Once Summer begins to recede, Dorset takes on a whole new character. Leaves begin to turn red and orange, and the hot summer sunshine is replaced by cool breezes and misty mornings. For many people, this is the very best time to visit Dorset. The summer crowds have left, and the County has returned to its natural peacefulness and stillness.
If you’re interested in taking a camping holiday in West Dorset to explore the coastline and countryside, we thought we’d give you a few suggestions for
what to see and do in Dorset. Here are our top six things to do in Autumn:
1. Hunt for Fossils
As every fossil enthusiast knows, Autumn and Winter are the best times of the year to find fossils on the Jurassic Coast. The wind and the waves erode the cliffs, and expose fossils that have remained hidden for millions of years. You can find all the fossil hunting information and resources you need on
https://www.charmouth.ukfossils.co.uk/.
2. Follow the Coastal Path to Old Harry Rocks
The National Trust coastal path which takes you to Old Harry Rocks was recently named in the
Guardian’s top 10 UK winter walks, but it’s just as impressive in the Autumn. The views are absolutely jaw-dropping, but beware the sheer cliff edges and if you bring a dog, keep them firmly on a lead!
3. Visit Abbotsbury Gardens
Autumn brings out a beautiful colour change at
Abbotsbury Gardens, with its incredible variety of trees and plants from around the world. This time of year is also when you can see the Gardens bathed in atmospheric light in the ‘Enchanted Floodlit Gardens at Night’ evenings, which take place in October.
4. Try out Local Pubs
Our corner of West Dorset is blessed with a wonderful variety of traditional and modern pubs, many in historic listed buildings. The region is famous for locally brewed ales and ciders, and many of our guests are keen to pile as many of these as possible on their visits here!
5. Look out for Wildlife 
Dorset’s countryside is brimming with wildlife in Autumn. Male deer’s antlers have fully grown by this point in the year, and their gruff calls echo in their forest habitats. Meanwhile, bird watchers in Dorset are on the lookout for the many species of birds which migrate to the County from colder Northern regions at this time of year.
Dorset Wildlife Trust is full of useful information for visitors.
6. Cycling
Dorset is chock-full of brilliant cycling paths, and in Autumn they are a bit less busy than the summer (not to mention a little more easy-going in the milder temperatures!). We’ve written on the blog before about some of the superb cycle routes near to our holiday park – have a read!
If you need to hire bikes during your stay, try Lyme Regis Cycles. They are on Twitter at
https://twitter.com/LymeRegisCycles.