Along the coast, to the east, is the famous Chesil Beach - a 27km. stretch of sand overlooked by the ruins of a Benedictine monastery, and the village of Abbotsbury with its fine sub-tropical gardens and ancient swannery.

Nearby, and high above Portesham, stands the Hardy Monument, a tribute to Admiral Hardy, the captain of Nelson's flagship during the Battle of Trafalgar.

The county museum, in Dorchester, traces the town back to Roman times through more recent landmarks in its history, including the Bloody Assize in 1685, when Judge Jeffries sentenced nearly 300 men after the Monmouth Rebellion and the trial of the Tolpuddle Martyrs, who were transported to Australia for forming Britain's first trade union.

Thomas Hardy, a 19th century writer, made Dorchester the Casterbridge of his novels. His cottage birthplace, in nearby Higher Bockhampton, is open to the public. Far from the Madding Crowd is the novel that made him famous.

7km. west of Bridport is Golden Cap - at 188mts., the highest cliff on the south coast and, below this, is Charmouth beach - a favourite place for fossil hunters. Then on to Lyme Regis with its maze of narrow streets and the famous Cobb. The town provided the filming location for The French Lieutenant's Woman written by local author John Fowles.