Weymouth, Dorset

[wolfiebella]

Hi, im off to Weymouth on Sat for a week. Is there any places anyone could recommend for a visit or some to avoid ?! Also any nic,e quiet pubs, children friendly which do lovely food ??
Thanks

[CAJ1]

Hello,

I hope the weather stays nice for you! Weymouth beach is quite long and the water is very shallow for ages making it safe for kids to play in. There are donkey rides and other attractions on the beach. There is a long esplanade which you can stroll along from one end of the beach to the other. Half way along is a crazy golf course and Lodmoor Park where there is stuff for kids to do. There are plenty of shops, some high street stores and lots of souvenir shops etc. There's a cinema and bowling for the kids There are a number of pubs - I would advise walking through the town to the harbour where you will find pubs on the quayside where you can sit in the sun and watch the boats coming in and out. On the other side of the harbour is Brewers Quay with shops and further up is Nothe Fort which has tunnels built under the ground and is related to WW2 (I think). You can get buses from the back of Debenhams which will take you to Portland where there are pirate graves (bit hard to find unless you know google Church Ope), beaches, Portland Bill lighthouse and Portland Castle. You also have a great view over chesil beach. Chesil beach is not suitable for going in the sea with kids as it has a steep drop not very far out and strong currents but is great for fishing. The Cove Inn is on Chesil Beach and does nice seafood.

Nearby attractions (in case it rains) are Monkey World (which is a rescue centre for monkeys and apes), The SeaLife Centre, The Tank Museum, Abbotsbury gardens and Swannery, Dorchester Museum. You could take a day trip to Dorchester town (easily accessible by bus or train). Buses from The Kings Statue can take you to Lyme Regis to hunt for fossils with the kids. You can also get fast ferries to the channel islands from Weymouth. Can't think of anywhere you should especially avoid...have a great time!

[KRUSTYMAN]

Thanks CAJ1, reading your post just reminded me how wonderful Weymouth is, in fact I think I'll pop down at the weekend. It really is a wonderful place.

[CAJ1]

It is nice, can't wait for my holiday in 2 weeks time! Whereabouts are you Krustyman?

[wolfiebella]

Caj1 thanks loads for your response. I will have another read through and jot down some names but a neighbour earlier actually mentioned the Swannery - any info on that at all ? If not no worries i appreciate what you have told me already !

[CAJ1]

No problem, I used to live there so ask away if you need to know anything!

Abbostbury Swannery has over 600 swans, the cygnets should be hatching around now. There was originally a monastery there and monks farmed the swans for their banquets. I think the monastery was destroyed in a fire but the ruins still remain. The swans are fed on a daily basis at 12pm and 4pm. The price for an adult is �9 and kids �6 each (you may be able to get a family pass). There is also sub-tropical gardens and a childrens farm but seperate admission costs have to be paid.

Here's the wesite: http://www.abbotsbury-tourism.co.uk/index.htm

[smudge]

Very informative answer CAJ1.

We've spent many a happy holiday in Weymouth & surrounding areas - going to the places you've mentioned CA, also the Swannery in Abbotsbury, all of which, I'm sure you'll enjoy wolfie.

We've stayed at Osmington Mills Holiday Park many times & spent two weeks there last year with our eldest daughter & her two little girls, aged 9 & 6. They loved the swimming pool.

http://www.osmingtonholidays.co.uk/

Have fun!

[squarebear]

What a wonderful answer Caj1. It makes me want to visit Weymouth myself now. Have you thought of working for the Tourist Board? ;-)

[CAJ1]

Gold stars for me! :o)

I love it there and it used to be my home so if I can share any of my knowledge to help others have a lovely holiday I will do. I was going to work in tourism but ended up taking a different route so maybe its something to fall back on squarebear!

[ELVIS68]

Was there a few weeks ago, lovely place

I`d rather go there than abroad

[smudge]

Me too Evlis! Especially in Osmington Mills & Bay. (See link).

We've been to many countries, but Dorset always calls us back!

[smudge]

*Elvis!

[ELVIS68]

Wish I knew someone who had their own caravan, �600 a week in summer season...ouch!!!!

[CAJ1]

It is dear Elvis. We managed to book one in Lyme Regis (about 20 miles away) for �300 odd

[paraffin]

Hi wolfiebella:

The only negative (hate to mention it but you should be aware) is access/egress. There's basically one main road in, the A354 (from Dorchester) but unfortunately it's a real bottleneck the closer to Weymouth you get.

I'm not trying to dampen your enthusiasm but I'm speaking from experience and you should allow for some hold ups (during the day, of course).

I sincerely hope, though, that they somehow don't materialise.

[CAJ1]

Thats a very good point paraffin which I completely forgot about. It is a busy road which on hot days or when an event is on in Weymouth is queued up. As paraffin says it is the only main route into Weymouth but hopefully traffic will keep flowing. It all depends on weather and events really.

On the upside of things, I recall having been stuck on the bend of the hill before Upwey and someone has been stood there selling ice cream!

[whifffey]

Before you go, get a copy of "Moonfleet" by J Meade Faulkner. It is a wonderful smuggling yarn set around the Chesil Beach area. Very atmospheric reading on the beach while the kids paddle.

You are in Thomas Hardy country down there. If that sort of thing interests you, there is loads to look up, e.g. The Mayor of Casterbridge = Dorchester.

Also, have a look for the Lost Village of Tyneham, a walk east from Lulworth Cove, provided the MOD aren't shelling the area.

[CAJ1]

Oh yes whiffey, lulworth and durdle door are beautiful. There is a place around there too that does gorgeous cream teas. I've not had any quite like the ones you get in Dorset since I moved.