For families looking for things to do in Dorset for kids during the summer holidays, Abbotsbury Swannery offers a memorable day out with a unique mix of wildlife, storytelling, and outdoor discovery.
This season, the Brambly Hedge Interactive and Story Trail returns to the Swannery for its final year, featuring two much-loved stories: The High Hills and Sea Story.
Children and families can step right into the pages of the beloved children’s books to meet characters, track down hidden clues, and, along the way, learn all about the world’s only managed colony of nesting mute swans.
A story trail for summer explorers
The Brambly Hedge trail sparks curiosity, inviting children to hunt for details and explore the Swannery step by step. Based on The High Hills, this year's interactive experience follows Wilfred and Mr Apple on a thrilling, unpredictable adventure.
Alongside, visitors can enjoy a story trail inspired by Sea Story, another charming tale from the Brambly Hedge collection. Together, the two trails bring a sense of adventure to the visit, with story posts, stamp points, interactive activities and questions to answer as families make their way around the grounds.
The trail sits naturally within the Swannery setting, turning the dramatic Fleet Lagoon into a live storybook. Children can spot characters alongside real nesting swans, cygnets, and local wildlife – keeping the entire family active and engaged while fully preserving the site's peaceful nature.
A family day out in Dorset with wildlife at its heart
Abbotsbury Swannery is a special place to visit during the school holidays because the wildlife is all around you. The Mute Swans are free-flying and wander at liberty around the site, giving visitors the chance to see them at close quarters in a setting unlike anywhere else.
Summer is a particularly interesting time at the Swannery. The cygnets grow quickly through the season, while the adult swans go through their annual wing moult during June and July. During this period, the adult birds replace worn and damaged flight feathers and remain flightless until their new feathers grow.
For children, it is a chance to see wildlife in a real working environment, with plenty to notice and talk about throughout the visit. The Swannery team also share insight during the daily mass feeds, helping visitors learn more about the swans, their behaviour and the role of the Swannery today.
Explore the living willow swan maze
The Brambly Hedge trail is only one part of the summer experience at Abbotsbury Swannery. Families can also explore the living willow swan maze, which has been crafted in the shape of a giant swan.
Planted in 2008, the maze changes with the seasons as the living willow grows and develops. At the centre is a three-metre woven willow egg. The maze is another brilliant outdoor activity for families wanting a day out that combines nature, movement and imagination.
Alongside the trail and the swans, it helps make the Swannery one of the most memorable family-friendly attractions on the Dorset coast.
Plan your summer holiday visit
Abbotsbury Swannery is open daily from 10 am until 5 pm, with last entry at 4 pm. Advance tickets are available online, though there is also a ticket office on site and plenty of space for visitors.
The café is open daily from 10 am until 4.30 pm, serving homemade light snacks, savoury pastries, sandwiches, soup, cakes, hot drinks, cold drinks and a selection of local beer and cider. Gluten-free, dairy-free and vegan options are available, and visitors are encouraged to speak to staff about allergies and dietary requirements.
The gift shop offers toys, books, stationery and souvenirs, while the playground and pedal go-karts, weather permitting, add further ways for families to enjoy their time at the Swannery.
For families planning a summer holiday family day out in Dorset, the Brambly Hedge Trail at Abbotsbury Swannery brings together storytelling, wildlife, fresh air and adventure in one remarkable coastal setting.
Posted on June 30th 2026
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