Dorset holidays
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Hardy Dorset choirs still go the rounds at ChristmasLetter: Far from the circuits of local bands and musicians dying out in the late 20th century, this Christmas tradition thrives in Dorset
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Fossil fever: exploring Dorset's Jurassic Coast with Steve EtchesRetired plumber Steve Etches has spent years combing the coast for ammonites and dinosaur bones. He has collected so many a £5m, world-class museum, in the village of Kimmeridge, has been built to house them all
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Take the kids to … The Tank Museum, Bovington, DorsetThis rather sceptical mum was surprised by just how much fun – and how absorbing – this collection of armoured vehicles was
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Staycations and carnival – a Weymouth photo essayIn the last days of the summer, and with a new school term looming, photographer Alicia Canter takes a fond look around her hometown in Dorset, which is enjoying a boom in visitors
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Wild west cabins in the West CountryCedar cabins, rocking chairs on the veranda and western-style horse riding. It’s possible to feel at home on the range on a new holiday ranch in Dorset
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Landmark Trust opens John Fowles' former home for holiday rentalsRestoration of the novelist’s house, Belmont, where he wrote The French Lieutenant’s Woman, means it is now available to book for self-catering breaks
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Let’s go to ... the Jurassic CoastJurassic World has just made movie history after raking in a record $0.5bn on its opening weekend, but there is real dino history to be explored on this lovely stretch of Devon and Dorset coast
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La Fosse, Dorset: hotel-restaurant reviewCranborne, an ancient village set amid a bucolic landscape, is host to a B&B and restaurant with decor that defies 21st-century norms but is ahead of the game with its modern menu
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Brassica, Beaminster, Dorset: restaurant reviewDorset reminds Jay Rayner of family holidays in the 70s, but Brassica gives him the chance to make some new memories
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Seaside Boarding House, Burton Bradstock, Dorset: hotel reviewSet up by the people who founded London’s Groucho Club, this sophisticated seaside bolthole feels a lot more private members’ club than traditional boarding house. And the restaurant’s excellent, too
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South Street Kitchen, Gillingham, Dorset – restaurant reviewMarina O’Loughlin: ‘For this part of the world, this place is as radical as a pontiff in stiletto-heeled pumps’
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Go for a walk – you could discover the meaning of lifeIf you have a burning question about yourself, the answer might be all around you – that’s the theory behind Street Wisdom
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Food in fashion: Dorset's restaurant and hotel sceneWith a coast jumping with seafood, great local produce and a new wave of stylish hotels, chefs and foodies are flocking to Dorset. Miriam Phillips rounds up the very best of the county’s restaurants
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From the archive, 14 January 1928: With Thomas Hardy in DorchesterOriginally published in the Manchester Guardian on 14 January 1928: A fortunate journalist recalls a guided tour given to him by the Dorset town’s renowned author
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Christmas swims - in picturesThousands of competitors take to their local pool, lake or beach to take part in the traditional Christmas morning swims
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Sun, sea and sweat: Weymouth hosts its first ‘ironman’ triathlonThere are more relaxing ways to enjoy the British seaside, but Martin Love decided to test his mettle in Weymouth’s inaugural ironman
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Readers’ walks: Weymouth Bay, DorsetTake in the breathtaking views on this walk along the Jurassic coastline from Weymouth past Durdle Door
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The Pig on the Beach, Studland, Dorset: hotel reviewFull of happy people enjoying the great cocktails, local food, and slightly batty interiors, the latest offering from the Pig chain also happens to overlook a stunning stretch of Dorset coast
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Cool holiday cottages on England’s Jurassic coastEnjoy the fantastic Jurassic coast in Dorset and east Devon, via Lulworth Cove, Chesil Beach and the Durdle Door, from these brilliant boltholes both large and small
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Summer in Weymouth - in picturesFigures released by the Met Office show that this July is likely to go down as one of the warmest and sunniest on record. Matt Cardy from Getty Images joins the crowds of holidaymakers in the traditional seaside resort of Weymouth in Dorset
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The Jurassic forest where reptiles still roamCountry diary: Fossil Forest, Lulworth Ranges, Dorset: The trees would have been part of a lush tropical forest inhabited by dinosaurs. Now the ledge is home to much smaller reptiles
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Give wheels a chance: how to make your kids love cycling
Having the right equipment is important, but it's not everything – keep bribery up your sleeve too
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Cycling events for your diary
England has officially gone cycling crazy, with a wealth of bike-related festivities and events taking place this year
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Cycling Dorset: clear of congestion from Axminster to Bridport
Pedalling in peace along a scenic segment of the Tour de Manche cycle route
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Travel tips: adventures on Dorset's Jurassic Coast, plus this week's deals
Hunting for fossils and delighting in the Dorset coastline, literary escapes in the UK, and sightseeing plus a spa in Turkey. By Joanne O'Connor
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Cool holiday cottages on the south-west coast – in pictures
These boltholes in Devon, Dorset and Cornwall make the most of the region's spectacular coastline, from a tiny hut on a cliffside in a private cove to a chic beach hut overlooking the sea
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In pursuit of Hardy's woodlandersCountry diary: Cerne valley, Dorset: In 1912, Thomas Hardy lamented the decline of traditional trades but there are neat piles of sawn logs at the roadside and thatched roofs in the villages
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Snorkel safari reveals UK's vibrant marine marvelsKimmeridge Bay supports a rich variety of colourful sea life, but isn't being considered for marine conservation zone status
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Travel tips: swimming in Scotland and adventure holidays for kids
Cool off in a loch, or let your family run wild, says Joanne O'Connor
Country diary Cliff falls leave fossils on the beach below