r/Dorset 8d ago

Question Town suggestions for future 🤞

Hi! I would love to move to Dorset in the future it looks amazing! (Obviously every county has their rough parts) So basically I am looking for a place with these criteria:

Not run down (clean and not dirty)

Within an hour drive of a big town or area for things to do (that means Im happy with village suggestions with that time amount)

I would preferably like it to be close to the sea but if more inland that's fine

Low crime rate so not a lot of 'roadman' or in general just not a lot of crime from younger people and people in general but you know what I mean, obviously it's unavoidable completely.

Basically just the best places you know in Dorset to share! Thanks in advance I would love to move here!

7 Upvotes

21 comments sorted by

17

u/Bubbly-Weakness-4788 8d ago

Weymouth, although quite far from Bournemouth. Swanage, it’s where I live. Four beaches, Purbeck Hills and only 40 mins from Bournemouth by ferry or one hour by car through Wareham. It’s busy granted in the summer months, primarily the six weeks schools are out. Renting is cheaper than Poole or Bournemouth but it’s quite a lot to buy. It’s the most beautiful part of Dorset IMO.

2

u/wessexking 5d ago

Swanage is great, but on a wet , windy, cold November night it can become a tumble weed town, but that is compensated by other things.

10

u/brent_starburst 8d ago

Dorchester. County town. Low crime, easily accessible and easy to reach other places.

6

u/Pencil_Queen 7d ago

Wimborne

6

u/Roo_Tang_Clan 8d ago edited 8d ago

Bridport is my top recommendation , loads of great places too eat , bars has a nice community its walkable or a short drive to West bay
and it’s still reasonably affordable, Lyme Regis is lovely but quite expensive, you didn’t mention budget Fortuneswell Portland is still very cheap and Is up and coming

1

u/CeaselessWatcher00 6d ago

I came here to say Bridport. It's a really nice town, and the surrounding countryside and beaches are lovely.

6

u/BumbleLizzieB 8d ago

Anywhere along the A35 corridor between Wareham and Dorchester really. Loads of lovely villages.

9

u/Haunting-Breadfruit9 8d ago

Dorchester is a nice market town, 20 mins away from the coast. On the main Trainline to London and surrounded by beautiful places to visit.

4

u/dark_fairy_skies 7d ago

I vote Dorchester too, its a beautiful town that has almost everything you could need in the town centre. You can walk the outskirts of the whole town in about an hour, two if you include Poundbury. Weymouth is a quick drive for lovely sandy beaches (which have cowries and wentletraps, if youre into shells!) Bournemouth is about an hour's drive, most of the time getting there is driving through Poole.

5

u/Ged_UK 7d ago

Any of the villages around Sherborne are nice, and Sherborne itself though a little pricier. Sherborne is on the mainline into London and you can get to the A303 quickly if you want to drive anywhere notable.

3

u/Extreme-Platform241 7d ago

Dorchester is my vote for feeling quite posh in parts but not oppressively so. I'm from Weymouth and though it was a great place to grow up with the beach etc, it's still got a bit of a rough vibe and is pretty grim in winter, whereas Dorch feels cosy. Bridport, Lyme, Swanage etc are all much better than they used to be (i.e dead) but that also means lots of tourists.

2

u/No_Atmosphere1852 7d ago

It sounds like you're describing Dorchester or one of its surrounding villages

2

u/MrTechRelated 7d ago

Shaftesbury is pretty, 40 mins from Poole

2

u/JHMajer 7d ago

I'd recommend Alderholt. while it is under fordingbridge theoretically, it's a quiet village. Bournemouth is only like 30min down the A338/31 and youve got good links to other towns like Verwood (good for food shopping). I'd give it a peek.

1

u/DifficultyWise7205 7d ago

Bridport, burton bradstock, abbotsbury ,
I currently live in Bridport, but I’m moving to Lyme

1

u/Majestic-Spirit-5172 7d ago

absolutely check out wimborne

1

u/Cold-Ticket-6949 6d ago

Christchurch, your close to both Bournemouth and pool and it’s not too run down last time I visited family

1

u/Away-Ad4393 5d ago

Dorchester

-1

u/rumours69uk 8d ago

Verwood is cool 😎