Christmas in Dorset & The New Forest
I love nothing more than finding a really good local gift, especially when it means discovering a brilliant independent business at the same time. I’ve been having a little look around Dorset & the New Forest to find some lovely Christmas gift ideas from gorgeous foodie treats and beautiful little finds to tempt you. I’m a huge fan of shopping local, and we’re honestly spoilt for choice here when it comes to fantastic independent businesses, makers & producers.
Here are some ideas for your mum, your best friend, a Secret Santa, a teacher, the person who has absolutely everything… or maybe just a little something to pop on your own Christmas list.
I’ve rounded up some of my favourites to hopefully make your Christmas shopping a little easier.
Sarah X
New Forest Shortbread, Burley
A thriving New Forest business where lovingly handcrafted batches of dough are baked and packed into boxes of award winning flavoured shortbread.
The artisan shortbread comes in boxes featuring beautiful illustrations by local artists and stories about our wonderful New Forest National Park.
Choose from gift boxes, subscriptions and delicious flavours – I have included these because believe me they taste delicious and they are a true New Forest founded company.
Dorset Blue Vinny Cheese
One of Dorset’s most loved cheeses comes from Woodbridge Farm and is a traditional family business making the most delicious hand cut cheeses from their working farm set in the heart of Dorset.
Alongside the cheese they also produce a small selection of handmade chutneys – a perfect accompaniment for your Xmas cheeseboard.
Lovely gift selection boxes of cheeses and chutneys are available to order online or some individual portions of cheeses.
Bake Saunas, Wimborne
Tucked beneath two beautiful old oak trees, the outdoor sauna space looks out across wide-open fields, with spectacular sunset skies providing the backdrop.
It’s a peaceful yet invigorating experience, created to help you switch off, reconnect with yourself and leave feeling refreshed and revitalised.
Step into the warmth of a traditional wood-fired sauna, take the plunge into invigorating cold water chilled to between 5–12°C, then relax and unwind beneath the open sky. One of my personal favourite ways to unwind at the end of the week,
Memberships, bundles and gift vouchers available
New Forest Outdoor Theatre
One for the theatre goers – a unique woodland theatre where audiences can experience exceptional performance surrounded by nature, in Hinton Admiral.
Coming in 2027 you can gift a founding membership bringing various benefits and be the first to know about the upcoming productions to be held there.
A really lovely local theatre company that I have been enjoying supporting since I started my with journey with GirlAbout Travel.
Fiery Fox Candles, Wimborne
Beautifully hand poured in Wimborne choose candles, melts, reed diffusers, room & linen sprays and gift sets.
Natural soy wax, vegan friendly and cruelty free with eco friendly & biodegradable packaging, the choices here are amazing, the smells just divine all created locally by the lovely founders Lisa & Geoff
Gift sets and candlemaking workshops available which I think would make the perfect xmas pressies.
All Splendid Hampers
Beautiful hampers filled with carefully selected luxury products, what I love is that they are filled with locally sourced goodies from New Forest businesses alongside a few handpicked national brands.
Bespoke hampers are also available so you could create your own totally local New Forest Hamper – who wouldn’t want one of these for Xmas
Click here to see the ‘Girl About Christmas Guide’, for suggestions up & down the UK
By Sarah Bourne
Photos with permission
