Dorset is a scenic and historic English county famed for its Jurassic Coast, market towns, cultural festivals, and literary heritage, offering diverse landscapes and accessible transport.
17 Oct, 24 Nov…
Join a relaxed social walk through Kingston Lacy’s woodlands, gardens and countryside, covering 3–4 miles over about 1.5 hours. The monthly routes explore different parts of the estate and finish at the café.
Kingston Lacy in Dorset is an opulent family home styled as a Venetian Palace, surrounded by extensive gardens and an 8,500-acre estate featuring heathland, hill forts and rare cattle breeds. Visitors can explore the house's remarkable art collection and ancient Egyptian artefacts, enjoy child-friendly play areas, café dining, and guided garden tours. The venue offers a mix of indoor and outdoor experiences with good accessibility and dog-friendly outdoor areas.
17 Oct (next Saturday)
A nature walk for neurodivergent families, led by ADHD coach Jane Woods, Johanna Merry and a National Trust team member. Participants can spend time outdoors together and explore ideas about nature, wellbeing and neurodiversity.
Studland Bay is a natural coastline in Dorset featuring a four-mile sandy beach with bathing waters and views of Old Harry Rocks. It offers outdoor activities including water sports, walking trails through dunes and woodlands rich in wildlife, and historical sites like a WWII observation bunker. Facilities include a café, shop, beach huts, and accessibility features.
8–26 Oct (another 17 days)
An exhibition of Tansy Lee Moir’s drawings, paintings and monoprints inspired by trees and their histories. Visitors can view works made with charcoal, natural pigments and mixed media.
Mompesson House is an 18th-century Queen Anne style historic house in Salisbury, Wiltshire, owned by the National Trust. Visitors can explore its carefully restored Georgian interiors and collections of 18th-century decorative arts. The house was also a filming location for the movie Sense and Sensibility.
7–31 Oct (another 22 days)
An exhibition at Corfe Castle’s Welcome Centre presents archaeological finds from excavations, showing objects associated with everyday life in the medieval castle.
18 Oct, 15 Nov…
A ranger-guided tour in an all-terrain vehicle explores the nature and history of Studland’s beach, dunes and heather trail. The tour includes stops where participants can get out and take photos.
Ballard Down is a scenic chalk downland area on the Purbeck Hills in Dorset, featuring coastal views between Studland Bay and Swanage Bay, part of the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site, with grassland managed by the National Trust and a historic obelisk landmark.
9–13 Oct, 16–20 Oct…
Explore Mompesson House dressed to reflect the Portman family’s time there and learn about Regency life and the family’s social calendar. Visitors can see a Regency parlour and children’s playroom, take part in activities, and follow a spotter trail around the house.
Sarum College is a historic college located in Salisbury Cathedral Close offering accessible accommodation with modern amenities, views of the cathedral, and proximity to cultural sites and city shops. Visitors can enjoy a mix of historic ambience and contemporary comfort within a largely wheelchair accessible environment.
7–22 Oct (another 13 days)
Local nature photographer Ben Pullitz displays wildlife and landscape photographs in a pop-up shop at Lytes Cary Manor.
Lytes Cary is a Grade I listed historic manor house in Somerset dating from the 14th century, featuring a chapel, Great Hall with period furnishings, and extensive Arts and Crafts style gardens listed as Grade II. The National Trust owns the property and offers public access to the older parts of the house and the distinctive gardens set in themed 'rooms' with hedges, ponds, and an orchard.
6–23 Oct (another 14 days)
Explore the Visakhapatnam cabinet through an exhibition about its craftsmanship, conservation and cultural connections between India and Europe. The display includes related objects, a contemporary painting and a dress inspired by the cabinet, with sections of the painting also installed in the garden.
7–23 Oct (another 14 days)
Join a volunteer for a guided woodland walk on Brownsea Island to look for red squirrels as they forage for food.
12 Oct, 19 Oct…
A weekly Nordic walking programme at Kingston Lacy for people living with Parkinson’s, offering guided walks, support and advice on staying active. The programme begins with a four-week introductory course, followed by weekly Wellness Walks.
Deans Court is an elegant historic Georgian house set in ancient and romantic gardens in Wimborne Minster, featuring heritage interiors, a monastic fishpond, and a café, offering guided tours and special events access primarily for Historic Houses members and paying visitors.
12 Oct, 9 Nov…
Home educators and children can join nature-based sessions at Studland, with seasonal activities such as arts and crafts, spotter walks and scavenger hunts. The listed sessions focus on woodland scavenging and crafts in October, fungi in November, and a winter beach scavenger hunt and festive crafts in December.
9 Oct, 16 Oct…
Visitors can try carrying a yoke and handle replica medieval pottery while learning about life in a medieval castle. Stonemason volunteers are also available to discuss traditional stone-carving techniques.
Corfe Castle is a historic 11th-century ruined stone castle atop a hill in Dorset, England, known for its medieval architecture and role in the English Civil War. Visitors can explore the castle ruins, enjoy scenic views, and learn about its rich history under National Trust care.
7 Sep, 14 Sep…
A 12-week walking programme at Kingston Lacy for people living with Parkinson’s, with weekly walks that gradually build in pace while participants connect with nature. Sessions also offer activity advice and support from volunteer walk leaders.
Kingston Lacy is a historic 17th-century Italianate country house and estate near Wimborne Minster, Dorset, featuring extensive formal gardens, parkland, and a significant fine art collection. The house offers a blend of indoor tours with finely decorated interiors and outdoor exploration of its historic gardens and grounds.
9–13 Oct, 16–20 Oct…
A Regency-themed event exploring autumn social life in Salisbury, including the harvest, the social season and the Glorious Twelfth. It also covers Regency-era All Hallows’ Eve, Gothic literature and folklore.
Arundells is a Grade II Listed historic house and garden in Salisbury, former home of Sir Edward Heath, showcasing art, memorabilia, and peaceful gardens with cathedral views. Visitors can explore the accessible house interior, extensive gardens, and enjoy cultural events.
7 Oct–8 Nov (another 30 days)
Explore 30 Pikachu trading cards illustrated by different artists, discover facts about the character and design your own Pikachu card as part of an art adventure at Kingston Lacy.
Badbury Rings is an Iron Age hill fort in east Dorset notable for its extensive earthworks, nearby Roman road junction, and adjacent Romano-British town site. It is an outdoor site managed by the National Trust with free public access and offers historical insights into Iron Age and Roman Britain.
7 Oct–22 Nov (another 44 days)
Families can follow a quest at Corfe Castle, solving clues about folklore, mystery and superstition, including beliefs about cooking, protecting homes, witches and fairies.
10 Oct, 17 Oct
Join experts from the Dorset Fungus Group on a guided walk to find and identify fungi on Brownsea Island, and learn about their species and role in the ecosystem. The walk is for both novices and experienced participants and is not a foraging event.
RSPB Arne is a nature reserve in Dorset renowned for its diverse habitats and rare wildlife including all six native UK reptiles. Visitors can explore extensive heathlands, ancient oak woodland, wetlands and shoreline with facilities including accessible trails, a café, and events. Dog-friendly routes and mobility scooter hire enhance the visit experience in this outdoor wildlife haven.
16–20 Oct, 23–27 Oct…
Families can use the Stranger Folk app to follow the Crone through an interactive folklore adventure at Mompesson House, completing magical challenges to help close a rift between the human and spirit worlds.
Old Sarum Castle is an 11th century motte-and-bailey castle ruin in Salisbury, Wiltshire, set within an ancient Iron Age hillfort and managed by English Heritage, offering visitors an outdoor historical experience of medieval fortifications and earthworks.