Family Fun in Dorset

Monkey World is a truly unique place. It’s home to four large family groups of chimpanzees living naturally outside of Africa, Europe's only orangutan crèche, and an active breeding population of endangered woolly monkeys.

Combining fun with conservation, you can discover more about man’s closest living relative with half-hourly keeper talks, then ‘monkey around’ in the south’s largest Great Ape playground.

Already this year, the centre has welcomed an orphaned infant to the orangutan group, and births in the rare white-throated guenons group, the world’s only breeding population of woolly monkeys and the little-studied endangered Bengal slow loris group.

You can support this conservation work by joining the adoption scheme, which comes with free annual entry. Find out more at www. monkeyworld.org

Falconry Flying Experience Days & More at Libertys

Liberty’s Owl, Raptor and Reptile Centre in Ringwood is home to a large collection of birds of prey, including eagles, hawks, owls and vultures.

Observe these magnificent birds flying free or treat yourself to a special Flying Experience Day and experience the thrill of falconry for yourself. You can also get up close and personal with the snakes, lizards and spiders during various displays in the day.

At the rescue centre, come and see wild birds of prey on their road to recovery and release back to the wild.

Open daily March - October 10am–5pm. For more information visit www.libertysfalconry.co.uk

Summer Family Fun at the Castle

Highcliffe Castle is the perfect location to entertain the whole family this summer.

From the beach to the woods and with jampacked event schedule and new children’s activity room, it has so much to offer. Following extensive restoration work, the East Wing is now open to the public for the very first time, so it’s the perfect family day out.

New for this season, Highcliffe Castle Garlic Theatre production’s ‘The Three Little Pigs’ is in August, complete with some ‘piggy’ craft activities to amuse your little ones. Plus, on August Bank Holiday Monday, Highcliffe Castle hosts an outdoor theatre production of David Walliam’s ‘Gangsta Granny’. So, bring a picnic and enjoy this amazing performance on the lawn.

For ticket information, visit www.highcliffecastle.co.uk

Camp Bestival

Camp Bestival is known as the UK’s ultimate family festival, having won Best Family Festival at the UK Festival Awards five times.

Taking place 25th-28th July at Lulworth Castle, the four-day festi-holiday offers hundreds of things to see and do. From headliners Nile Rodgers & CHIC, Jess Glynne and Annie Mac, family fun with Mr Tumble, Mister Maker and Shaun The Sheep, to science shows and circus workshops, there’s so much for kids of all ages to enjoy.

Tree-climbing, woodland workshops, helter skelters, giant bubble workshops and face painting for the kids through to teens having poetry slams, teen only spinning classes, sleeping out under the stars and How To… workshops, there really is something for everyone.

Parents are particularly spoilt at Camp Bestival; well, they do buy the tickets! Amazing live acts and DJs, raves, discos, parties, comedy, literary talks, parenting advice and stories, cocktails, awardwinning street food, likeminded people all in a big old field by a castle and the sea.

Make it Hot, Hot, Hot!

The only dedicated UK Cheese and Chilli Festival will be returning to Christchurch this year, taking place at Hurn over the weekend of Saturday, 8th June and Sunday, 9th June from 10am to 5pm. The event will bring an amazing array of tastes, colours and experiences to town and is a ‘must go to event’

It’s the perfect weekend for cheese and chilli lovers who can try and buy from an incredible range of local and regional products. It’s family friendly too with some great attractions including free cooking displays, tastings, beer tent, live music, street theatre, crazy golf, human-sized table football, children’s rides, treasure hunts, balloon modelling, craft and shopping stalls and lots more. You also get £20 of discount vouchers on the door.

Children under 16 go free. Buy tickets on line and save money. For more details visit www.cheeseandchillifestival.com

Feel The Magic of Vintage Train Travel

Swanage Railway is the picture postcard branch line to the seaside.

Steam trains run for six miles, weaving their way through the beautiful Purbeck countryside from Norden, home of the Purbeck Mineral Mining Museum, past the magnificent ruins of Corfe Castle to the sandy beach of Swanage, the eastern gateway to the Jurassic Coast, a World Heritage site. Swanage Railway offers an intensive heritage steam train service with departures up to every 40 minutes in the summer season.

Special events, including steam galas in the Spring and Autumn, a diesel gala in May and our acclaimed Santa Specials in December, run each year.

Enjoy the Fun of the Fair at Baiter Park Poole

Dorset’s favourite family fairground is returning to Poole’s Baiter Park this spring! Enjoy amazing value for money with our £6.99 wristband which provides you with unlimited rides for two hours!

The line-up includes all of the family favourites such as the Dodgems, Waltzer, Sizzler, children’s rides and bouncy castles. Opening 25th May until 1st June, the sessions are 12-2pm, 2-4pm, 4-6pm and 6-8pm. Come along and enjoy the fun!

Find us on Facebook - William Cole & Son Amusements.

Get Closer to Nature at Kingston Maurward

Head down to this celebrated, familyfriendly Animal Park in the heart of Dorset.

With lots of animals to meet including peacocks, birds of prey and wallabies; you can even feed the goats and sheep, enjoy a picnic, or visit the park café. Take a walk along the lakeside nature trail and explore the stunning formal gardens and parkland.

Kids’ activities run throughout all school holidays with discounts for locals. Fun for all the family - the perfect day out! PLUS: brand new indoor play barn for those wet days - coming soon!

For more information visit www.visitkm.co.uk or call 01305 215003.

Nothe Fort Museum of Coastal Defence

Nothe Fort is an award-winning visitor attraction offering low cost entry and great value come rain or shine.

Built by the Victorians to protect Portland Harbour, Nothe Fort is one of the best-preserved forts of its kind. The advances in technology that affected the fort are explained through many displays, exhibits and audio-visual facilities located on the ramparts,

gun decks and maze of underground passageways.

Nothe Fort is one of Weymouth’s major attractions and a venue for a wide range of public events. You don’t have to be a military enthusiast to enjoy your visit. It’s a great day out for all the family with lots to see and explore, so why not come and spend a day with us? You won’t regret it, but beware the fort

is haunted. Enjoy the stunning and far reaching views of the Jurassic Coast from the picnic areas on the Ramparts, which provide one of the best vantage points on the south coast.

There’s also a wide range of educational activities for schools & colleges as well as corporate hospitality, public events and private function hire all year round.

Make Memories at Old Bidlake Farm

Special moments shared with family form our fondest childhood memories, yet for many parents it is more difficult than ever to find time for those valuable opportunities.

A camping adventure under the stars offers the perfect escape for all the family, a million miles away from everyday life. To make the most of precious family time Old Bidlake Farm has everything you need ready and waiting for your arrival, with beautifully furnished Bell Tents and a thoughtfully-equipped facilities barn, so you can just pitch up and start making magical memories.

Discover more at www.oldbidlakefarm.co.uk.

Treat your family to a hassle-free camping adventure to remember at Old Bidlake Farm’s beautifully furnished bell tents in a stunning location close to the dramatic Jurassic Coast.

Get a 20% discount on all off-peak stays. Quote ‘Families Dorset.’ T&Cs apply.

Old Bidlake Farm, Broadoak, Bridport, West Dorset, DT6 5PY www.oldbidlakefarm.co.uk | 01308 538080 camping@oldbidlakefarm.co.uk