There are now two lists for Dorset genealogy - the Rootsweb one and the British Genealogy one that I run, so there is no harm in trying to make this list more light hearted and fun for those who want to get away from searching the census and finding out a little more about the times and places in which their ancestors lived (recipes were great, Carole!). Since we in the Northern Hemisphere are into spring (and spring in Dorset has been especially lovely this year with lots of sunshine), I hope that some of you are going to brave SARS, terrorism and the rest and visit your ancestor's county. If not, maybe you would like to dream a little. With this in mind I wondered if those of us who live in Dorset, or who have visited Dorset , would like to recommend some of our favourite Dorset places. These won't necessarily be famous places (indeed better if they are not) but places which you think are special and which you think other people may enjoy. I'll start the ball rolling with MORETON since I went there today. We planned to go to Hardys Cottage but you couldn't get anywhere near the car park , as it was jam-packed so we drove along the country lanes to Moreton. Here you have a lovely river/woodland walk (lots of bluebells and water which is crystal clear) to Lawrence of Arabia's cottage at Clouds Hill, beautiful gardens, Lawrence of Arabia's grave - and most lovely of all, St Nicholas Church. St Nicholas Church is a really tiny Church and was severely damaged by bombing in World War 2 when all the stained glass was destroyed. The windows were replaced with clear glass engraved by Lawrence Whistler, all on the theme of light. There are candles, the sun, the galaxies, lightening etc The first were done in 1955 and the most recent in 1984 - and they are stunning. My 12 year old daughter found them quite magical. You just get an overall impression of lightness. (Don't expect a Medieval Church by the way - the original one was but the current one is Georgian, enlarged in 1840 and partly rebuilt in after 1940 - but all in the same style as the original and quite lovely in its own right). Even the notice on the church door was quaint - "Please close the door else a little bird may fly in and die of thirst" ! Haven't seen that one before. This will just be a quick trip, worth taking time out from the Record Office as it is fairly close to Dorchester. If you are out of the holiday season you could fit in Hardy's Cottage and Hardy's grave en route. Looking forward to other people's favourite places (and I can think of a few more myself!) Helen Helen Jones, Weymouth, Dorset http://www.melcombe.freeserve.co.uk List Admin Rootsweb Eng Dorset & Scammell Lists, and British Genealogy Eng-Dorset, Surnames & Forenames list