DORCHESTER’S surrounding small towns and villages are home to a rich variety of shops and services, many with post offices and general stores which are always a delight to discover.

Many artists, authors and craftsmen and women have made their homes in the villages and you might well find pictures, books on local history and places to discover, cards, carvings and other crafts made or written by them in the local shops.

Two or three places with shops which spring to mind immediately are Abbotsbury, Cerne Abbas and Puddletown but there are many more. Visiting the villages is a great way to explore cosy country pubs, a wealth of churches which throw light on the history of the area and landmark features like the Cerne Giant, Iron Age hill forts and Bronze Age barrows.

Farm shops selling local produce are usually in between the villages such as Washingpool, Godmanstone, Sydling, Abbotsbury, Bere Regis and Martinstown.

There are also a number of rural industrial estates in Dorset covering a wide range of, products, occupations and services for the general public including at the former army camp, Enterprise Park at Piddlehinton.