My favourite Dorset beach days out

In this month’s article I will be covering some favourite tourist places to visit this summer in the Blackmore Vale. Whether you’re disabled or not, these places will be worth checking out.

Durdle Door

Durdle Door is a fantastic place to visit – it’s the ‘poster child’ of Dorset for good reason. As part of the Jurassic Coast it has some stunning views so be sure to have your camera ready! It has a beautiful beach so a perfect place to go on a nice sunny day. Cost for parking is £12 all day for a car, and be aware that there is a 900m steep walk down to the cove from the car park. lulworth.com

Highcliffe Castle

Highcliffe Castle is a beautiful and romantic place to go. The grounds (and car park) are free to visit and it is fully accessible so it’s a perfect place for disabled people. In addition to the lovely grounds, Highcliffe Beach is accessed by a sloping zig zag path, simple for wheelchairs or pushchairs. If you fancy a fitness challenge you can take the steps adjacent to the Castle car park; there are 118 of them! The tea rooms are closed this summer, but refreshments are still available via a takeaway van! highcliffecastle.co.uk

Weymouth Beach

This is one of the most perfect places to visit in the summer! The multi-award-winning wide sandy beach has a gentle slope making it perfect for families. There are fun activities like kayaking and diving as well as swimming, and in the summer the sand sculpture park is always worth seeing. There are also disabled facilities and many accessible attractions, beaches and gardens nearby, and Weymouth’s historic harbour town is a short walk away from the beach.

Weymouthtowncouncil.gov.uk

SEA LIFE Adventure Park

If you are looking for something a little more exciting, Weymouth’s Sea Life Adventure Park might be just the thing. It is full accessible and has lots to do for kids and adults, like a coral reef, an ocean tunnel and a splash zone – the perfect place to cool off!

Cost is £19 per adult (there’s currently 40% off on midweek prices) and you must book tickets in advance via the website visitsealife.com

Do check out the Visit Dorset accessibility page for lots more place to visit visit-dorset.com/ visitor-information/accessibility/ Enjoy the rest of your summer!

A local expert from Citizen’s Advice provides timely tips on consumer issues. In the postbag this month: