Beaminster
A pleasant market town, with good pubs and a market on Saturday mornings, with a museum of the town's history.
Blandford Forum
A pretty Georgian town, with bus links to Poole and Dorchester, and a working brewery with shop.
The Blandford Fashion Museum
@alastairbraidwood
A stunning collection of period clothing from the last 2 or 3 centuries, displayed in a beautiful Georgian house near the town centre.
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Bridport
Quirky little town with a Saturday morning market, and historical connections to rope-making.
Bridport Museum
@alastairbraidwood
Museum of the town, including fossils, rope-making and more.
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Dorchester
The county town has several small museums, as well as a few bigger ones.
The Dinosaur Museum
@alastairbraidwood
Great fun for the family, especially those with dino-mad kids.
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Kimmeridge
A village on the Jurassic Coast, becoming famed for its connection of fossils.
The Etches Collection Museum of Jurassic Marine Life
@alastairbraidwood
Another perfect day out for the dino-keen child or adult.
This is a museum hosing a private collection of fossils found on Dorset's Jurassic Coast.
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Lyme Regis
A charming seaside town, a location in several period films, and the heart of the Jurassic Coastline.
The Town Mill
@alastairbraidwood
A working watermill, with artisan shops, gallery, café and brewery attached.
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Dinosaurland Fossil Museum
@alastairbraidwood
Celebrating the history of the Jurassic Coastline, a collection of fossils and models of dinosaurs.
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Owermoigne
A pretty little village with a Farm Shop on the main road.
Mill House Cider Museum
@alastairbraidwood
A family concern for many years, and part of a plant nursery, this selection of strange machines used for the processing of apples takes you back to pre-industrial times, and excerpts of Thomas Hardy's writings, such as in 'The Woodlanders'.
Also includes the impressive clock room.
The family sell their own cider and apple juice, local products, and sausages.
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Puddletown
A village with many connections to Thomas Hardy, and a pretty church still with its old box pews and musicians' gallery!
The Antique Map & Bookshop
@alastairbraidwood
Not strictly speaking a museum, but still an interesting diversion for any historically-minded person.
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Shillingstone
A small village above the Stour valley, close to Hambledon Hill, which has fine views from the top.
North Dorset Railway - Shillingstone Station
@alastairbraidwood
Volunteers are rebuilding part of the old Somerset and Dorset Railway; a new heritage line.
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Sturminster Newton
A fine old town in the Stour valley, with beautiful walks by the river.
Sturminster Newton Mill
@alastairbraidwood
A working watermill, also used for fulling cloth into 'swanskin', a famous product of the town.
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Sturminster Newton Museum
@alastairbraidwood
A small museum of the town's history, including its links to Newfoundland and the railways.
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Swanage
Old seaside town at the extent of Purbeck, with a famous heritage railway.
Swanage Museum
@alastairbraidwood
Museum dedicated to the history of the town and its surrounds.
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Swanage Pier Trust
@alastairbraidwood
Victorian pier with views over Swanage Bay, diving excursions, a small museum, and a café.
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Wimborne Minster
Town known for its Minster and model village, and close to Kingston Lacy.
Museum of East Dorset
@alastairbraidwood
Museum of the town, in an old town house, with a pleasant garden and café.
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