From Britain with Love

Blandford Forum is a market town located in the heart of Dorset. It is said to be the finest example of Georgian architecture in the South West, having been almost completely rebuilt in the 18th century, following the devastating Great Fire of 1731.

Blandford is nestled in the beautiful River Stour valley, surrounded by wooded hills and well away from the bustle of Dorset's seaside resorts. The town’s focal point is the magnificent Georgian market square, from where you can wander through pretty streets offering a wealth of independent shops, galleries and cafes. Make sure you look down at the pavement where specially carved slabs are illustrated with local poems and verse. The surrounding countryside is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty where you'll find idyllic villages with beautiful thatched cottages, wonderful walks, great pubs and some of the most stunning views in Dorset.

Alhough Blandford is quite small, it packs a lot in! In Salisbury Street you'll find the Hambledon Gallery, an emporium of lifestyle shopping with a superb mix of known brands, handmade pieces and elegant clothing. At The Vintage Café you can buy coffee as well as the chair and table you're seated at! Reg and Gill stock an ever changing collection of vintage pieces and serve great coffee and cakes too. Opposite is the Incident Room, a compact gallery with work by local artists. Opening in 2012 is the Valentine Gallery, which will be a showcase for artist Annabelle Valentine and other local painters. Nearer the square you’ll find us, Hawthorn. We sell handcrafted pieces by local and national designer-makers, alongside our fabulous haberdashery and vintage ephemera (pictured, below). We love finding beautiful and unique pieces by today’s best craftspeople - from jewellery and ceramics to glass, textiles and wall art.

For local produce you can munch on, the butcher on the square John Bilsands offers a broad selection of local cheeses, charcuterie and deli products. Be sure to get your fruit and veg from Stocks in the Greyhound Yard, a rare town centre grocers that’s still going strong. A bit further afield you’ll find Dorset’s best kept secret, the Long Crichel Bakery. Here they bake quality organic bread in a wood fired oven using local ingredients. They are master bakers at their best, and the cakes are pretty good too!

One thing North Dorset does very well is country pubs. My favourite for a well priced meal has to be The Anchor Inn at Shapwick, where they turn local produce into tasty and original dishes. For something a bit pricier your best bet is The Shed restaurant at The Museum Inn in Farnham (pictured). They’re recommended by Michelin and serve local game, meat and fish in a high class but relaxed atmosphere.

In the heart of Blandford, The Dolphin is a great little pub run by local brewery Piddle who serve good pub grub with an impressive selection of ever changing ales, with many from local micro breweries. For lunch, try Oxfords on Salisbury Street - a 100 year old family-owned bakery which serves simple but great lunches alongside wonderful bread and cakes. In nearby Sturminster Newton you’ll find Dorset’s finest olive company Olives et Al with a great deli serving a wonderful selection of local produce.

Join in with the local country set at The Museum Inn which has stunning rooms with four-poster beds, Roberts revival radios and sumptuous fabrics. It’s a regular for shooting parties and the conservatory has an impressive display of antlers. A somewhat cheaper but equally attractive option is the Langton Arms, a striking thatched inn with wonderfully designed rooms and great food. For something a bit different, a short drive from Blandford brings you to the Stock Gaylard Estate with its choice of Yurts (featuring wood fired hot water tanks!) and their unique Shepherd Huts (pictured)... perfect for enjoying the beautiful Dorset countryside.

There’s lots to do both in Blandford itself, and within a short drive or bike ride. Kingston Lacy on the way to Wimborne is a striking 17th Century house and gardens (National Trust) set within an 8,500 acre estate. The restored Japanese Tea Garden is a must on a sunny afternoon, and the Egyptian artefacts, bought back by William John Bankes in the mid 1800’s are a surprise treat. On the way you’ll pass Badbury Rings, an ancient hill fort spot on for a bit of kite flying; and the famous avenue of Beech Trees - be sure to bring your camera!

In Blandford, the Fashion Museum (pictured) houses an impressive collection of garments from the 1730s to the 1970s, while the Georgian Tea Room serves perfect cream teas. On the outskirts of the town, Blandford Camp is home to the Royal Signals Museum with its fascinating history of military communications. For something a bit more hands-on, a unique place to visit is the Ancient Technology Centre. What started as a school project is now a collection of six full sized reconstructions of ancient buildings, all built by visitors and volunteers. Be sure to catch one of their candlelit storytelling events held in the Earthhouse, or an evening of music in the Viking Longhouse. The Dorset Centre for Rural Skills offers a range of courses including glass blowing, earth and cob oven building, stone carving and blacksmithing, if you fancy getting your hands dirty!

Summer in North Dorset definitely has its benefits. Not only is the weather great, but there are lots of events to keep you busy such as The Great Dorset Steam Fair (pictured) held at the end of August / beginning of September, the bi-annual Blandford Georgian Fayre on the May Day bank holiday (next fayre 2012) and starting this year, the Great Dorset Chilli Festival at Kingston Lacy in August. If you want to miss the crowds, April and October are the quieter months with most attractions still open, enabling you to enjoy the beautiful countryside and heritage of North Dorset in peace.