Bridport is an ideal centre for a touring holiday. It is a market town of Saxon origin with exceptionally wide streets. These date back to when Bridport was the main rope and net producing town in the country, an industry which is still carried on in the town today. The Bridport Museum in South Street has exhibits illustrating the history of the town and locality, including its archaeology and geology. Market days are Wednesday and Saturday.
One and a half miles south of the town is the quaint harbour of West Bay with its shingle beaches under towering cliffs and a small promenade and is the beginning of the Chesil Beach which ends at Portland. Facilities exist in the vicinity for Golfing, Fishing, (both sea and fresh water), Riding, Boating, Walking etc.West Dorset is approximately 417 square miles of unspoilt countryside
designated as an area of outstanding natural beauty. It has fantastic coastal
scenery with a fascinating variety of sandy beaches, towering cliffs and shingle
banks which include the famous Chesil Beach. Inland there are picturesque
villages with their thatched cottages and ancient churches of considerable
architectural interest. Thomas Hardy was born at Higher Bockhampton and used
the Dorset countryside as a background for many of his novels.
Many acres of West Dorset are under the control of the Forestry Commission
and the National Trust owns several estates in the district. Forest trails,
public footpaths and bridleways are well signposted. and there are various
publications on walks and car tours available.
There are Stately Homes and Gardens, Ancient Monuments and Castles, Museums
and Art Galleries etc. within easy reach. The Swannery and Subtropical Gardens
at Abbotsbury, the Fleet Air Arm Museum at Yeovilton, Compton House Butterfly
and Silk Farm are only a few of the places of local interest.
