Dorset Quiz – 50 Questions and Answers

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Welcome to my 50-question Dorset quiz! Whether you’re a Dorset local, or just a massive fan, test your knowledge and see how well you really know this corner of South West England…

Go ahead and test yourself and find out how much you know about Dorset. Make sure you let us know how well you do in the comments at the end!

Maybe you’re planning a virtual quiz for your friends and family (check out my guide here) or a themed round for your next pub quiz. If so, this Dorset quiz is perfect!

You don’t need to use the whole quiz – you could simply borrow a few of the questions from the General Knowledge section below to make a special Dorset round. Or click here to check out our facts about Dorset for more inspiration.

This quiz contains four rounds. First is a General Knowledge round with 21 questions – so you might want to split it into two parts. Then we have a picture round with 9 photos of popular spots on the Dorset Coast – all you have to do is name them all. It should be pretty easy if you’re familiar with the county. Finally, we have a History round, followed by an Film and Literature round. These both have 10 questions each. The answers are at the end of the post, so be careful not to scroll down too far before you’ve finished answering.

Big thanks to the Great British Bucket List for giving me this idea with their awesome British Quiz!

Don’t forget to share your scores in the comments at the end of the post. And follow us on Facebook for more fun Dorset posts. Enjoy…

Dorset Quiz Questions – General Knowledge

1. What is the name given to the 96-mile stretch of coast between Exmouth in East Devon and Studland Bay in Dorset?
2. Dorset Blue Vinney is a kind of what?
3. How tall is the Cerne Abbas giant?
   • A) 33 metres (108 ft)
   • B) 44 metres (144 ft)
   • C) – 55 metres (180 ft)
4. What is the official county town of Dorset?
5. Where would you find “The Cobb”?
6. Name the Dorset cliff which is the highest point on the South Coast?
7. Which superhot chilli, rated at a terrifying 1.5 million Scoville Heat Units, was first developed in Dorset?
8. Where does Chesil Beach start and end?
9. What is noteworthy about the post box found at Barnes Cross near Sherborne?
10. Which is the longest river in Dorset?
11. What is it considered unlucky to say on Portland?
12. Which of the following won’t you find in Dorset?
    1. Motorway
    2. Cathedral
    3. Cities
    4. All of the above
13. What is a Dorset Knob?
14. Hall & Woodhouse, the brewery behind Badger Beers, can be found in which Dorset town?
15. Where was the first scout camp held in 1907?
16. Where would you find the Fossil Forest?
17. Which is the only Dorset football team in the Premier League?
18. Which famous castle on the Isle of Purbeck was built by William the Conqueror?
19. Old Harry Rocks are connected by a chalk ridge line with which Isle of Wight landmark?
20. What is the highest point in Dorset?

Bonus Question: Which of these is NOT a real place in Dorset?

• Scratchy Bottom
• Shitterton
• Tincleton
• Burpwell
• Shaggs
• None – they’re all real

Dorset Quiz – Picture Round

This is the Dorset quiz picture round. Below are 9 photos of popular spots on the Dorset coast. All you have to do is name them! Click the button below to download a full-size image if you want to print or share it. If you think this round is too easy, I’ve also included a link to a Black and White version where the images have been washed out, to make it a little bit more of a challenge.

Dorset History Round

1. Durnovaria is the Roman name for which place in Dorset?
2. Weymouth was famously a popular holiday spot for which royal?
3. What is the collective name for the 6 men who formed a friendly society in 1833 to protest the lowering of agricultural wages?
4. During which war did the Dorset Clubmen fight at Hambledon Hill?
5. Which deadly disease arrived in Weymouth in the 14th Century?
6. What was the “occupation” of Harry Paye, one of Poole’s most notorious historic citizens? It’s said Old Harry Rocks were named after him.
7. What is the largest iron age hill fort in Dorset?
8. In 1588, eight ships from Dorset assisted in the destruction of which fleet?
9. Found on Monmouth Beach at Lyme Regis, David Attenborough’s “Sea Dragon” is the fossil of which prehistoric creature?
   • A – Ichthyosaur 
   • B – Plesiosaur 
   • C – Ammonite
10. In what year did Bournemouth and Christchurch become part of Dorset?
    • A – 1874
    • B – 1974
    • C – 1987

Film and Literature Round

1. Novelist Thomas Hardy based his fictional town of Casterbridge on which Dorset town?
2. Corfe Castle is believed the have been the inspiration for which fictional castle from a much-loved children’s book series?
3. The tongue-twister which begins “she sells seashells by the seashore” was inspired by which fossil hunter from Lyme Regis?
4. In 1973, Ridley Scott directed an iconic British advert which was shot on Gold Hill in Shaftesbury. What was it for?
5. Scenes for which 2017 film, directed by Christopher Nolan, were filmed around Weymouth harbour?
6. Where in Dorset was the popular ITV series Broadchurch filmed?
7. Portland Stone was used to build which famous cathedral?
8. The grave of writer Mary Shelley can be found in which town?
9. The fictional Sarah Woodruff lives in Lyme Regis in which historical novel?
10. Which 2007 book by Ian McEwan, features Edward and Florence honeymooning on the Dorset coast in the summer of 1962?

Dorset Quiz – Questions and Answers