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Southern England Holiday and Tourism Information
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Our "South of England" region covers the English
Counties of Dorset, Wiltshire, Hampshire and the Isle of
Wight.
In addition, the Cotswolds area extends into the
northern part of this region.
Dorset has some attractive rural countryside and some
spectacular coastal features.
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At the westernmost end of
this region's coast stands Lyme Regis, an unspoilt
resort with a small fishing harbour and famous for its
Jurassic fossils easily found along the shore which has
now achieved World Heritage Site status.
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Further eastward along the coast is Chesil Beach,
a bank of shingle (pebbles) which stretches 29 km (18
miles) connecting Bridport Harbour to the Isle of
Portland.
It is not surprising that Poole, with its natural
harbour, is an excellent centre for watersports.
Also
famous for its pottery.
At the easternmost end of Dorset lies the traditional
resort of Bournemouth, an elegant, pine-fringed coastal
resort in a south facing sheltered bay with seven miles
of golden sands.
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The area also includes Boscombe,
Southbourne and Christchurch, well known for its
excellent sailing. |
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Hampshire has three distinct areas... the famous New
Forest; rural north Hampshire which includes Winchester,
once capital of England; and southern Hampshire which
includes Southampton, the Solent, and historic naval
city of Portsmouth.
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The final area of this region is the Isle of Wight which
retains much of the traditional charm which has made it
a popular holiday destination since the time of Queen
Victoria.
It can easily be argued that the island’s best
asset is, in fact, its wonderful, largely unspoiled
coastline which ranges from white-faced cliffs to
peaceful estuaries.
Known as the ‘Garden Isle’, thanks
to its unusually warm climate, it sits on the thickest
bed of chalk in the British Isles and boasts a
sea-faring tradition that pre-dates even the Romans.
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The Needles - Photo: Isle
of Wight Tourism |
Wiltshire: - The southern area of
this county around Salisbury, famous for its cathedral,
is popular with tourists for its ancient sites of
Stonehenge and Avebury.
Central Wiltshire includes the five
bustling market towns of Bradford-on-Avon, Melksham,
Trowbridge, Warminster and Westbury, the picturesque
surrounding countryside and villages offering a variety
of attractions, amenities and sporting activities.
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The northern part of the county, dominated by Swindon,
borders the Cotswolds, Bath, Gloucestershire and
Oxfordshire providing an excellent base for anyone
wishing to tour the area.
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From this page you can follow the links to the various
holiday areas where you will find details of
accommodation, activities, attractions, historic sites,
travel information, and general tourism info for the
area.
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