Covering the area from Dorchester to Lyme Regis and Sherborne, West Dorset is the largest district within Dorset at 418 square miles.  As a mainly rural district with a few market towns, the population density of West Dorset is relatively low, with a total population of approximately 94730.  53% of these people live in the towns with 47% living in the rural areas and villages.  78% of the district is covered by environmental designations, including the Dorset AONB (71%).  These include the Jurrassic Coast which is a world heritage site.

West Dorset has a rich historical aspect, with the country side being dotted with ancient barrows and stone circles and several large Celtic hill forts.  Dorchester, the county town of Dorset, is in this district and has a rich Roman history.  In more recent history West Dorset was also the home of William Barnes and both Thomas Hardys (the writer and the admiral).