5-Day Family Itinerary in Dorset | Days Out from South Lytchett Manor

Days Out Things to do

Dorset packs a remarkable amount into a small area. Within 30 minutes of South Lytchett Manor, you have open-top bus rides along the Jurassic Coast, a 1,000-year-old castle, one of Britain’s finest natural harbours, rescued primates, free country parks and some of the best beaches on the South Coast.

This five-day plan gives you an itinerary with a mix of free activities, affordable days out and one or two bigger attractions, so you can make the most of your stay without spending the whole holiday in the car.

If you’re bringing a pet, most of this itinerary works for you. Four of the five days are pet-friendly throughout, from the open-top bus to Swanage to the clifftop walks at Studland. Day 3 (Monkey World) is the exception: dogs are not permitted at the attraction itself, though Wareham in the afternoon is fine. We’ve noted the pet position on each day so you can plan ahead. South Lytchett Manor is a dog-friendly park. You can find out more on our dog-friendly page.

All distances and travel times are from South Lytchett Manor.

A note on pet-friendly access

Pet policies at attractions, beaches and public spaces can change seasonally. The information below was correct at the time of writing. Please check directly with each attraction, beach or transport operator before your visit to confirm current access rules for your pet.

Day 1 — Poole Quay and Poole Park

Travel: Bus from the stop outside the park gates, or 15 minutes by car.

Best for: Ages 3 and up. Pets are welcome along the Quay, in Poole Park and on the open spaces. Keep on leads around the busy quayside. Note: Poole Museum does not permit pets inside.

Start your holiday with a morning at Poole Quay. One of the largest natural harbours in the world, it’s genuinely worth an hour or two just watching the water, ferries to Brownsea Island, sailing boats, crabbing lines dangling from the quayside. Pick up crabbing gear from the park shop if you haven’t already.

Poole Museum sits right on the Quay and is free to enter. It covers 2,500 years of local history and is particularly good with younger children; the boat gallery is a reliable hit. Note that visiting exhibitions and some workshops carry a charge.

Walk or drive ten minutes to Poole Park for the afternoon. During peak season, the miniature railway runs around the lake. Enjoy a picnic in the park and the children’s play area. If the younger children have lots of energy, head to The Ark for some soft play. For older children, there is a fitness trail, an orienteering trail, tennis courts and mini golf.

Free activities

Poole Quay — strolling, boat spotting and crabbing
Poole Museum — free entry (check current opening times)
Poole Park play area and lake walk
Brownsea Island ferry views from the Quay

Optional extras

Brownsea Island ferry and National Trust admission
Harbour boat trips from Poole Quay around the harbour and along the coast

Day 2 — Swanage by Bus

Travel: Morebus Breezer 40 from the stop outside the park gates. No car needed.

Best for: All ages. Pets are welcome on the Breezer 40 bus (keep on leads) and on Swanage Beach. Durlston Country Park and the Studland to Old Harry Rocks walk are also pet-friendly.

The Breezer 40 runs along the Purbeck coast, taking in Poole Harbour, Studland Heath and the approach to Swanage. The views over the harbour and across to Brownsea Island are worth the trip alone.

Swanage itself is a traditional seaside town, with a long, sheltered sandy beach, a Victorian pier and the town is compact enough that children can navigate it independently. Durlston Country Park is a short walk from the centre and has good clifftop paths.

For families with older children or keen walkers, Old Harry Rocks is accessible from Studland on the return journey. Get off the bus and walk the clifftops before catching a later service back.

Free activities

Swanage Beach — sandcastles, swimming and beach games
Durlston Country Park — cliff top walks, trails and wildlife
Swanage seafront and pier (a small charge may apply to walk the full pier)
Old Harry Rocks walk from Studland (30–40 minutes each way)

Optional extra

Take a ride on the famous steam railway between Swanage and Corfe Castle.

Top tip: Bring a packed lunch and keep costs down. There are good spots on the beach and in Durlston Country Park. The bus back runs regularly — check the Morebus app for times on the day.

Day 3 — Monkey World and Wareham

Travel: 20-minute drive from the park.

Best for: Ages 3 and up. Dogs are not permitted at Monkey World. Wareham is pet-friendly throughout the afternoon.

