What to do in Shaftesbury, Dorset

When trying to decide where to stay in Dorset, I had to do my googles for that one. All I knew was that I wanted remote, farm life and serenity. I wanted to wake up in the morning to the sound of birds and sheep, watch sunsets over rolling hills and be far away from city life. Enter Shaftesbury. The next thing was to decide what to do in Shaftesbury, Dorset.

You see, this trip was going to be a “relax and chill” with a little sightseeing kind of trip. We went with Bobo as it was half term and I knew he needed the rest too. We found the most beautiful cottage on Holiday Cottages big enough for a 6 person family, No 2 CURWENS.

It was huge, had a farm across and had the most beautiful space in the back. It also had a hot tub, which was perfect for our sunset evenings.

We lucked out on the weather, I must add. As we got thee, we had a bit of a drizzle but the air was quite warm and balmy. By the next day, the sun was out in full force and we were able to do so much sightseeing!

For what to do in Shaftesbury, Dorset, continue reading.

Gold Hill, Shaftesbury

Now this is the most popular spot in Shaftesbury. It is also most likely one of the most famous streets in the UK. Why you might ask? I believe it has to do with the “Boy on the Bike” ad for Hovis bread in 1973. Gold Hill was voted “Britain’s favourite ad of all time” and I have to admit, it is a pretty cool ad.

It could also be because this view from the top of the hill has been described as “one of the most romantic sights in England“. The picturesque backdrop of rolling hills is definitely stunning on a day with clear skies. It sits in the distance and almost reminds me of the hills from the Sound of music movie.

This area is generally quiet with lots of historic stone and thatch properties around.

Shaftesbury Abbey Museum & Garden

Now, at the top of Gold Hill is the most spectacular thing you will see in Dorset. Well, this was very fascinating to me as it was not a part of my planned itinerary. I stumbled upon this abbey and safe to say, I was very impressed.

Shaftesbury was home to one of the most influential homes for women and was founded as far back as AD888. It was England’s foremost Benediction nunneries founded by King Alfred the great. Today, the foundations are still present and you can spot some relics from centuries ago on its site. It is a working fossil field, which means that there are still discoveries being made till date. There is no booking required to visit and it is free entrance; however, donations are welcome.

Oh, it is also a really stunning garden.

Spot Thatch Cottages

When in the countryside, what to do in Shaftesbury, Dorset? Look out for some of the best-preserved thatch cottages. One thing the British countryside will give you is spectacular cottages. The thatch cottages really fascinate me because they all have a history behind them. They are usually from centuries ago and belonged to the farm workers. Now, they are some of the most expensive properties in most countryside villages.

Embrace Country living

When we decided to visit Dorset, we knew we wanted the full country feel. So what did we do? We rented a property in Shaftesbury to get the full country living in Dorset vibes.

Now, this property was lush AF! Usually, we stay in smaller properties when it’s just Mr E and I. However, since Bobo was with us, we decided to go bigger. The property sat on a farm and had 3 bedrooms; sleeps 6 (or possibly more) and even had a hot tub. The master bedroom overlooked the farm and we’d wake up each morning to the sight of sheep grazing. Btw sheep eat all day? I did not know this until I “lived” with them. Well, if you are waking up to the sight of sheep, you live with them….duhhhhh!

The living area was huge but what I loved the most was the massive garden at the back of the property. It overlooked the most beautiful view of the countryside. The front garden was lovely as well. Aside from overlooking the farm, I could see rolling hills in the distance. Honestly, I was in my farm core element in this lovely property!

Visit the Jurassic Coast

It always blows my mind that we have special places like the Jurassic coast in the UK. We finally went to Durdle Door and it was just as beautiful as it looked in photos. The water was the most stunning blue-green shade as the sun reflected on it; we dipped our toes in and had a quiet afternoon.

The Jurassic Coast is one of the most spectacular coastlines in the world with its dramatic cliffs. It is actually England’s only natural world heritage site and spans from Exmouth in Devon all the way to Old Harry Rocks in Dorset. The Jurassic Coast ranks alongside other greats like Galapagos Islands, Great Barrier Reef and The Grand Canyon. If fossil hunting is your thing, go further to Charmouth for a guided tour. Don’t forget to visit Lulworth Cove too.

Sunday Roast and a pint at Ye Olde Two Brewers Inn

This is one that I feel like a fraud recommending because it was not the best experience. However, it was recommended to me on Instagram and we possibly went on an off day. Everyone else who has been, confirmed that it is a lovely spot for a Sunday roast. Therefore, it has made my list. It sits at the bottom of Gold Hill so it is also quite an easy find especially after touring the area.

Our food came quite late but I noticed there was a shortage of waiters. It could have been due to them just reopening so hopefully, it is a better experience if you do go. I would recommend for the vibes as well. It has the most laid back, British pub vibes and the beer garden is quite lush too.

St Thomas’s Church, Melbury Abbas

Another very unexpected find, which was at the beginning of the street we stayed in. It had the most beautiful cherry blossoms, which was what drew me to it in the first place. The church was rebuilt in 1852 on the site of a 12th century church and I discovered it during an evening walk.

One thing we noticed was that the tombstones were quite recent. Most old churches have old graves from years ago but the dates on the grave in St Thomas were as fresh as 2020! The interior of the church itself is spectacular. No surprises there tbh, after all it is one of the oldest and well-kept buildings in Shaftesbury.

Visit a Farm

For what to do in Shaftesbury, Dorset, I highly recommend a farm visit. Luckily, our accommodation sat on a farm so we were able to experience farm life. Sheep bleating, cocks crowing, cows mooing and birds chirping everyday made for the best experience. There are a lot of privately owned farms around which are barricaded by short fences. Perhaps, it would be unwise to stroll into someone’s farm but I suppose you can admire the animals from a distance, which is what we did.

Most farms also sit on rolling hills, which make for the most picturesque backdrops. I sometimes imagine myself riding a horse in a long floral dress across the hills LOL! I have no idea where this imagination comes from but one day, it shall happen.

Don’t miss the epic sunrises and sunsets

Would it be me without a sunrise or sunset recommendation? LOL. I feel like every ”to do” post comes with a sunrise/sunset watch as I’m quite fascinated by them.

Shaftesbury is country living at its finest. I woke up really early to catch a 5.30am sunrise and I was not disappointed at all. It was the most beautiful sight to behold. The sunsets are rumoured to be some of the best in Dorset, I’m not sure why but they are truly epic.

This list of what to do in Shaftesbury, Dorset is on the back of what I was able to see in the 3 days we were there. I love a slower pace of travel so by day 3, we literally did nothing but enjoy the farm across. We were tempted to head to Corfe Castle but decided against it, as I needed some rest. Maybe another time, I will visit the castle as it is a must see in Dorset. I also made a mental note to check out Thomas Hardy’s cottage next time we visit Dorset.

So that’s my list of what to do in Shaftesbury, Dorset in 2 or 3 days. Gold Hill, Shaftesbury Abbey and Ye Olde Two Brewers Inn are all around each other so these can be done in half a day. A drive will be required to Lulworth Cove and Jurassic Coast for another half day out.

Bisous, ‘Bugo x