Journey planning

Transport Direct (opens in a new window) offers information for door-to-door travel for both public transport and car journeys around Britain to help you plan your journeys effectively and efficiently.

By car

If you are driving to Dorset from the north, leave the M5 at junction 25 and follow the signs for Yeovil, then Weymouth. From the east, follow the M3 and M27 to Ringwood, then the A31 to Dorchester. The A31 and A35 cross the county, giving access to the west country.

By rail

South West Trains (opens in a new window) (0845 6000 650) provide a regular rail service between London Waterloo and Weymouth, calling at Bournemouth, Poole and Dorchester South. The London Waterloo to Exeter St Davids service calls at Sherborne and Axminster (for Lyme Regis) and the Bristol Temple Meads to Weymouth service calls at Maiden Newton and Dorchester West.

By coach / bus

There are regular daily services to the main towns in Dorset provided by National Express (opens in a new window) . There are also local regular bus services.

By air

The nearest regional airports are, Bournemouth International, Exeter and Southampton. Bournemouth International Airport (opens in a new window) has chartered services available all year to many European destinations.

By sea

A ferry service operates to the Channel Islands and St Malo in France from Poole and Weymouth run by Condor Ferries (opens in a new window) 0845 609 1024. For services to Poole contact Brittany Ferries (opens in a new window) 0871 244 0744.

• Directions to Christchurch

• Directions to East Dorset

  The council's offices are located at Furzehill, just outside of Wimborne.

• Directions to West Dorset

  West Dorset District Council's main headquarters is in Dorchester: Stratton House, 58-60 High West Street, DT1 1UZ. Tel: 01305 251010. Fax: 01305 251481. Minicom: 01305 261237.