We have to share the great Dorset Knob Throwing competition at Cattistock, near Dorchester which we enjoyed on Sunday

A Dorset Knob is a hard dry savoury biscuit which is today made by only a single producer, Moores Biscuits in Morcombelake, just down the road from Fernhill (We stock their biscuits here – they are seriously yummy!).

Dorset Knobs are made from bread dough which contains extra sugar and butter. Once cooked, they are very crumbly and rather like rusks in consistency, and are generally eaten with cheese. They are named after a historic Dorset Button.

The Festival itself celebrates every aspect of the Dorset Knob.  The Throwing competition is enthusiastically participated by many – 3 knobs per entry, at least one foot on the ground when throwing and underarm throws only allowed…and all valid throws must land in a set space – the longest throw wins!  But if that doesn’t satisfy your competitive streak you can try, Splat the Knob, Knob eating competitions,  or just enjoy them alongside some delicious local Fayre provided by the many local producers.  We didn’t spot one Food stall which wasn’t local, and the food was incredible – local Burgers made by the Farm and served with Wyke Farm Cheddar, Hog Roast, Hand made Quiche, salads…plenty to satisfy all tastes.

Musical entertainment was provided by Local Banjo playing bluegrass/folk, a rocker band and Morris Dancers which were extremely popular (it looked like incredibly hard work actually!)

http://www.dorsetknobthrowing.com/

Horace the Life Size Pliosaur

We have been enjoying the Fossil Festival at Lyme Regis today with a wealth of activities for all ages!

Horace the Travelling Pliosaur certainly sets a great start to the exhibition with fantastic input from the Natural History Museum, Jurassic Coast World Heritage Team, Plymouth University, Rockwatch and too many more to mention here.

Artistic inspiration

Plenty to get young minds interested in fossil hunting – from painting plaster of Paris ammonites, to making stained glass windows of fossil images, panning for Gold and searching for geological ‘clues’ in soil from New york under a microscope!

Stained Glass Windows

Image courtesy of Adrian Gray

Adrian Gray, Stone Balancer was also displaying his skills – a must see whenever he is around as his work really must be seen to be believed.  just incredible.

If you didn’t make it to the Festival this year, be sure to set a date for 2013!

Ringstead and Ringstead bay from White Nothe on the Jurassic coast in Dorset, UK. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Covering 95 miles of stunning coastline, that stretches from East Devon to Dorset, the Jurassic coast is renowned for its natural beauty.

People travel from miles afar to walk the South West Coast path, visit the many museums or dig for fossils, and it’s a great place for everyone, whether you’re a happy singleton or a family of 5!

And because it’s so outstanding, one day just isn’t enough to see everything – you’ll need at least a weekend, if not longer.

That’s where we come in!

A hotel on the Jurassic Coast

In a stunning location, just off the A35 between historic Lyme Regis and the Fossil Hunting beaches of Charmouth, Fernhill is ideally positioned to enjoy the wealth of attractions the West Country has to offer.

On the diversion route for the Jurassic Coastal Path, with the Jurassic Coast Bus stopping right outside there is no excuse but to enjoy the UNESCO rated site of special interest which is the Jurassic Coastline. In addition we have many facilities on site to help you relax and recharge.

• Outdoor heated Swimming Pool
• A la Carte Dining Room
• Cafe Bar and outdoor terraces
• 36 acres of Woodland, Meadows and Ponds (incl. Fishing lake)
• Lyme Regis Golf Club next door
• Holistic Therapies & Massage
• Extensive DVD library, Books & Board Games

So after a long day walking, fossil hunting and scenery admiring, you can return to us at Fernhill and relax in style!

We truly are the hotel for the Jurassic Coast – see our special offers and book your room now.

“Colonial style , elegance and comfort in a quiet hideaway with stunning countryside views and delicious food”

“Clean, friendly and relaxed”

“Very friendly and welcoming!!!!”

“Great Hotel on Dorset/Devon border”

“Perfect wedding weekend”

“Loved the hotel and will be back!”

“Great location and friendly staff”

“A lucky find and such a warm welcome”

“We loved it and we will be back!”

Just a few of the comments we’ve had from people who have stayed here. Have you stayed at the Fernhill Hotel in Dorset yet? Maybe you need some more encouragement?

“Very comfortable, good service, good food, good location – what more could you ask for?”

“Thank you so much for a lovely holiday and wonderful food – the children are already asking when we can come and stay again!”

“Thank you for a wonderful relaxing stay, you were all so helpful and the room was beautiful.”

“A lovely hotel. Great staff. Very warm and welcoming. Great breakfast.”

