Chesil Beach.
About the area
The village of Winfrith Newburgh (Winfrode) is mentioned in the Doomsday Book and in Hutchins History of Dorset. It is a picturesque village comprising approx. 250 dwellings, a village school, a small general store/sub-post office. There are no street lights at night or sidewalks up through the village. A torch/flash-light is advisable.
On the Green in front of the Norman church (where there is car parking) is a map of village trails which meander by the stream and hedgerows. One track runs along a ridge past some Iron Age tumuli to the next village of Chaldon Herring and the Sailor's Return Pub makes a good stop for refreshment. Weymouth and Dorchester are the nearest towns with large supermarkets and a weekly town market (Dorchester - Wednesdays).
Buses run on a regular schedule to Weymouth, Dorchester, and Wareham. The British Rail mainline station for fast trains (2hr 40mins) to London Waterloo is two miles away at Wool. This provides direct access to Poole and Bournemouth.
Durdle Door.
Two miles south is the unspoilt Dorset coast. Durdle Door is the famous limestone arch jutting into the sea. The geology topography of the area is fascinating drawing interest from large oil companies who use it for field trips. The beaches either side are accessed down a step path and are shingle and sand - Man o' War Bay - offers safe scuba diving, boating and swimming within the reef. The nearest sandy stretches of beach are Weymouth, Studland and Shell Bay outside Poole Harbour. Bountiful attractions include Weymouth Sea World, Butterfly Farm, funfair and beach Punch & Judy for children. Bovington Army Tank Museum and Monkey World are 3 miles to the North East.
Riding sailing, sea fishing, windsurfing, water skiing are catered for in the area (equipment can be rented) with Pubs and Restaurants all nearby. Other places of interest are within easy reach by car. The Dorchester Museum contains Hardy memorabilia, regional geological phenomena and Stone Age / Roman excavation artefacts. The Isle of Purbeck provides walkers with miles of magnificent cliff paths in the recently created World Heritage Site and area of outstanding natural beauty. Bulbarrow, the highest point in Dorset, is a drive through Dorchester towards Shaftsbury.
Enjoy God's own country
Weymouth.