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The Jurassic Coast

Stay at historic Mortons House Hotel (Option 1) situated in the village of Corfe overlooked by it's imposing ruined castle or at Langtry Manor (Option 2) built by King Edward VII for his mistress Lillie Langtry situated in nearby Bournemouth.

Book through a South West Specialist travel agent.

Option 1 (from Morton's House hotel, Corfe Castle)

Each day out itinerary is colour coded on a map.

Day 1 (red route)
Visit Corfe Castle today and take the Steam Train down to Swanage.

Day 2 (blue route)
Drive to Studland Bay today and take the ferry over from Studland Nature Reserve to Poole, the largest natural harbour in the world, . Visit Poole harbour and the pottery and then take a boat trip across to Brownsea Island.

Day 3 (pink route)
Head down to the Jurassic coast today to Lulworth Cove, and walk along the South West coastal path to Durdle Door. Have lunch in the pub at Osmington Mills, and continue to Weymouth which will host the 2012 Olympic Games Sailing Championships. Take a boat trip, and see the Jurassic coast from the sea.

Day 4 (green route)
Head to Dorchester today to experience some of the writer Thomas Hardy's connections -Max Gate and Stinsford Church at Stinsford, and Hardy's Cottage at Higher Bockhampton. Return via Moreton Gardens, site of the grave of Laurence of Arabia.

Day 5 (red route)
Visit Wareham this morning, and then through Wareham Forest to Athelhampton House. If time, also visit the pretty village of Milton Abbas.

Option 2 (from Langtry Manor, Bournemouth)

Each day out itinerary is colour coded on a map.

Day 1 (orange route)
In Poole, explore the quay and old town before taking a boat trip around the largest natural harbour in Europe. In Bournemouth visit the Russell Cotes Museum and bask in elegant surroundings over tea at the Print Room.

Day 2 (blue route)
A Thomas Hardy day. Head via Moreton Gardens (site of the grave of Laurence of Arabia) or the Bovington Tank Museum to Dorchester to take a walking tour including Hardy's home Max Gate. Return via more Hardy connections - Stinsford Church and his cottage at Higher Bockhampton. If you have time, Athelhampton House and Wimborne Minster are worth visiting too.

Day 3 (pink route)
You can head up to Salisbury via the beautiful New Forest. In Salisbury, visit the cathedral and take a bus tour out to see the awe-inspiring standing stones at Stonehenge.

Day 4 (red route)
Take the ferry from Poole to Studland. From Swanage take the steam railway to Corfe Castle. Head along the Jurassic Coast (England's only natural World Heritage site) to Lulworth Cove and walk along the coastal path to see Durdle Door. Return via Lulworth Castle and Wareham.