SUMMER is here and National Trust locations across Dorset will be hosting a number of events over the coming months.
There’s loads on offer this season, from family trails and nature tours to outdoor theatre and monthly trail runs.
Here's what's happening across the county.
Brownsea Island
Supper and Safari, every Thursday in June, 6.30pm – 11pm
Every Thursday throughout June, meet some of Brownsea's more elusive wildlife. The National Trust have teamed up with the Dorset Wildlife Trust to guide you on an exciting nocturnal adventure. A special island boat service will take you to and from the island and tickets include island entry and a tasty warm supper and pudding.
Price: Adult £37.50 / Child £18.75. Booking essential, call 0344 249 1895.
Early bird walk and breakfast, Saturday, June 18, 7.30am – 10.30am
Dorset Wildlife Trust and the National Trust have partnered to offer you an opportunity to enjoy the island and its wildlife before the crowds arrive. A ranger from the Dorset Wildlife Trust team will lead you on a wander around the island, lakes and lagoon. Experience the peace and tranquillity of the island and listen out for the sounds of the wildlife as the day begins. Afterwards, enjoy a delicious breakfast roll (vegetarian and vegan options available), and hot beverage in our harbour fronted cafe before heading back on a special boat service back to Sandbanks.
Price: Adult £28.50 / Child £14.25. Booking essential, call 0344 249 1895.
Corfe Castle
The Castle the King Built trail with Nosy Crow, daily from Monday, June 6, 10am-5pm
Masons, Minstrels, Servants and Kings all play a part in the Corfe Castle story. Which of these colourful characters will you discover to be your favourite? There will be puzzles, questions and riddles to solve. Claim your prize, a key to Corfe Castle for all your efforts. This trail is in collaboration with Nosy Crow, with illustrations by Tom Froese from the book, The Castle the King built, available in the National Trust shop.
Price: Free (normal admission prices apply). No booking necessary.
Keeper of the Castle: Storytelling tours
Saturday June 11 and Sunday June 12, Saturday July 2 and Sunday July 3, Saturday July 9 and Sunday July 10, Saturday July 16 and Sunday July 17. 10.30am, 12noon, 2pm and 3pm
Join the Keeper of the Castle as you discover how clever design and strategic location helped Corfe Castle fulfil its role throughout a turbulent history. During this fun and fact filled 45-minute tour you will discover some of the castle's secrets and participate in interactive challenges as you time travel through the ages from the Normans to the 1940s.
Price: Free (normal admission prices apply). No booking necessary.
Corfe before the Castle
Daily from Saturday July 23 to Sunday July 31, 10am-6pm
Discover the pre-history of Corfe Castle and the story of the people and the landscapes that were there before the castle was built. Listen to talks, absorb displays and get involved with interactive activities such as ‘The Dig’.
Price: Free (normal admission prices apply). No booking necessary.
Historic Games at Corfe Castle
Daily from Mon, August 1 to Sunday September 4, 10am-6pm
Get involved with self-led activities that are fun for all the family. Hunt around the ruins to unveil a new adventure.
Price: Free (normal admission prices apply). No booking necessary.
Outdoor theatre: Cinderella
Thursday July 28, 7pm – 9.30pm
Chapter House Theatre Company Presents Cinderella at Corfe Castle. In an enchanted kingdom in a faraway land, magical creatures and fairy godmothers come together to tell the best loved of all fairytales.
Price: £9 - £45. Booking essential: 0344 800 1895.
Outdoor theatre: Peter Pan
Thursday, August 4, 7pm – 9.30pm
Wendy Darling is certain she saw the face of a boy at her bedroom window 3 floors up – yet no-one believes her. So who can blame her when she agrees to fly away to the idyllic Neverland with him?
Price: £9 - £45. Booking essential: 0344 800 1895.
Outdoor theatre: Twelfth Night
Thursday, August 11, 7pm – 9.30pm
Prepare for an evening of mischief and hilarity, as five actors present an inventive take on this rip-roaring comedy, fit for all the family. Touring the UK this summer, this Shakespearean classic will be getting the full Three Inch Fools treatment: expect fast-paced drama, endless costume changes, and much music-making along the way!
Price: £9 - £45. Booking essential: 0344 249 1895.
Outdoor theatre: The Gunpowder Plot
Thursday, August 18, 7pm – 9.30pm
This summer, touring the UK, The Gunpowder Plot comes to life in a brand new, calamitous production fit for all the family. Expect uproarious intrigue, endless costume changes, and many, many false moustaches in this highly flammable historical tale.
Price: £9 - £45. Booking essential: 0344 249 1895.
Outdoor cinema: Sing 2 (U)
Friday, August 26, 7.30pm – 9.45pm
Purbeck Film Festival present Sing 2 at National Trust Corfe Castle. In Sing 2, the story of affable koala Buster Moon and the gang continues as they take their singing show to the big city.
Price: Adult £12 / Child £6 / Family £30. Booking essential: 0344 800 1895.
Outdoor cinema: No Time To Die (12A)
Friday, Aug 26, 7.30pm – 11.45pm
Purbeck Film Festival present No Time to Die at Corfe Castle. This one goes where no Bond film has gone in the past, respecting the rich history of the films but adding new dimensions to the character. Here, Bond is vulnerable, fallible and, at times, desperate. Redemption seems just within his grasp as the film leads to an unforgettable climax with some of the most powerful scenes in the entire series.
Price: Adult £12 / Child £6 / Family £30. Booking essential: 0344 800 1895.
