Days out with Kids in Dorset

Set amongst the woodland of Dorset lays 65 acres of sanctuary for over 150 primates. Monkey World works in conjunction with foreign governments from all over the world to stop the illegal smuggling of apes out of Africa and Asia. At the park visitors can see more than 15 different species.

Web: www.monkeyworld.co.uk

Britain's original and award winning Dinosaur Museum located in Dorchester, the county town of Dorset, only 7 miles from the Jurassic Coast.

Great day out for children and grown ups alike! The museum combines life-sized reconstructions of dinosaurs with fossils and dinosaur skeletons to create an exciting hands-on experience. Hands-on displays help tell the story of the giant prehistoric animals and their enthralling world millions of years ago.

Address: The Dinosaur Museum Icen Way, Dorchester, Dorset DT1 1EW
Web: www.thedinosaurmuseum.com

The museum chronicles the military life of the following regiments: The Devonshire Regiment, The Dorset Regiment, The Devonshire and Dorset Regiment, The Dorset Yeomanry, The Queen\'s Own Dorset Yeomanry, The Dorset Militia, The Royal Devon Yeomanry and 94 Field Regiment RA. The museum includes a tea shop and gift shop and has wheelchair access to all floors.

Web: www.keepmilitarymuseum.org

The Oceanarium contains marine life from both oceans and rivers all in naturally-themed habitats. Attractions include a 350,000 litre ocean tank recreating Australia’s barrier reef. A fantastic day out for the whole family.

Visit onto their great website where you will find all the information about the oceanarium plus many interesting marine facts, competitions and stories.

Web: www.oceanarium.co.uk

The Tank Museum houses the world's largest and finest collection of Armoured Fighting vehicles from unique WW1 tanks to the latest main battle tank of the British Army - Challenger.

The National Cycle Network is 5000 miles of safe, signed, attractive cycle routes, open and mapped in June 2000. It is made up of traffic-free sections and traffic-calmed road and minor roads, running right through urban centres and reaching all parts of the UK.

Sustrans is the charity co-ordinating the project and will continue to work with local authorities to expand the Network to a target of 10,000 miles by 2005.

For more information on the National Cycle Network and Sustrans and a copy of their free catalogue of maps, information sheets and technical publications please call the number above or visit their website.

E-Mail: info@nationalcyclenetwork.org.uk

Possibly the most important surviving house of the Romantic and Picturesque style of architecture; Highcliffe Castle is situated on the cliff top overlooking Christchurch Bay in Dorset.

Once home to Mr Selfridge, Highcliffe Castle is a fabulous day out for the whole family, the castle offers regular exhibitions and seasonal events as well as The Real Mr Selfridge Experience

Visit the extensive grounds and take a stroll down the Zig-Zag path to the beach.

Highcliffe Castle is open daily from 1st Feb to 23rd Dec

Compton Acres is a 10 acre site with twelve individual gardens offering one of the most varied selections of gardens in one place anywhere in Europe.

Compton Acres\' model railway - opened in November 2002 - will be of interest to visitors of all ages. Sited in a separate and dedicated building 1,200ft.of track has been laid with 15 trains - both steam and modern - running through a variety of landscapes.

Visit this exact replica of the town centre as it was in the 1950’s. You will be impressed with the sheer attention to detail. Even the many shop windows display the goods and services which were available to the good folk of the town all those years ago, providing a most fascinating insight into the life and times of the period.

Discover the many streets and shops fronts as you find yourself being gripped by the timeless quality of the models. It is hard to imagine the skills and dedication of the model makers who toiled away at their task over half a century ago.

Web: www.wimborne-modeltown.com

Meet some of the watery world's craziest creatures, from prehistoric horseshoe crabs and sharp-shooting mantis shrimp, to the amazing puffer fish - which can expand to over twice its size when threatened! Whether it's odd, incredible or downright deadly Weymouth Sea Life Park lifts the lid on some of the marine world's strangest secrets.

Lyme Regis Museum stands in the heart of the town, just where the beautiful coastlines of Dorset and Devon meet on the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site. Built on the site of the home of Lyme’s renowned fossilist Mary Anning, the museum is one of the architectural gems of the town and is packed with fascinating displays. Find out about Lyme’s early and maritime history, its internationally important geology, its fossils and the many significant writers connected with the town, from Jane Austen to John Fowles.

Why not visit and see the Lyme Bay Ichthyosaur, the huge fossilised skull of a predator that swam the Dorset seas in the age of the dinosaur? The museum also runs its famous fossil walks where you can walk in the footprints of Mary Anning and discover your own fossil treasures from 200 million years ago.

UKClimbing.com offers a comprehensive list of local climbing centres throughout the UK.

Web: www.ukclimbing.com/databases/listings/clubs.html

The small, thatched cottage where poet and novelist Thomas Hardy was born in 1840. It was built by his great-grandfather and is little altered since.

Outstanding 17th century house containing many treasures with beautiful gardens and woodland walks. Amenities include children\'s woodland play area, restaurant and gift shop.Exciting events organised throughout the year. Please phone for full details.

Novelist and poet Thomas Hardy designed and lived in this house from 1885 until his death in 1928. Here he wrote Tess of the d\'Urbervilles, Jude the Obscure and The Mayor of Casterbridge, as welll as much of his poetry.

One of Britain's most dramatic ruins, this 1000 year old castle dominates the skyline of the Isle of Purbeck. Visit the family interactive visitor centre, superb gift shop and beautifully situated tea rooms. Exciting living history events, children\'s activities and guided walks organised regularly.