Summer is the best bet for determined sun-seekers, just be prepared for busier beaches. If you’re not averse to dressing for all weathers, the Dorset coast holds year-round appeal.
Getting there
Planes
London Heathrow is the nearest major hub, under two hours’ drive away. It’s an hour from Southampton Airport, where flights touch down from cities including Edinburgh, Dublin and Paris. And Bournemouth Airport is just half an hour away, with seasonal flights landing there from across Europe.
Trains
You can coast in direct from London Waterloo in less than two-and-a-half hours.
Automobiles
It’s worth having your own wheels so you can see more of Dorset’s winsome coast and countryside.