Outdoor cinema: West Side Story (12A)
Friday, August 26, 7.30pm – 11.45pm
Purbeck Film Festival present West Side Story at National Trust Corfe Castle. This is the recent 2021 version of the classic musical West Side Story by Jerome Robbins, Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim.
Price: Adult £12 / Child £6 / Family £30. Booking essential: 0344 800 1895.
Kingston Lacy
Garden Tours
Every Thurs, Fri, Sun and Mon. 11.30-12.30pm and 2-3pm
Come along to one of our volunteer-led garden tours to discover the history of the formal gardens and enjoy the highlights of the season.
Price: Free (normal admission prices apply). Booking essential: 0344 249 1895.
Festival of Archaeology at Badbury Rings
Saturday, July 16 and Sunday July 17, 10am-4pm
Uncover 4,000 years of history at Badbury Rings, with a weekend of guided walks, living history and digital reconstructions.
Price: Free (with exception of guided walk by Martin Papworth, National Trust archaeologist). Martin Papworth guided walks Sat 16 Jul 10.30am and 2pm £10 pp, booking essential via the website.
National Nature Reserve Festival at Holt Heath
Thursday June 30, Friday July 15, Thursday August 4, Tuesday August 16, and Wednesday September 14.
Five events from guided walks with National Trust rangers to litter picking will showcase this important lowland heathland, home to birds such as the nightjar and all six of Britain’s reptile species. Learn more about the National Trust’s work to conserve and protect Holt Heath.
Price: Free. Booking essential via the website or 0344 249 1895.
Music on the Lawn
Sunday June 12, 19 and 26, 1pm-5pm
Enjoy an afternoon of music on the south lawn every Sunday in June. Sit back, relax, and bring a picnic to enjoy while listening to live music.
Price: Free (normal admission prices apply). No booking necessary.
Unseen Estate – Explore the Gardens
Wednesday, June 8, 10-11am and Wednesday September 14, 3-4pm
As part of our celebration of 40 years since the National Trust took on the Bankes bequest, join an exclusive tour of the garden to see some of the less known and behind-the-scenes areas of Kingston Lacy.
Price: £10, normal admission applies. Booking essential 0344 249 1895.
Unseen Estate – Discover the house
Wednesday, July 13 and Wednesday, October 12, 10-11am
As part of our celebration of 40 years since the National Trust took on the Bankes bequest, join an exclusive tour of the house to see some of the less known and behind-the-scenes areas of Kingston Lacy.
Price: £10, normal admission applies. Booking essential 0344 249 1895.
Unseen Estate – Discover the parkland
Wednesday August 10, 3-4pm
As part of our celebration of 40 years since the National Trust took on the Bankes bequest, join an exclusive tour of the parkland to discover how our agricultural activities help our conservation work.
Price: £10. Booking essential 0344 249 1895.
Outdoor theatre: As You Like It
Thursday, July 18, 7pm-9.30pm
Shakespeare’s sparkling comedy of cross-dressing confusion as exiled courtiers find their way to true love and true identity in the Forest of Arden.
Price: £11 - £50. Booking essential: see website
Outdoor theatre: The Three Musketeers
Thursday, August 4, 7pm-9.30pm
A family friendly musical that mixes amazing adventure, magical music, comical characters and swashbuckling sword fights.
Price: £11 - £50. Booking essential: see website
Outdoor theatre: Pride & Prejudice
Friday, August 12, 7pm-9.30pm
Meet Elizabeth Bennett and her sisters on their quest for true love. Amidst mistakes and miscommunications, can Elizabeth finally surpass her prejudices to see past the proud exterior of the enigmatic Mr Darcy?
Price: £11 - £50. Booking essential: see website
Outdoor theatre: Peter Pan
Thursday, August 18, 7pm – 9.30pm
Wendy Darling is certain she saw the face of a boy at her bedroom window 3 floors up – yet no-one believes her. So who can blame her when she agrees to fly away to the idyllic Neverland with him?
Price: £11 - £50. Booking essential: see website
Outdoor cinema: No Time To Die (12A)
Tuesday, September 20, 7.30pm – 11.45pm
Go where no Bond film has gone in the past, respecting the rich history of the films but adding new dimensions to the character. Here, Bond is vulnerable, fallible and, at times, desperate. Redemption seems just within his grasp as the film leads to an unforgettable climax with some of the most powerful scenes in the entire series.
Price: Adult £17.50 / Child £11.50. Booking essential: see website for details.
Outdoor cinema: West Side Story (12A)
Wednesday, September 21, 7.30pm – 11.45pm
Spielberg’s award-winning take on the classic 1950s musical.
Price: Adult £17.50 / Child £11.50. Booking essential: see website for details.
Outdoor cinema: Dirty Dancing (12A)
Thursday, September 22, 7.30pm – 11.45pm
The ultimate lessons in dance – and love – starring Patrick Swayze as the dance instructor who learns as much as he teaches at a 1960s holiday resort.
Price: Adult £17.50 / Child £11.50. Booking essential: see website for details.
Studland
Trust10 trail run
Sunday, June 26, 8.30-11am.
Join the monthly 10k trail run at Knoll Beach, a great way to blow off the cobwebs, get some exercise and take in spectacular scenery. Join us on the 4th Sunday of every month and explore the area by taking on this multi-terrain route across sand, road and off-road tracks. The Knoll Beach Cafe will be open for refreshments from 9.30am for spectators and socialising post run.
Price: Free. No booking necessary.
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