The Dorset Showground

The Dorset Showground sits just outside Shaftesbury and functions as the county's main events venue - part agricultural fair, part sports hub, part concert space depending on what weekend you pitch up. It's the sort of place where you'll catch everything from local horse trials to county shows, and the occasional touring band doing a circuit of regional venues.

The appeal depends entirely on what's on. If there's an event you fancy, it's worth checking the calendar before booking your holiday. The grounds themselves are fairly functional - no pretence to being a tourist attraction in their own right. Families with specific interests in horse sports or farming will get far more out of it than those just wandering in on spec. During the major Dorset County Show, it comes alive with livestock competitions, trade stands and the full country fair experience. Other times, it's quieter.

There's no charge simply to walk about when nothing's scheduled, though events have their own admission fees. Allow a couple of hours if there's something on; longer if you're genuinely into the activity being showcased.

For a park-based holiday, it's a reasonable day out from Gold Hill Glamping or Sunnyhill Campsite - both within easy reach. Worth timing your trip around an event rather than hoping for inspiration on the day. The surrounding Dorset countryside around Shaftesbury is the real draw; the showground itself is the bonus if you time it right.