Sculpture By The Lakes is a private 26 acre year-round sculpture exhibition in Dorset. It’s difficult to get to any other way than car, I did look into it last year when I wanted to go solo but honestly it’s such a countryfied road it would be dangerous to walk down even if you can get the bus to the nearest main road.

Children under 14 aren’t allowed in and only well behaved dogs on a short leash will be given access.

It is best enjoyed on a nice day, any season but I think giving it a miss in Winter will mean you get to enjoy all the different flowers and clever landscaping that’s gone into the design. They offer retreats, and even have cabins and an island you can hire out if you’re thus inclined - it’s a really gorgeous day out and I’d thoroughly recommend it.

The Sculptures & The Lakes

My advice would be get there at opening time and make the most of the quiet, we were literally the first people in and it meant we could enjoy all of the installations without worrying about others.

There are some like the swing seats which you can see would get filled up really quickly, or you wouldn’t be able to spend as much time if you didn’t get there early. So it is worth getting up a bit earlier to beat the rush, and to put off coffee etc until a bit later.

We worked it so that we did half then went for coffee then went back in to do the other half. Which actually worked really well. When you go in you can either go straight, left or right - we went left and it was the best idea because that’s where the huge swing seat is.

There are lots of sculptures situated around the two lakes, and other water features. There are also other installations like huge wind chimes so you want to take it all slowly. It’s been designed in a very clever way so even though it’s not massive there are loads of nooks and areas to explore, it also swallows up numbers and there are lots of seats and cosy corners to take a rest in.

It is wheelchair-friendly but there are bridges which may prove a bit of an issue so I would suggest getting in touch or checking the website before you go if you have queries along accessibility lines.

It is also a haven for artists, gardeners and photographers, which is totally understandable and as an artist myself I loved all of the inspiration and would 100% suggest visiting just to get ideas and quick sketches of all the various areas.

The Kitchen Garden

Oh my goodness is there anything better than a kitchen garden? At the entrance of the gardens if you go right and cross the lil bridge you’ll discover a whole other section which is looked after by the owners of the house at the end of the willow tunnel. I could have spent all day there just sketching and sitting and enjoying the vibe. This area is slightly less accessible for those in a wheelchair or with mobility issues. But if you can get across it’s well worth the effort and there are wide paths that brush the different sections.

Dogs aren’t allowed in this section so if you’re bringing your fluff ball I’d suggest coming with someone else so you can take turns enjoying this section.

The Gallery

The Gallery is situated next to the overflow car park near the Makers Yard. It’s a really beautiful piece of architecture with a gorgeous interior even without the art - so I’d suggest having a look even if you’re not into galleries.

There’s a huge selection of sculptures and artwork to browse, all at a smaller scale to the pieces seen on and by the lakes. There’s a lot of impressionist, contemporary art pieces if that’s your style and miniature versions of some of the larger pieces. So for the right price you can take a piece of the place home with you.

Eating

There is the ‘restaurant’ which does full on lunch and dinner for those wanting something a bit more filling or fancy. It does get very busy and lunch was fully booked when we went. For anyone just wanting a cuppa and a slice of chocolate cake you can get takeaway and sit in the area next to the Gallery. It’s out in the open and filled with gorgeous Moroccan tables and little fountains available to buy; there is also a shelter in case it’s grim.

We sat in one of the lil alcoves which has jasmine creeping up the sides to make each table feel more private. Because it’s tucked away and a bit quieter it was also perfect for Sky who can be a wee bit nervous in busy areas.

Shopping

Where to begin?! Okay you have choices - and they’re all wonderful. There is the Makers shop next to the restaurant which has a range of ethical and local small business produce in, then of course there is the gallery which has pieces in for those of you looking to spend a bit more. Then of course there are the sculptures around the lakes some of which are for sale.

So really, it’s more where to begin browsing!