A TRADITIONAL blue cheese that has been made in Dorset for more than 300 years has helped to put the county on the food map.

Hotel chain Premier Inn has created the ultimate foodie map and has included Dorset and its Blue Vinny cheese.

Blue Vinny gets its name from a local Dorset term related to the old word ‘vinew’, meaning to become mouldy. It’s a hard and crumbly cheese made from skimmed cow’s milk and it packs a strong, punchy flavour.

The Premier Inn's food map suggests that visitors and residents alike can try the cheese by visiting The Blue Vinny pub at Puddletown near Dorchester, where the cheese is served with many of its dishes.

The map has been put together to encourage the nation to sample the delicious tastes and flavours of England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland. Starting in the south with Cornwall’s Stargazy pie and ending with Aberdeen’s deep-fried Mars bar, the map plots out the best locations and eateries for sampling each dish.

For more information, see premierinn.com