Tyneham is a small Dorset village, once home to a handful of residents but now stands completely abandoned. It is often referred to spookily as Dorset’s “lost” village.
The villagers were told to evacuate by the Army during the Second World War in 1943, and it’s been used for army training exercises ever since.
Some 225 people were displaced. They were originally told they could return one day, later to be disappointed when the Army placed a compulsory purchase order on the land in 1848. Consequently, the villagers were never allowed to return.
The ghostly parish is owned by the Ministry of Defence and is often closed to the public to allow training ground for the Armoured Fighting Vehicles Gunnery School. However, it is usually open to the public on weekends and during public holidays.
The area is home to vacated houses, a church, and an old school building, where you can view a fascinating exhibition about the villagers that once occupied Tyneham all those years ago.
The charming Worbarrow Bay is only a 20-minute walk from Tyneham and is part of the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site. Because of its limited access points, the Bay is not overcrowded, making it an ideal spot for relaxing and enjoying a picnic.
Despite being uninhabited for 80 years, the village has a rich history and dates back to Iron Age Britain. The Romans are said to have occupied the valley around Tyneham, which was once rich with salt-boiling, shale-turning and Purbeck Marble industries.
Tyneham village is even mentioned in the famous Domesday Book as Tigeham, which strangely means “goat enclosure”. The Domesday book was a huge survey of Britain recorded in 1086, which makes Tyneham almost a thousand years old at least.
There is free car parking in the village with a suggested donation of a mere £4, and dogs are welcome. If you fancy a secluded and interesting day out in the UK, Tyneham Village is a fantastic option, and it won’t break the bank.