Motoring through Wessex - any recommended places to visit?

[Keraulophone]

It looks as though touring may eat up your time, but, regarding musical tourism, there is a concert at Truro Cathedral (approx. 40 Miles from Polperro, about an hour by car) next Sat 18th at 7.30 by Three Spires Singers & Orch: Dvorak Stabat Mater & Schumann Piano Concerto. Next day: Langlais Messe Solennelle at 10am, Farrant, Pascoe (a setting of The Lord’s Prayer in Cornish), Vierne Carillon de Westminster; Evensong at 4pm: Sumsion in G, Harris Strenthen ye the weak hands, Parry Chorale Prelude on St Anne. Alternatively, you may be able to catch Exeter Cathedral Choir en route, where Evensong is at 4pm on Saturdays.

[HighlandDougie]

It looks as though touring may eat up your time, but, regarding musical tourism, there is a concert at Truro Cathedral (approx. 40 Miles from Polperro, about an hour by car) next Sat 18th at 7.30 by Three Spires Singers & Orch: Dvorak Stabat Mater & Schumann Piano Concerto. Next day: Langlais Messe Solennelle at 10am, Farrant, Pascoe (a setting of The Lord’s Prayer in Cornish), Vierne Carillon de Westminster; Evensong at 4pm: Sumsion in G, Harris Strenthen ye the weak hands, Parry Chorale Prelude on St Anne. Alternatively, you may be able to catch Exeter Cathedral Choir en route, where Evensong is at 4pm on Saturdays.

Many thanks for this "trailer" for what sound like an inspiring series of musical events - I may need strong powers of persuasion to get people out on a Saturday night but Sunday Evensong is a distinct possibility, especially if combined with a return journey from the revamped Tate St Ives.

[ardcarp]

...or if you prefer Evensong at Exeter (4pm Boys and Men) it's Walmisley in D minor, Rheinberger's Abendlied and Stanford's Postlude in D minor.

[LeMartinPecheur]

If not, my only significant recommendation - and you have probably already been there - is Lutyens's Castle Drogo to the North of Dartmoor which is definitely worth a visit. You get to see all the plans etc.

(Oh its is currently undergoing a six year renovation project to make it watertight so possibly forget that one - https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/castle-drogo)

Castle Drogo is now closed for the winter - Mrs LMP and I went there on its last open weekend at the end of October. Even though covered in scaffolding hung with plastic sheeting it's still worth a visit if you're down again next year!

[HighlandDougie]

Well, I tried to cram it all in but just didn't have enough time. However, having decided that Bulbarrow Hill sounded like a good place for a walk (reached via whizzing past Stonehenge then Shaftesbury), got started on the Dorset experience there. Wonderful views - and a very strong sense of place. Dorchester - Bridport via the coastal road (ace views again), diversion to Lewesdon Hill (with a quick sprint up to Pilsdon Pen), back to the A35, then Lyme Regis and to Honiton via Seaton. The next day was a visit to a gym in Exeter (dire traffic) via Topsham to see an avocet (tick), a great walk on Dartmoor from Lydford (having whizzed past the sign for Castle Drogo, which I have visited before - and don't, alas, much like as a house, although the surrounding woods are great for a walk). Truro Cathedral evensong sampled and greatly enjoyed on the return from Tate St Ives (much improved after its 'refit') on Sunday.

Monday's return via the A35 and Studland included Chideock (a gem), Poundbury (not in any way a gem but it was a convenient place to stop for a quick lunch), Moreton (a must-visit: many thanks, PJPJ), both for the Whistler Windows and TE Lawrence's grave (nearby Clouds Hill closed, alas, for the winter) and then the Tank Museum. The Tiger Panzer display was very impressive, if a bit cultish - I liked the faintly disapproving rhetoric of the wall panels that they might have been large and terror-inducing but were most definitely not the tanks which secured German superiority at certain periods of the war. I'm sure that the few fans in evidence would love to have been there in German uniforms. Not that I can talk as I demanded to see a T34 and was then treated to a disquisition by one of the (very enthusiastic) staff on Russian tanks. But the WW1 displays/reconstructions of the trenches were really well done. Then Studland via Lulworth Cove in the fading light. Bracing head-clearing walk on Tuesday morning from Studland towards Swanage then the horror of the traffic through Poole and Bournemouth.

