Dorset has been named the third most popular holiday destination in the South West, according to a recent study.

Together Travel, a travel and tourism company, compiled a list ranking the top holiday destinations in the South West.

The areas were ranked based on the percentage of people who said they would choose to stay there if they went on holiday in the South West.

Holiday makers on Weymouth beach (Image: John Gurd)

Dorset came in third place with 16 per cent of people, beaten to second place by Devon with 32 per cent of people.

Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly was named the top destination with 38 per cent of people selecting the area.

Data was analysed from the Visit Britain Domestic Sentiment Tracker which explores the likelihood of UK residents to travel within the UK and when and where they plan to go.

Zak Ali, from Together Travel, said: “The UK has so much to offer from rolling hills, to bustling forests, to picturesque beaches, to ancient castles and cities.

“So many people tie going on holiday with going abroad, and that shouldn’t be the case. Why hop on a plane for 4 hours when you can explore such beauty on your own doorstep?”

Dorset has been noted as a popular holiday destination in different surveys appealing to various tastes. In 2023, the county was voted as the "most haunted holiday destination" in the UK with 18 haunted stories and sightings in the county.

READ MORE: Dorset is the most haunted holiday destination in the UK

Last month, it was also revealed that Dorset is one of the most profitable places in the UK when it comes to owning a holiday let, with Sykes Holiday Cottages revealing that properties in the county have annual incomes averaging £27,200.

The full ranking of areas in the South West where people are most likely to stay on holiday:

  1. Cornwall & Isles of Scilly (38 per cent)
  2. Devon (32 per cent)
  3. Dorset (16 per cent)
  4. Somerset (14 per cent)
  5. Bath (9 per cent)
  6. Gloucestershire (inc. Cotswolds, Forest of Dean) (7 per cent)
  7. Bristol (6 per cent)
  8. Wiltshire (4 per cent)
  9. Don’t know/Not sure (1 per cent)