Striking gold at tourism awards

Coppet Hill Partners, a regenerative farming family business just outside Bridport, has won Gold in the New Tourism Business category of the Dorset Tourism Awards. Coppet Hill was founded in 2021 from the dairy and award-winning bacon business, Denhay Farms Ltd.

The new partnership has taken a new more environmental approach to managing the land and the farm now hosts naturefriendly camping and secluded glamping. Just three miles from the Jurassic Coast, and surrounded by some of Dorset’s most spectacular hills, their 600-acre family farm is now a peaceful haven for walkers, campers and wildlife lovers. The on-site shop and tearoom feature local suppliers such as Firepot, Baboo Gelato and Palmers Brewery. Summer sees their sunflower walks open to the public and they run seasonal events such as nest box building, Open Farm Sunday and weekly events for guests such as moth club and owl prowl.

Dorset Museum is also celebrating, after winning four awards – Gold for Accessible tourism,

Silver for Large Visitor Attraction of the Year, Bronze for Business Events Venue of the Year and Silver for its Taste eatery in Café/Tearoom of the Year.

Since reopening in May 2021 after a £16.4m National Lottery Heritage Fund-funded redevelopment, the museum has gone from strength to strength. Its current special exhibition I Grew Up in the 80s, running until February 26, has attracted record visitor numbers and amazing feedback from a wide range of age groups. Increasing access was a crucial part of the redevelopment. Step-free access was created at the front entrance as well as lift access to all the public spaces. New facilities include a Changing Places toilet and Calm Space, and visitors can pick up resources to support their visits such as braille guides and sensory backpacks. The galleries include tactile objects, braille captions and British Sign Language on film displays.

Head of learning Emma Talbot said: “We’re thrilled to have won Gold for the prestigious Accessible and Inclusive Tourism Award. During our redevelopment, we worked with disabled members of the local community to ensure that the Museum was accessible as possible. We received wonderful feedback from visitors since opening.”