Dorset: Country and Coast — Season 1

In the first episode we visit Lyme Regis and experience the excitement and wonder of finding a 200-million-year-old fossil lying on the beach. We learn about how the area became so famous for its fossils, and why thousands flock here every year in search of their own piece of history. We meet renowned chef and restaurateur Mark Hix MBE and accompany him on a fishing trip to catch sea bass that will later feature on his menu.We then travel inland to Mapperton House with its luscious Grade II* listed gardens, lovingly tended by Countess of Sandwich, Caroline Montague. Renowned for their design and varied planting, the gardens are among the most stunning in southern England. Beyond the gardens, some new residents have recently moved into the grounds in the form of beavers and wild Exmoor ponies. Both are part of an ambitious rewilding project designed to encourage a wider and more diverse range of species to flourish on the estate.On the coast we visit the sought-after beach huts of Mudeford, transformed from the basic fishing sheds from 100 years ago into luxurious holiday homes. They may be small but they carry a hefty price tag, with sales of some reaching almost half a million pounds. Many of the beach huts have remained within families for generations and few of those lucky enough to own one would consider parting with it.Dorset contains more thatched properties than any other county in the UK. We meet father and son thatchers Nick and Mike Farwell, whose skill and dedication to their craft are keeping the ancient art of thatching alive for generations to come.

In this episode we visit the Isle of Purbeck, taking a scenic ride on the Swanage Steam Railway. Running between Norden and Swanage, it's a fabulous way to travel through the stunning Dorset countryside.Another tradition is being kept alive at Oxford's, Sherborne's oldest working bakery. Their Dorset apple cake is made to an age-old recipe and baked in their trusty 102-year-old oven.South of Sherborne lies the 18-mile-long Chesil Beach, protecting Fleet Lagoon from the open sea. This calm body of water is home to an oyster farm run by Charlie Bloxham, who supplies oysters to his father Nigel's popular seafood restaurant. Breeding oysters is not an easy task, but the calm waters are perfect for it, giving the oysters their unique taste.At Sherborne Abbey, the bell ringers squeeze in a last-minute practice for an important performance - Ring for the King on Coronation Day in honour of King Charles. Meanwhile, on the coast at Weymouth beach, Mark Anderson puts the finishing touches to his latest sculpture made entirely of sand: a Coronation scene featuring King Charles complete with crown.Northwest of Weymouth, nestled in a sheltered valley, sits Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens. Here an astonishing range of exotic plants and trees thrive, protected by the surrounding hills, in their own micro-climate

This episode features Weymouth with its beautiful golden beaches and historic harbour. We visit the town's oldest ice cream parlour and meet Fulvio and Aimee Figliolini, the father and daughter team carrying on the Rossi tradition. The ice cream is handmade the same way now as it was in 1937 when Aimee's great-grandfather first opened the parlour, and it's a favourite with locals and visitors alike.A few miles outside Weymouth lie Bennetts Water Gardens. Originally a clay pit, the gardens were transformed in the mid-fifties by Norman Bennett. With over 300 varieties of water lily, it's like walking into Claude Monet's masterpiece The Water-Lily Pond.We then head east to The Blue Pool Nature Reserve on the Isle of Purbeck. Set in 25 acres of heath, woodland and gorse, this former clay mine's waters glisten turquoise in the sunlight. It's home to wild ponies, pigs, grass snakes and even Walter the resident peacock, who visits the tea room each day for his breakfast scone.On the western end of the Fleet Lagoon, visitors can walk among hundreds of nesting swans with their fluffy cygnets. Abbotsbury Swannery is the only managed colony of nesting mute swans in the world and we visit on the day of the Summer Fair.At the Dorset Heavy Horse Farm, Richard Street and his daughter Taya look after their family of heavy horses. Known for their size and strength, these magnificent gentle giants were relied upon for their pulling power before mechanisation took over. Keen to keep these declining breeds alive, Richard and Taya spread awareness while providing families with a wonderful day out. We see one of their largest residents get new shoes. His feet are so big, the shoes have to be specially made.

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.