first recorded. [50][51] The only major urban area is the South East Dorset conurbation, which is situated at the south-eastern end of the county and is atypical of the county as a whole. [20] The Normans consolidated their control over the area by constructing castles at Corfe, Wareham and Dorchester in the early part of the 12th century. [21] Over the next 200 years Dorset's population grew substantially and additional land was enclosed for farming to provide the extra food required. [73][74] The Blackmore Vale is composed of older Jurassic deposits, largely clays interspersed with limestones,[70] and has traditionally been a centre for dairy agriculture. [118] Around 95.2% of Dorset's population are of white ethnicity, 60.9% of the population are Christian and 28.5% say they are not religious. [210][211] Children’s author Enid Blyton drew inspiration for many of her works from Dorset. Get directions, maps, and traffic for Dorset, ON. [213][214], Dorset's flag, which is known as the Dorset Cross or St Wite's Cross, was adopted in 2008 following a public competition organised by Dorset County Council. [184], Dorset hosts a number of annual festivals, fairs and events including the Great Dorset Steam Fair near Blandford, one of the largest events of its kind in Europe,[185] and the Bournemouth Air Festival, a free air show that attracted 1.3 million visitors in 2009. [29][31] The Duke of Monmouth's unsuccessful attempt to overthrow James II began when he landed at Lyme Regis in 1685. [78] In the far west of the county and along the coast there are frequent changes in rock strata, which appear in a less obviously sequential way compared to the landscapes of the chalk and the heath. Dorset Tourism: Tripadvisor has 932,621 reviews of Dorset Hotels, Attractions, and Restaurants making it your best Dorset resource. There are plenty of different Christmas markets and events across the county and we have listed a few of our favourites below. Dorset is in the South West of England on the English Channel coast and borders the four counties of Dorset, Somerset, Wiltshire and Hampshire. [137][138][133] The Mid Dorset and North Poole constituency has been represented by the Conservative MP, Michael Tomlinson since 2015. The venue was completed in May 2009 and was used by international sailing teams in preparation for the Games. When on holiday in West Dorset, you will be treated to picturesque villages and great attractions including the Abbotsbury Sub-Tropical Gardens, Swannery and Children’s Farm. The Dorset map above will help you to picture your perfect holiday in Dorset. Cattle and pig farming has declined similarly; during the same period the number of cattle fell from 240,413 to 170,700, and pigs from 169,636 to 72,700. [23] However, Dorset was devastated by the bubonic plague in 1348 which arrived in Melcombe Regis on a ship from Gascony. The ceremonial county comprises the unitary authority areas of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole and Dorset. [75] South-east Dorset, including the lower Frome valley and around Poole and Bournemouth, comprises younger Eocene deposits,[70] mainly sands and clays of poor agricultural quality. Interactive map of Dorset Joe 02 June 2018 Dorset is a beautiful county, featuring a mix of coastal and rural locations, found in the South West of England on the English Channel coast. The historic town of Dorchester, in the south, is the county seat. The World’s largest gravesite collection. [253] St Candida and Holy Cross at Whitchurch Canonicorum is the only church in the country, besides Westminster Abbey, to have a shrine that contains the relics of a saint. [156], Tourism has grown in Dorset since the late 18th century and is now the predominant industry. Dorset has ports at Poole, Weymouth and Portland, and an international airport near Bournemouth. [172] The Tank Museum at Bovington contains more than 300 tanks and armoured vehicles from 30 nations. [108] Average annual rainfall varies across the county—southern and eastern coastal areas receive 700–800 mm (28–31 in) per year; the Dorset Downs receive between 1,000 and 1,250 mm (39–49 in) per year; less than Devon and Cornwall to the west but more than counties to the east. Dorset, administrative, geographic, and historic county of southwestern England. [167] One of Dorset's most noted cultural institutions is the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra which was founded in 1893. Our list contains blockbusters, forgotten gems, and cult classics. View a graphic index of sheets for Dorset; View a georeferenced layer (1900-1) of sheets for Dorset [105] However, Dorset maintains higher summer temperatures than Devon and Cornwall, with average highs of 19.1 to 22.2 °C (66.4 to 72.0 °F). [144] The average GVA for the 16 regions of South West England was £4,693 million. [193][194][195], Dorset's only professional football club is A.F.C. [255] The Reformation and the political and religious turmoil that ensued largely checked the building of new churches until the turn of the 18th century. Dorset shares its four borders with the counties of Devon which is to the west, Somerset to the north-west, Wiltshire to the north-east, and Hampshire to the east. [57][58] Blandford Forum, Sherborne, Gillingham, Shaftesbury and Sturminster Newton are historic market towns which serve the farms and villages of the Blackmore Vale in north Dorset. [160] A survey carried out in 1997 concluded that the primary reason tourists were drawn to Dorset was the attractiveness of the county's coast and countryside. The final major work of Edward Schroeder Prior, it is one of the last examples of the Neo Byzantine style. [157] It is estimated that 37,500 people work in Dorset's tourism sector. [88] Much of the county drains into three rivers, the Frome, Piddle and Stour which all flow to the sea in a south-easterly direction. [139], In the 2019 general election, the Conservatives held all eight constituencies in Dorset. [237] A small section to the west comes under the Diocese of Bath and Wells and to the east Christchurch and much of Bournemouth—both historically part of Hampshire—belong to the Diocese of Winchester. The trail is primarily used for walking and nature … Dorset County Council was first formed in 1888 by an act of government to govern the newly created administrative county of Dorset which had been based largely on the historic county borders. [249] Founded in AD 705 by Aldhelm, the Abbey contained the chair of the Bishop of Sherborne and was granted cathedral status until 1075 when the diocese was transferred to Old Sarum. [258] From the late 18th century onwards, churches in Dorset tended towards a Gothic Revival style. 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