Lyme Regis is a popular town on the Jurassic Coast
- Credit: Herry Lawford, Flicr
From cool coastal resorts to bustling market hubs, Andy Greeves chooses ten towns whose history, ambience and busy events diary make them ‘must visit’ destinations.
Remember to practice social distancing on your visit and book ahead wherever possible to avoid disappointment. Some events mentioned may not be running this year or be slightly different so do check before attending.
1. Poole & Sandbanks
Take yourself on a self-guided walk of Poole s Old Town by picking up a leaflet for The Cockle Trail from the Poole Welcome Centre on the Quayside. Make sure you visit Poole Museum, also on the waterfront. From the quay you can admire the natural harbour dotted with islands.
Marx Hix: In
hindsight,
losing
everything
was a
blessing
in disguise
Credit: Nicholas J R White
For someone whose restaurant empire collapsed just as Covid-19 hit, Mark Hix is looking surprisingly content with his lot, sitting in his faded blue Guernsey jumper and battered jeans, on a pub window seat deep in the lanes of his native Dorset. ‘In hindsight,’ he says, ‘it has all been a bit of a blessing in disguise. Forget the money and investment that I lost. And, yes, there were a few months of sitting there scratching my head. But now I am starting over.’ He grins cheekily, like someone who can’t quite believe his luck. ‘It feels like a new beginning.’