Dorset’s countryside is dotted with historic market towns and picturesque villages built from warm local stone. Away from the busy seaside resorts, visitors can explore charming rural communities such as Shaftesbury with its famous Gold Hill, the historic abbey town of Sherborne, and the attractive Georgian streets of Blandford Forum. Smaller villages including Cerne Abbas, Milton Abbas and Corfe Castle offer traditional Dorset character, historic buildings and access to beautiful countryside walks. This guide highlights some of the most interesting rural towns and villages in Dorset and provides links to more detailed visitor information.
Historic Market Towns
Dorchester
Dorchester is the historic county town of Dorset with Roman origins and strong connections to the novelist Thomas Hardy. The town offers several museums, historic buildings and easy access to the surrounding Dorset countryside.
Sherborne
Sherborne is a beautiful historic market town known for its magnificent abbey and elegant medieval streets. Visitors can also explore Sherborne Castle and enjoy the town’s many independent shops and cafés.
Shaftesbury
Shaftesbury is one of Dorset’s most picturesque towns, famous for the steep cobbled street of Gold Hill and sweeping views across the Blackmore Vale. The hilltop setting gives the town a distinctive character and historic charm.
Blandford Forum
Blandford Forum is an attractive Georgian market town set beside the River Stour. Rebuilt after a great fire in 1731, the town is known for its elegant architecture and traditional market square.
Sturminster Newton
Sturminster Newton is a small market town on the River Stour surrounded by the rolling countryside of the Blackmore Vale. The town is closely associated with the poet William Barnes and Dorset’s rural heritage.
Wimborne Minster
Wimborne Minster is a historic market town centred on its impressive medieval church. The town features attractive streets, a lively market and several interesting museums.
Wareham
Wareham is a historic Saxon town set between the River Frome and River Piddle near Poole Harbour. The town is surrounded by ancient earth walls and serves as a gateway to the Isle of Purbeck.
Historic Villages
Corfe Castle Village
Corfe Castle is a picturesque village of Purbeck stone cottages clustered beneath the dramatic ruins of Corfe Castle. The village is also the main station for the heritage Swanage Railway.
Milton Abbas
Milton Abbas is a remarkable model village created in the eighteenth century with rows of white thatched cottages. The village sits in a peaceful valley beside the historic estate of Milton Abbey.
Cerne Abbas
Cerne Abbas is a charming historic village in a narrow valley in the Dorset countryside. It is best known for the famous Cerne Abbas Giant carved into the hillside above the village.
Evershot
Evershot is a small and attractive village in west Dorset surrounded by quiet countryside. The village is known for its historic buildings and connections with several of Thomas Hardy’s novels.
Kingston (near Corfe Castle)
Kingston is a small and picturesque village on the Isle of Purbeck set among rolling countryside. The village is best known for the impressive Victorian church of St James, which stands prominently above the surrounding landscape with views towards Corfe Castle.
Explore more Dorset guides
Dorset Attractions
Dorset Coastal Towns and Villages
Dorset Castles
Dorset Historic Houses and Gardens
Dorset Beaches
Dorset Walks