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Dorset and The New Forest has excellent connections via international airports, ferry ports, national and local railway services and a comprehensive road system.
By air
The main airports serving the area are Bournemouth Airport (www.flybournemouth.com) (10km from Bournemouth) and Southampton Airport (www.southamptonairport.com) (56 km from Bournemouth). Both have direct flights from many international cities.
Main airlines offering international scheduled flights to these airports are:
The area is also easily accessible from London Gatwick www.gatwickairport.com (188km from Bournemouth), London Heathrow www.heathrowairport.com (152km from Bournemouth) and Bristol airport www.bristolairport.co.uk (126 km from Bournemouth)
By sea
Regular ferries arrive into:
Poole from Cherbourg, St Malo and the Channel Islands
Portsmouth from St Malo, Caen, Cherbourg, Le Havre and Bilbao
Weymouth from the Channel Islands and St. Malo
The southeast of England (Ramsgate) from Dunkirk and Ostend, Belgium;
The southeast of England (Dover, Folkestone and Newhaven) from France;
The east of England(Harwich) from Hoek van Holland, the Netherlands and Hamburg, Germany
Main ferry companies offering services to these ports are:
A useful general website is www.aferry.to/ferry-ports.htm
By road
The following main motorway routes connect the east, ports and London with Dorset and the New Forest: M20 / M26 / M25 / M3 / M27. The M3/A303 from London to Devon also passes through the northernmost part of Dorset.
To plan your journey by car, route planners are available on www.mapquest.co.uk and www.snappyroute.com
Car rental is available at all the airports serving the region (see airport websites)
Remember that:
Traffic drives on the left in Britain and traffic on the right has priority All drivers and passengers are legally required to wear seatbelts. In towns the speed limit is 30mph (50kph) and on motorways 70mph (110kph). The Government has introduced numerous speed cameras in recent years |
By train
The area is served by an excellent rail network from many principal towns in the UK to local stations throughout the region.
Direct trains from London depart from Waterloo station, the terminus for Eurostar passengers from Paris and Brussels. Direct trains stop at Brockenhurst in the New Forest, Bournemouth, Dorchester and Weymouth.
· National Rail information: www.nationalrail.co.uk , www.thetrainline.com
· National Rail Enquiries: tel. (+44) 0845 748 49 50
Passengers from London Heathrow airport can use the 'Railair Coach' link to Reading station and continue by train to stations in Dorset and the New Forest www.railair.com .
The regional rail companies that operate into Dorset and The New Forest are:
· South West Trains from London Waterloo: www.southwesttrains.co.uk
· Virgin Trains from Reading and the Midlands: www.virgintrains.co.uk
· Wales and West Trains from Weymouth to Bath and Bristol: www.wessextrains.co.uk
For those touring in the UK, a BritRail pass may be useful www.britrail.com
By bus
National Express Coaches operate services throughout the country: tel. (+44) 08705 808080; www.nationalexpress.com. Coaches depart regularly from London into the area.
General
Traveline: 0870 162 0806 www.travelline.co.uk
Transport Direct: www.transportdirect.com
Travelling within Dorset and The New Forest
As well as the above contacts, the local Tourist Information Centres are an excellent source of information about travelling in Dorset and The New Forest once you are here (see More Information section)
2 bus services aimed at visitors are of interest:
The Jurassic Coast Bus Service COASTLINX53. The perfect way to see the Jurassic Coast. The hop on-hop off service follows the Heritage Coast from Exeter to Poole and for a daily ticket travel is unlimited. www.jurassiccoast.com
The Conservation Express. Hop on-hop off service linking Wool railway station, Monkey World, Lulworth Castle and Park, Lulworth Cove and Durdle Door. www.conservation-express.co.uk
There are also tours of the region for visitors:
Discover Dorset www.discoverdorset.com
New Forest Tours www.newforesttours.com
Purbeck Adventure Safaris www.purbeckadventuresafaris.co.uk
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