What a fantastic week we’ve had! Gorgeous sunshine here in Dorset, and we’re expecting more of the same this weekend. Brilliant news for all our guests who have booked September camping holidays in Dorset and been blessed with lovely late bit of summer!

We’ve got a great October lined up, so we’re hoping the weather stays this good for a little while longer. There’s lots of exciting things going on throughout next month, and here are a couple that we’re particularly looking forward to…

Gig for a Gig (1st October)

Lyme Regis Gig Club, an organisation we have long supported, will be holding a special celebration of rowing on the sea on October 1st with a concert to promote the building of their new wooden boat, Tempest.

The event will be held at the Marine Theatre in Lyme Regis, and will feature sing-along songs from the Lyme Regis Gig Club Shanty Singers. Boat builder Gail McGarva will also share her insights and experience of crafting traditional wooden boats.

Halloween at Newlands (24th-28th October)

Every Halloween Newlands takes on a dark and ghoulish theme, with fancy dress competitions, pumpkin carving and lots of spooky fun and games with the Kids Club.

This year there will also be the mummy mania competition and our spine-chilling haunted alley, with cobwebs, skulls and witches all out to give you a fright!

Our Spook-tacular Halloween takes place in half term week from 24th-28th October. Book your break now at our Dorset holiday park!

Leave a Comment

Dorset is one of the sunniest regions of the UK, but even here the weather can be unpredictable at this time of year! Sometimes it can be more reassuring to have a solid roof over your head than just a thin sheet of canvas, and that’s why in addition to camping in Dorset, we offer accommodation in luxury caravans, all fully fitted and furnished to our exacting high standards.

These vary in size and can accommodate anything up to six people. There are also pet-friendly units available if you don’t want the family pet missing out on all the holiday fun!

The caravans are sited at the top of the park, giving them the very best views of the surrounding countryside. You get access to all the same fabulous facilities as the regular campers, including indoor and outdoor pools, restaurant and kids adventure play area.

We provide everything for you prior to your arrival – appliances, tv, bedding, linen and power services. The only things you need to bring are towels and tea towels. And with plenty of options to choose from in terms of style, space, and comfort, we’re certain you’ll find the perfect home from home in our choice of modern caravans in Dorset.

Leave a Comment

Dorset is a county with something going on all year round, and the next couple of months are as packed as ever for visitors looking for fun and entertainment. Here are just a few of the upcoming local events to get excited about in the coming weeks…

Bridport Hat Festival

This weekend is the annual Bridport Hat Festival, surely one of the most unique and bizarre festivals anywhere in the country. As the name suggests, it’s a celebration of weird and wonderful headgear, with visitors encouraged to join in by bringing or making their own eye-catching and flamboyant hats. The festival will also feature workshops, entertainers and live music, and many of Bridport’s shops will stay open late on Saturday evening for the event.

Lyme Regis ArtsFest

Another big local event this weekend is the Lyme Regis ArtsFest. Many people who decide to  book a Lyme Regis holiday do so because of the town’s fascinating literary history, having served as an inspiration for many great authors over the years. ArtsFest is all about celebrating that history, and will include a number of themed walks through the town, along with a screening of The French Lieutenant’s Woman, the 1981 film adaptation of the John Fowles book set in Lyme Regis. Tickets are still available for the events – head to the Lyme Regis ArtsFest website for details.

Abbotsbury Floodlit Enchanted Gardens

Next month visitors to Dorset get a very special opportunity to visit Abbotsbury’s famous subtropical gardens at night, bathed in coloured lights. The Abbotsbury Gardens, which recently featured on ITV’s Countrywise show, are home to a fantastic array of beautiful and exotic plantlife from around the world.

As well as strolling through the magical candlelit pathways and enchanted glades, you will also be able to do a little early Christmas shopping and stop for supper in the Old Colonial Tea House.

Remember, it’s not too late to book a September/October Dorset camping holiday with us here at Newlands. To see a list of our accommodation options and rates, head over to our website.

Leave a Comment

Everyone visitor to Dorset will have their own favourite bits of the county, and part of the fun of a Dorset holiday is exploring and discovering little gems that you may not have even known existed. If you’re visiting the Jurassic Coast this month, we thought we’d get you started by bringing you a list of twenty great things to do in Dorset (most of which won’t cost you a penny!)

