Dorset County
(Historic)

Map Reference: (50.865347, -2.34794)

Dorset is a maritime county on the south coast of England. Dorset contains an enormous variety of landscapes. Poole, in the south-east of the county, is both a working port and a tourist resort. Poole owes its position and prosperity to Poole Harbour, a vast and deep natural harbour. South of the harbour is the broad peninsula of the Isle of Purbeck, upon which stands the noble ruin of Corfe Castle. Swanage is a popular seaside resort. The entire Dorset coast, consisting of Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous cliffs, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Along the coast is the resort town of Weymouth. To its south is the Isle of Portland, connected to the mainland by the mighty Chesil Beach. At the far west of the county is Lyme Regis, "The Pearl of Dorset". Dorchester, the county town, lies north of Weymouth. Thomas Hardy was born in nearby Higher Brockhampton. The Dorset Downs is an area of chalk downland on which lie two famous historic monuments: Maiden Castle and the Cerne Abbas Giant. East of the Dorset Downs, Cranborne Chase has many Neolithic and Bronze Age monuments. Shaftesbury, with its ruined abbey, lies on the edge of the Chase. At the north of the county is the Blackmore Vale. Gillingham has a Stone Age barrow. Blandford Forum is noted for its fine Georgian architecture. Sherborne Abbey is of ancient foundation.