Postcard-pretty Dorset brings an enviable serving of surf and turf to the table,with our Dorset House perfectly placed between the enchanting wilds of the New Forest to the east, and one of the UK’s most beloved shorelines to the south.
Dorset’s beautiful coast is a journey through Boscombe and Bournemouth’s Victorian splendour, the millionaire’s playground of Sandbanks, the Jurassic Coast’s prehistoric forms and the wildlife of unspoilt sandy bays. And you could soon call it home, if you enter the Dorset House Draw supporting BBC Children in Need for your chance to win this five bedroom Forest House worth £2,500,000, along with £100,000 cash.
This three-storey, rainforest-inspired retreat sits within tropical landscaping, with a backdrop of oak and beech woodland. Close by sits the historic market town of Wimborne Minster, famed for its joyful riverside paths, plentiful markets, locally sourced food from land and sea, independent shops, elegant Georgian town houses and the architectural masterpieces of Wimborne Minster church and the art deco Tivoli Theatre.
Only half an hour south of the Dorset House lies the golden sand of Bournemouth, the nation’s favourite beach. Wander with an ice cream, from Boscombe’s pleasure pier at the east of the beach, to Bournemouth Pier at the west. A succession of family friendly beaches along a seven mile stretch of coastline, sheltered by magnificent cliffs, offer a favourable microclimate and Blue Flag swims in some of the UK’s warmest and cleanest waters.
Continue west to the exclusive peninsula of Sandbanks at the mouth of Poole Harbour, the second largest natural harbour in the world, after Sydney. Crystal clear waters and breathtaking views create a haven for paddleboarding, kayaking, sailing and other watersports. Sandbanks’ many celebrity residents, including Jamie and Harry Redknapp, are well catered for by upmarket eateries, such as Rick Stein’s eponymous seafood restaurant.
To the other side of Poole Harbour is Studland Bay and the beginning of the Jurassic Coast, a 95 mile stretch of UNESCO World Heritage Site coastline, where unique rocks, fossils and landforms hold 185 million years of the earth’s history. Paths wind from the soft sands of gently shelving Studland Bay through sand dunes and woodland thriving with wild flowers. Spot peregrine falcons, guillemots and fulmars nesting near the Old Harry Rocks chalk stack.
Further west again stands the natural limestone arch of Durdle Door, where you can walk to Lulworth Cove along spectacular cliff tops. Down on the pebble and shingle coves below, watch the turquoise sea carve out ever-evolving caves and flood intertidal rockpools teeming with anemones, crabs, and fish. With patience, and luck, you might even find a fossil; a token of a special moment in time and space that’s been waiting quietly for you to make it your own.
For your chance to win this five bedroom Forest House worth £2,500,000, along with £100,000 cash, just enter the Dorset House Draw supporting BBC Children in Need. Your entries will help provide young people with safe spaces and someone to turn to when things are hard or in times of crisis.
It really is win: win, so why wait?