1. See the Cerne Abbas Giant, the huge chalk figure carved into a hillside between Dorchester and Sherbourne, considered a fertility symbol in local folklore and tradition.

2. Walk along the Cobb, the iconic 13th century harbour wall featured in the movie The French Lieutenant’s Woman

3. Visit Durdle Door, the incredible natural rock archway created by thousands of years of coastal erosion, and one of the jewels in the crown of the Jurassic Coastline.

4. Hike up to the summit of Maiden Castle, the Celtic hillfort offering spectacular views of nearby Dorchester and the surrounding countryside

5. Visit Hardy’s Cottage, the lovingly restored birthplace of Thomas Hardy, one of England’s greatest ever authors.

6. Visit Dorchester on Market Day, and experience the bustling market which has played a central role in the town for hundreds of years

7. Go ape at Monkey World, the UK’s largest primate sanctuary home to gorillas, chimps, orang-utans and just about every other kind of monkey you can think of.

8. Explore thousands of years of history at Corfe Castle, one of the most dramatic and spectacular castle ruins in the UK.

9. Hunt for fossils on Charmouth Beach, either as part of a guided tour or independently.

10. See the turtles at Weymouth Sealife Park – one of the largest and most impressive aquariums in the South of England

11. Ride the perfectly preserved steam trains of the Swanage Steam Railway.

12. Take a stroll around Abbotsbury Gardens, the famous subtropical gardens recently featured on ITV’s Countrywise show.

13. Sign up for a surfing lesson on Boscombe Beach in Bournemouth – home to the UK’s only specially made artificial surf reef.

14. Learn about Mary Anning, the trailblazing Dorset fossil hunter who popularised paeleontology in the UK, at Lyme Regis museum.

15. Join in with the hand-feeding of 600 swans at Abbotsbury Swannery during their two scheduled daily feeding sessions

16. Find a quiet cafe and sit down to a Dorset Cream Tea, with generous helpings of jam and freshly clotted cream.

17. Book a kayak tour along the Jurassic Coast, and see the iconic coastal landmarks from a whole new perspective

18. Sign up to a guided ghost walk around Weymouth or Dorchester, learning about the smugglers, hangings and hauntings that make up the dark side of Dorset’s history

19. Spend a day at the Tank Museum and see their incredible collection of war machines from throughout history up until the present day.

20. Walk along Chesil Beach, and see the famous, iconic pebble beach stretching off into the distance as far as the eye can see.

Leave a Comment

September’s here and the summer is finally beginning to draw to an end. But by no means is the fun stopping here at Newlands. On the contrary, in many ways September and October are some of the best times of the year to come and visit us!

If you like a more sedate, laid-back type of holiday, then the late summer/early autumn period may be perfect for you. Mostly free from the thronging midsummer crowds, you can enjoy a leisurely tour of the Jurassic Coast and its many wonderful attractions at your own pace, without any of the hassles of hunting for a parking space or queuing to get an ice cream!

What’s more, it’s an ideal time to snap up end of season special offers and bargains, enabling you to enjoy the last of the summer sun without having to pay the top-whack high season prices. Here are some of the best offers we have on Lyme Regis holidays in the next couple of months.

Free Swimming for October Half Term

Book a break for October Half Term between 1st September and 1st October and receive free swimming.

This offer must be quoted at the time of booking to apply.

September Lodge Deal

7 nights in a luxury lodge from the 24th September to the 1st October for just £390!

September Week Offers

7 nights in accommodation suitable for up to 4 people for just £250!
From 3/9- 10/9 & 18/9- 24/9

Last Minute September Short break offers

3 or 4 nights in accommodation for up to 4 people for just £190! Dates include:

Mon- Fri 5/9- 9/9

Mon- Fri 19/9- 23/9

Fri- Mon 23/9- 26/9

To book or enquire about any of the above deals, call us on 01297 560259 or visit our website. To keep up to date with all our latest special offers and last minute vacancies, follow @newlandsholiday on Twitter or ‘like’ the Newlands Facebook page.

Leave a Comment