We’d love to be adding your comments to our next blog post like this, so if you’re looking for a Dorset hotel, please consider giving us a try!

Weymouth (Photo credit: peter pearson)

With less than 100 days until the start and with by far the best medal haul in the last three Olympic games, sailing buffs would be crazy to miss the opportunity to see Team GB perform at the greatest sailing spectacle the United Kingdom has ever hosted.

Between Sunday 29th July and Saturday 11th August 2012, the Dorset towns of Weymouth and Portland will be inundated with thousands of sailing enthusiasts from every corner of the world, all vying for the chance to witness the thirteen events (of which ten are medal events) in this year’s Olympic and Paralympic Games calendar. And, as if that was not enough to whet your appetite, an estimated 10,000 spectators are expected to grace the beach at Weymouth to witness the opening of the Olympic and Paralympic Games in the county of Dorset on 28th July. Eighty performers from “Breathe”, commissioned by the Arts Council, will take part in displays of circus, dance and cabaret.

With so many people descending on the area around Weymouth, getting reasonably priced accommodation in and around the town itself will certainly prove challenging. After all, it’s not every day that Weymouth plays host to events of such magnitude as the Olympic and Paralympic games. A wise choice for the sailing enthusiast travelling to Dorset would be to seek out hotels and guest houses a little further afield.

Weymouth (Photo credit: Scardy)

Twenty-five miles and a forty minute drive to West of Weymouth lies Charmouth, and with it the outstanding natural beauty, welcome and service provided by the Fernhill Hotel: A hotel where luxury really can be yours at excellent value for money rates… especially if you act quickly. To secure the gold medal standard for your unforgettable Olympic sailing experience this summer (and still keep the gold in your pocket), call 01297 560492 or visit www.fernhill-hotel.co.uk and book online

Top deal During the Olympics is a discounted rate for Dinner, Bed & Breakfast bookings of 3 nights or more – making sure after a day enjoying the competition at Weymouth, you can relax and be well fed for less!
For practical information about viewing the Olympic and Paralympic sailing events in Weymouth and Portland, see: http://www.london2012.com/weymouth-and-portland

For more information regarding the events schedule itself, see: http://www.london2012.com/olympic-schedule

For great priced Weymouth Olympic accommodation, call us!

Happy Birthday to the Red Hat Society! 14yrs old today.

Lyme Bay Lovelies

We were priviledged to host the party for the Lyme Regis Red Hats today – with an indulgent Afternoon tea – finger sandwiches, welsh rarebit, scones, chocolate eclairs, chocolate brownie, Dorset apple cake, strawberry meringues.

Our Ladies looked fabulous in their red hats and purple dresses, and gamely enjoyed the spread laid out before them!

Afternoon tea is such a wonderfully relaxing way to spend an afternoon and indulge in some wonderful sweet treats (as well as some lovely savoury ones too!)  Why not book one soon?

Here is the poem which inspired the Red Hat Society Movement around the world…

Warning – When I Am an Old Woman I Shall Wear Purple

By Jenny Joseph

When I am an old woman, I shall wear purple

with a red hat that doesn’t go, and doesn’t suit me.

And I shall spend my pension on brandy and summer gloves

and satin candles, and say we’ve no money for butter.

I shall sit down on the pavement when I am tired

and gobble up samples in shops and press alarm bells

and run my stick along the public railings

and make up for the sobriety of my youth.

I shall go out in my slippers in the rain

and pick the flowers in other people’s gardens

and learn to spit.

You can wear terrible shirts and grow more fat

and eat three pounds of sausages at a go

or only bread and pickles for a week

and hoard pens and pencils and beer nuts and things in boxes.

But now we must have clothes that keep us dry

and pay our rent and not swear in the street

and set a good example for the children.

We must have friends to dinner and read the papers.

But maybe I ought to practice a little now?

So people who know me are not too shocked and surprised

When suddenly I am old, and start to wear purple.

http://www.redhatsociety.com/

Afternoon Tea – a British institution no longer associated with the ‘older generation’ (whatever that might mean?!) and an increasingly popular way to relax with friends.

The menu is set so the cost is predictable, and you are less likely to have to add the cost of drinks since Tea is included in the price – although a glass of bubbly is, of course, the ultimate indulgence.

The tea should be in bone china, the cakes on beautiful stands, and of course the pace leisurely and relaxed.

A mix of sweet and savory treats, in dainty sized portions and offering a substantial meal, although Afternoon Tea should never leave one feeling overly stuffed (it ruins the genteel feeling of indulgence!)

Our Afternoon Tea menu is a wonderful interpretation of some British Classics – and a great way for friends to while away an afternoon in style.

