Hi Keith
I prefer West Dorset, but there are not many large hotels in the area which would mean staying somewhere around Weymouth or possibly Dorchester. There are a couple of Premier Inns in Weymouth which get good reports on TripAdvisor if you are looking for a budget option. Lyme Regis might be a possibility, but that is virtually on the border with Devon and too far away from many locations.
The Isle of Purbeck could be a better choice. Highlights in the area include Corfe Castle, Lulworth Cove, Studland Beach, Durdle Door, Kimmeridge, Dancing Ledge, Swanage Pier, Mupe Bay, Tyneham, Man of War Bay, St Alban's Head and Old Harry Rocks to name just a few.
Dawn2Dusk Photography* run courses in the area and use the Springfield Country Hotel in Wareham. I have not stayed there so cannot vouch for it. They used to use the Purbeck House Hotel in Swanage which was OK a few years ago, if a bit tired. It might have been renovated since then.
* D2D is run by Mark Bauer and Ross Hoddinott. Mark is based in Dorset and is the man for whom satnavs were invented as he has the worst sense of direction of anyone I have met. I have literally seen him get lost in a hotel car park.
