Top 8 Hidden Gems Things to do in Dorchester, England

Beautiful 26 acre Sculpture Park & Gardens, with Gallery cafe. Due to deep water NO CHILDREN UNDER 14 years of age (including babies) and NO DOGS are allowed. Open Wednesday to Sunday 10am to 5pm, hut bookings are from 10am to 4.45pm. Entry is £12.50 per person. The Gallery Cafe is now open serving tea, coffee, light meals, delicious cakes, cream tea's, ice creams etc., visitors can choose to eat inside, outside (at the newly created seating area), or take it out into the Sculpture Park using one of the picnic baskets provided, complete with rug. Visitors are able to enjoy the Gallery & Gallery Cafe without entry to the Sculpture Park. Described as one of the most beautiful & unique sculpture parks in the United Kingdom, Sculpture by the Lakes marries the soft beauty of nature's wild river landscape with the more formal presentation of monumental outdoor sculpture. It is that combination of art and landscape that inspires Sculpture by the Lakes.

We are a bird of prey collection with over 100 birds in the collection ranging from owls, hawk, falcons to vultures and eagles. We have two daily shows free flying some of the team and a tea room for you to relax and enjoy the quiet and tranquility of the site. Come and see conservation in action in our butterfly garden or bring a picnic.

Woodland Weaponry in Dorset PRE – BOOKING IS ESSENTIAL – please do not visit us without booking! Insight Activities have 2 woodland locations. We are based in a gorgeous private woodland in the New Forest and also in Tolpuddle Dorset. We are a small company not a large mulit activity center. We specialise in authentic woodland activities : Archery, Archery Combat TAG, Rifle Crossbow Shooting, Axe Throwing and giant Catapults in the New Forest & Dorset. Our outdoor activity company has been featured twice on TV in the past year highlighting our unique activities and refreshingly different approach – We are not a large scale commercial outfit, we are small, authentic and offer a more intimate New Forest experience. Insight activities provide unique and fun outdoor activities within the new forest, Hampshire and in Tolpuddle, Dorset. If you're looking for some of the best things to do then please read on. We offer activities for individuals, couples, families, stag and hen dos, private parties, corporate events and mobile activity supply for events. We have consistently excellent customer reviews and are proud to be awarded the Tripadvisor certificate of excellence in 2016. Archery: We run two gorgeous woodland Archery ranges. One in the new forest and another in Dorset. Both use professional quality bows, the same as those used in the Olympics! Our belief is that when introducing a beginner to archery you should offer the best equipment and coaching possible to help ensure success. We offer archery lessons and courses in the new forest, Hampshire and in Tolpuddle, Dorset. Our archery range is progressive, increase distance, bow power, have a competition and shoot for tiny balloons as your archery skills improve. You are active for the full hour, no rotating your go. Our archery range is run by a professional ArcheryGB coach. Ages 6+. Crossbows: If you fancy yourself as ‘Daryl’ from ‘The Walking Dead’ then join insight activities for some Zombie killing action in the woods. We will be slaying zombies with Rifle Crossbows fitted with a magnified scope to help you shoot a Zombies head at 25m! Ages 12+ Axe Throwing: Connect with your inner warrior and experience the medieval activity of Axe Throwing in the new forest. We use custom made throwing axes and provide excellent tuition to ensure your success. A safe and fun activity in the new forest for all aged 12+. Archery Combat TAG Essentially Archery meets Paintball in this exciting new form of Archery combat game. Swap static targets for moving ones as you chase your friends around the woods trying to ‘tag’ them with specially designed ‘safe’ arrows. Hunger games for real, the most fun youre ever likely to have with a bow and arrow! Wild Snake Walks New Forest We are the only local company qualified to run exclusive, guided wild snake walks within the new forest, Hampshire. These unique guided walks are lead by a professional and licensed Ecologist. A unique new forest guided walk lead by an ecologist where you will find, identify and even handle new forest snakes in the wild, we have a dedicated study site to ensure we find some fascinating reptilian residents. The data we collect on our walks goes to Amphibian and Reptile Conservation and contributes directly to habitat conservation in the New Forest. An excellent location if you're looking for fun and exciting things to do in the new forest, Hampshire or Dorset. Activities for individuals, couples and families, fun things to do with the kids, unique birthday parties, stag and hen do activities, corporate events. Our New Forest woods are located just 10 minutes from Sandy Balls holiday park, 25 minutes from Bournemouth, 25 minutes from Salisbury, 30 minutes from Christchurch, 30 minutes from Lyndhurst. Our Dorset wood is located just 10 minutes from Monkey World, 10 minutes from Bovington Tank Museum, 15 minutes from Dorchester, 25 minutes from Poole and 25 minutes from Weymouth. Dog friendly – well behaved dogs welcome. Mobile range Insight activities also run a mobile activity range and can supply archery, crossbows, axe throwing and Archery TAG for mobile events and private parties. Booking – PRE BOOKING IS ESSENTIAL. Minimum age for Archery and Guided walks is 6+, 10+ for Archery TAG and 12+ for Crossbows and Axe throwing.

Athelhampton House is one of England's finest Tudor Manor Houses. Dating from 1485, the Great Hall is a fine example of domestic Tudor architecture, the house has many interesting rooms, filled with antique furnishings and art. The Gardens remodelled in 1891 surround the House, with many 'compartments' built with Ham stone, each with a different style or theme, each with a water feature of a pond or fountain. The Great Court features the 12 world famous giant yew tree pyramids. The House and Gardens are protected by a Grade 1 listing, and are well maintained to protect for future generations. An excellent visitor centre with restaurant, tea room, gift shop and plant sales area complete the attraction. Enjoy a great Lunch or afternoon tea. See our website for special offers.

The Walled Garden is a beautiful five-acre landscaped formal garden situated in Moreton, Dorset.A wide variety of perennial plants sit in the boarders, which have been styled in original Georgian and Victorian designs. For the past 4 years, these have been planted and cared for by our Head Gardener Tim and his team. Also, set in the Walled Garden, The Dovecote Café is open 7 days a week all year round (excluding Christmas period), serving breakfasts, brunch, lunch, tea and coffee and cakes.