Devilled Ham toasts, Stilton Pear & Walnut Pastry cups and traditional Welsh Rarebit alongside finger sandwiches filled with smoked salmon, cucumber, Roast Beef & Horseradish provide some wonderful Savories.

Sugared fruit tarts, Dorset Apple Cake & Homemade Chocolate Eclairs are just some of the sweet delicacies gracing the cake stand.

Our Simple Afternoon tea is in itself a feast to the eyes and stomach – but if you’re looking for a few hours of indulgance, then our Fancy Afternoon tea will certainly fit the bill- add a glass of bubbly for an extra special treat..

Afternoon Tea menu 2012

Treat your Mum to a Family Sunday Lunch with us!  We don’t charge a premium because its a Special Day, we just serve arguably one of the best Sunday Lunches around as usual!

Try our new Bespoke Sunday Lunch if there are going to be 6 or more in your Group…

Your choice of Joint, cooked your way and served to your table ready to Carve, with plenty of home made gravy and all the trimmings from just £9.85 per person!(*min. 6 people,book 48hrs in advance)

Our desserts are to-die-for so if you have space, indulge in our renowned Chocolate Brownie with choc sauce, and Vanilla Bean ice cream, or sticky Ginger pud with custard…

Now everyone can treat their mum to a wonderful family lunch without breaking the bank.  But hurry – tables are filling fast!

If you haven’t yet booked something for your Valentine, or if you just need a couple of days to escape the Winter Blues with someone special, we’ve reduced our rates on some of our rooms to offer extremely great Value for the next couple of weeks…

Bed & Breakfast rates from £70 per room!!

Dinner, Bed & Breakfast rates from £125 per room!!

Rates are per room per night based on 2 sharing, but hurry – they’re on a strictly first come first served basis!

Our DBB rates are ever popular, offering Free choice from our a la Carte menu for 3 courses plus coffee.  There are no restrictions, supplements or set menus, simple relax and enjoy exactly the meal you wish.

There is so much to do and see in West Dorset we can help you plan to do as much or as little as you please during your stay – walk the Jurassic Coast or watch a host of free DVD’s from our extensive library and curl up in front of our log burner with a good book, the choice is yours!

And our weather while fresh has been bright and sunny (no sign of snowfall yet…)

Call us now to find out whether we can accomodate you!

Okay so Valentine’s Day is an excuse for Greetings Card companies to sell more stock, but its also the perfect excuse to show your loved one you care.  In this busy world sometimes it is those closest to us who are forgotten when we are busy, stressed or just over-worked, so why not take the Valentine opportunity to take some time out with the person you love, and remind them how much you love them?

We have lots of ways to say ‘I Love you’ from our Valentine’s Menu available from 10th – 18th Feb.  We also offer a Valentine Package for 1 or 2 nights on the 2 weekends around the 14th, so you can enjoy some serious time together and be truly taken care of http://www.fernhill-hotel.co.uk/offers.php

For a weekend which tells your Valentine just how much you care we include our Valentine menu for one night and Dinner in our a la carte menu on the second night – tea & cake on arrival to begin the unwind process, and homemade biscuits, massage oil and a Red Rose in your room.  We have organised walks and places to visit so you don’t even need to plan how to fill your days!  And with an extensive DVD library you could always relax in your beautifully appointed room and forget about the ‘Real world’ for 48hours…

Book a Table or a Stay with us today – and remind yourselves how beautiful love is!

Valentine Menu 2012

Please enjoy a glass of bubbly with our compliments

To Start:

Home made Spinach & Watercress Soup(V, GF)

Tian of  Mackerel (GF)

Pan fried scallops with Black Pudding

Mushroom Pate (V)

To follow: Lemon Sorbet

Main Course:

West Country Fillet Steak 6oz (GF) Peppercorn sauce, herb sauté potatoes & a selection of vegetables

Stuffed Chicken Breast Wrapped in air-dried ham, stuffed with mushroom pate, white wine & mushroom cream sauce, with potatoes Dauphinoise & a selection of vegetables

Sea Bass Fillet (GF) Pan fried with spring onions, garlic & Chilli, served with herb sauté potatoes & a selection of vegetables.

Courgette & Sun-dried tomato risotto (V) (GF) Topped with Parmesan shavings

Dessert:

Chocolate Shot, Chocolate Brownie & berries

Sticky Gingerbread Pudding, Ginger & Brandy sauce & Custard

Lemon Cheesecake with chocolate dipped strawberries

Cheese Board – A selection of local cheeses & biscuits

Enjoy Coffee & Mints in the Snug after your meal