I now understand Lat-Lit's enthusiasm for the coast - I thought that it was one of the most impressive stretches of coastline (from Studland westwards) I've experienced. Anyway, I now know what I've been missing so will return (and sample the other delights missed en route, not least the Square and Compass). For anyone who might be contemplating a meal there, The Pig on the Beach at Studland had piped music in the dining room (Radio 2 at breakfast). Maybe it caters to local tastes but it was a bit naff. And I still never cease to be amazed at just how busy everywhere seems to be in the South of England. But a huge success so deepest thanks once again for everyone's suggestions.

[Lat-Literal]

Well, I tried to cram it all in but just didn't have enough time. However, having decided that Bulbarrow Hill sounded like a good place for a walk (reached via whizzing past Stonehenge then Shaftesbury), got started on the Dorset experience there. Wonderful views - and a very strong sense of place. Dorchester - Bridport via the coastal road (ace views again), diversion to Lewesdon Hill (with a quick sprint up to Pilsdon Pen), back to the A35, then Lyme Regis and to Honiton via Seaton. The next day was a visit to a gym in Exeter (dire traffic) via Topsham to see an avocet (tick), a great walk on Dartmoor from Lydford (having whizzed past the sign for Castle Drogo, which I have visited before - and don't, alas, much like as a house, although the surrounding woods are great for a walk). Truro Cathedral evensong sampled and greatly enjoyed on the return from Tate St Ives (much improved after its 'refit') on Sunday.

Monday's return via the A35 and Studland included Chideock (a gem), Poundbury (not in any way a gem but it was a convenient place to stop for a quick lunch), Moreton (a must-visit: many thanks, PJPJ), both for the Whistler Windows and TE Lawrence's grave (nearby Clouds Hill closed, alas, for the winter) and then the Tank Museum. The Tiger Panzer display was very impressive, if a bit cultish - I liked the faintly disapproving rhetoric of the wall panels that they might have been large and terror-inducing but were most definitely not the tanks which secured German superiority at certain periods of the war. I'm sure that the few fans in evidence would love to have been there in German uniforms. Not that I can talk as I demanded to see a T34 and was then treated to a disquisition by one of the (very enthusiastic) staff on Russian tanks. But the WW1 displays/reconstructions of the trenches were really well done. Then Studland via Lulworth Cove in the fading light. Bracing head-clearing walk on Tuesday morning from Studland towards Swanage then the horror of the traffic through Poole and Bournemouth.

I now understand Lat-Lit's enthusiasm for the coast - I thought that it was one of the most impressive stretches of coastline (from Studland westwards) I've experienced. Anyway, I now know what I've been missing so will return (and sample the other delights missed en route, not least the Square and Compass). For anyone who might be contemplating a meal there, The Pig on the Beach at Studland had piped music in the dining room (Radio 2 at breakfast). Maybe it caters to local tastes but it was a bit naff. And I still never cease to be amazed at just how busy everywhere seems to be in the South of England. But a huge success so deepest thanks once again for everyone's suggestions.

I am very pleased you enjoyed it - and you have visited quite a few places I haven't seen, especially inland, but I do know Chideock well. Re the coast, there is a point to be made for Londoners and other people living in the South East which is that it is so much closer than other options in the South West. The instinct is to do the Devon/Somerset and Cornwall coast early (I first set foot in them all in the 1970s although it was Pembrokeshire that was my first love) and then ultimately someone says "what about Dorset?" This happened to me as I said in the 2000s. And the immediate thought on seeing just how wonderful it all is - "why did we never think about this before?" The answer........."we had no idea it was that great".

[Dave2002]

Then there's always Poundbury!

[ardcarp]

Then there's always Poundbury!

...a housing estate.

[Tony Halstead]

...a housing estate.

Miaouw!

[ardcarp]

Maybe I was a little harsh. You will notice the late time of my post (#23). I had just driven back home and decided to go through Dorchester rather than using the bypass. The Western extremities of the town are, basically, Poundsbury.

[teamsaint]

Maybe I was a little harsh. You will notice the late time of my post (#23). I had just driven back home and decided to go through Dorchester rather than using the bypass. The Western extremities of the town are, basically, Poundsbury.

It IS a housing estate. I don't like it much, but I really can think of a lot worse places to live.......