Dorset: Country and Coast

In this episode, we visit the picturesque county town of Dorchester, steeped in history and renowned as the home of author Thomas Hardy. We explore the cottage where Hardy was born in 1840. Surrounded by ancient woodland, this small cob and thatch cottage was built by his great-grandfather and has been little altered since the family left.

In the centre of Dorchester, we stop at the Old Tea House for a refreshing cream tea. Housed in one of Dorchester's oldest buildings, the Tea House is a favourite with visitors and locals alike. It has a rich history, with a secret tunnel that runs underneath the house - part of a network that stretches throughout the town, it made the perfect hiding place for the Abbot after Cromwell blew up Corfe Castle.

At Sherborne Castle, it's the day of the Country Fair and Rare Breeds Show. We meet some young sheep handlers proudly showing their woolly charges, determined to show their parents and grandparents how it should be done.

We head to the coast and take the ferry to Brownsea Island, a nature reserve with rare wildlife including red squirrels and wading birds. We join visitors on a reptile walk to see how many of the UK's six native species they can find.

Back on the mainland, we meet Master Potter Alan White who has been throwing pots in Poole for over 50 years. Starting his career as an apprentice at Poole Pottery, Alan still makes pots in the town. Poole Pottery is no longer made in Dorset but Alan and a handful of other artists are still producing pottery with the same care and dedication that put Poole Pottery on the map, making sure Poole keeps its name for world class pottery.

This episode begins in the market town of Shaftesbury in the north of Dorset. Offering stunning views over the Blackmore Vale, this picturesque hill-top town is where you'll find Gold Hill. We visit on the day of the annual Gold Hill Cheese Race to watch competitors of all ages sprinting up the cobbled street carrying large replica cheeses - all hoping to be crowned King or Queen of the hill.

Dorset's wildlife is rich and varied. In late spring, the county's shallow warmer shores attract an endangered and extremely rare species: the native Spiny seahorse. Experts take us on a dive to show us the seahorses in their natural habitat, and we explore the pioneering work being done in Studland Bay to protect the sea grass forests, where one of Britain's largest seahorse colonies lives.

One way to see the stunning Dorset coastline is from the water, and afternoon tea on the Dorset Queen offers the chance to do just that in style. Or, if you don't fancy a cream tea, the county also hosts the World Nettle Eating Contest, where competitors race to eat as many stinging nettles as they can in half an hour.

Dorset offers all sorts of accommodation, from luxury hotels to campsites and even luxury treehouses. In a woodland retreat near Beaminster, Guy Mallinson has designed and built three unique treehouses. The woodland surroundings ooze tranquillity, while touches like hot tubs, pizza ovens and revolving wood burning stoves make this a luxurious place to stay.

In this episode, visitors at Poole Quay have the opportunity to view some pristine miniature steam engines, all competing for the title of 'best in show'. These exquisite half, third and quarter size replicas of full-size steam engines are roadworthy and proud owners offer rides to enthusiasts of all ages.

A little way along the coast sits the resort town of Bournemouth, known for its beaches, Victorian architecture and famous piers. We hear the story of the whale that washed up beside Boscombe Pier in 1897. The skeleton of the 70-foot mammal, thought to be that of a blue whale, was erected on the pier and attracted crowds for the next 7 years.

We visit one of Bournemouth's last family-run hotels to discover what goes on behind the scenes at one of the busiest times of the year. It takes hard work to give the guests the polished experience they expect.

Cerne Abbas is probably best known for the huge ancient chalk giant cut into the hillside above the village. Each summer, the village holds its Open Gardens event in which villagers can explore their neighbours' gardens, and see the varied planting and diverse garden designs of the village.

We join the Poole Harbour patrol officers who police the world's second largest natural harbour. They spend their days on the water, making sure boats and jet skis observe the harbour speed limit, escorting larger vessels into and out of the harbour, and ensuring everything runs safely and efficiently.