Monkey World is one of the best-known family attractions in Dorset. The park rescues and rehabilitates primates from around the world , including orangutans, chimpanzees, gibbons, ring-tailed lemurs and woolly monkeys. The naturalistic enclosures are large and well-designed. The on-site team are knowledgeable about each animal’s history and the rescue work behind the scenes.

Allow a full morning. The large adventure playground at the centre of the park keeps children going between enclosures and there are plenty of spots to sit with a coffee while younger ones play. Feeding times and keeper talks are worth checking in advance on the Monkey World website.

After your visit, head into nearby Wareham for an ice cream and a walk along the historic town walls.

Day 4 — Upton Country Park and Hamworthy Beach

Travel: 10-minute drive, or cycleable from the park via quiet lanes.

Best for: All ages. Pets welcome throughout Upton Country Park (on leads in the formal gardens and around the play area) and on Hamworthy Beach. One of the most pet-friendly days of the week.

Upton Country Park covers over 160 acres of parkland, woodland and walled gardens on the edge of Poole Harbour. Entry is free. Parking charges apply. It works for any combination of ages. Tthe play area suits younger children, the woodland trails hold attention for older ones and the walled garden is a good place to sit if you need a break from moving.

The summer splash fountain runs May to September (11am–1pm and 2pm–5pm) and is a reliable hit with children under ten. The café in the grounds is great and the 9-hole adventure golf course is worth an hour if the group has energy left.

Hamworthy Beach is five minutes from Upton. Shallow water and a sheltered harbour setting make it one of the better options for younger children in the area. There’s a small park adjacent to the beach.

Free activities

Upton Country Park — woodland trails, walled gardens and play area
Summer splash fountain (May–September, timed sessions)
Hamworthy Beach — shallow water ideal for younger children
Crabbing along the shoreline

Day 5 — Corfe Castle and Studland

Travel: 20–25 minutes by car.

Best for: Ages 5 and up for the castle. Pets welcome in Corfe village and on the castle grounds (on leads), at Studland Beach and on the clifftop walk to Old Harry Rocks.

Corfe Castle is one of the most recognisable ruins in England . A Norman fortification that sits above one of Dorset’s prettiest villages with clear views across the Purbeck Hills in both directions. The National Trust manages the site: the grounds are accessible, the audio guides are worth picking up to bring the history of the castle to life. During the holidays, the National Trust run several events for all ages.

The village below the castle is worth a visit. The Square is good for lunch and there are independent shops. There is a model village (entrance fee applies) and the Town Trust Museum, small but home to Iguanadon Dinosaur footprint and local history. It’s well worth a visit.

You can catch the train to Swanage from the beautiful station.

Studland Beach is 20 minutes from Corfe and rounds off the week well. A long National Trust stretch with four distinct sections. From the sheltered South Beach favoured by families to the wilder Knoll Beach further along. Old Harry Rocks is accessible from the northern end of Studland if you didn’t get there on Day 2.

Free activities

Corfe village walk and viewpoints
Studland Beach — swimming, shell collecting and beach games
Old Harry Rocks clifftop walk from Studland (allow 1 hour return) — pet-friendly

Back at South Lytchett Manor

After five days of exploring Dorset, the park offers a great place to relax and unwind. The adventure playground and football goals are there if children still have energy. The duck pond walk takes under ten minutes and almost always produces something worth pointing at.

Pets have their own dedicated field and agility area at the park, which makes a good end-of-day run-around after a day out.

On-site eating and drinking options include Café at the Gates, The Manor’s Tap bar and The Manor’s Crust pizza wagon. Regular food vans visit during the peak season — check the What’s On page for the current schedule.

Where to Stay at South Lytchett Manor

The park provides a range of glamping, touring, and camping options to accommodate everyone’s preferences. All options are conveniently located near the facilities and the bus stop at the entrance. Pets are welcome throughout the park. Please visit our dog-friendly page for complete details about what is included.

Glamping accommodation:

Shepherd Huts · Romany Caravans · Nomadic Bell Tents · Glamping Pods · Star-gazing Yurts

Touring and camping:

Touring Caravan Pitches · Motorhome Pitches · Camping · Campervan Pitches · Roof Tent Pitches