FIFTY-one businesses came away with trophies at the Dorset Tourism Awards.

Moors Valley Country Park and Forest took the Winner of Winners title – as well as gold in the large attraction category and silver for access and inclusivity.

Clare Gronow, team leader at Moors Valley, was “over the moon” at the park’s achievements, which also included a silver for its Go Ape attraction in the tourism activity, sport and experience section.

She said: “Moors Valley is a joint venture between East Dorset District Council and the Forestry Commission and the work we do here goes beyond the remit of most visitor attractions including, as it does, countryside management and forestry.

“With over 800 acres it is a large site to look after and we always aim to balance the needs of our visitors with those of the environment.”

Weymouth’s Pommery Dorset Seafood Festival won the gold award for tourism event of the year, as well as a special award for outstanding contribution for tourism.

Bournemouth seafront warden Laurence Smith won another special award, as unsung hero for outstanding customer service.

An audience of 215 saw the trophies presented at the Tank Museum in Bovington.

Compton Acres was named the best small visitor attraction. Its owner, Bernard Merna, said: “It’s an honour to know that the Dorset Tourism Awards have recognised the dedication and passion of those working at Compton Acres.”

The award category was sponsored by the Italian Villa, the restaurant at Compton Acres, but it took no part in the judging.

The Italian Villa itself won gold in the venue and business tourism category, sponsored by Saffery Champness. Its managing director, Tony Beales, said he was “elated”, adding: “We’re extremely proud to be flying the Dorset flag.”

Other local gold winners were self-catering flat BOD Bournemouth for access and inclusivity; the Balincout Hotel in Bournemouth for bed and breakfast and guest accommodation; Bournemouth Tourist Information for tourist information services; South Lytchett Manor Caravan and Camping Park for sustainable tourism; Christchurch Harbour Hotel and Spa for large hotel; and the Arbor Restaurant at the Green House Hotel, Bournemouth, for restaurant of the year.

Nick Fernyhough of headline sponsor Saffery Champness said: “The level of entries in all categories has been outstanding this year and shows the high quality venues and activities that Dorset can provide for tourism.”

The full list of winners:

Small hotel of the year (sponsored by Clockwork Marketing). Gold: Best Western The Grange, Oborne. Silver: The Eastbury, Sherborne. Bronze: Grove Hotel Bournemouth.

Small visitor attraction (Italian Villa). Gold: Compton Acres. Silver: Poole Pottery. Bronze: RNLI College, Poole; The Ark, Poole.

Holiday park (Hoseasons). Gold: Highlands End, Bridport. Silver: Hoburne Park, Christchurch. Bronze: Higher Moor Farm Camp Site, Weymouth.

Access and inclusivity (Purple Cloud Consultancy). Gold: BOD Bournemouth. Silver: Moors Valley.

Cafe and tearoom (Hotel & Catering Show). Gold: Aroma Coffee House & Kitchen, Lyme Regis. Silver: Worth Matravers Tea & Supper Room. Bronze: Symondsbury Kitchen, Symondsbury.

Tourism event of the year (Bournemouth University School of Tourism). Gold: Pommery Dorset Seafood Festival. Silver: Tankfest, Bovington. Bronze: Sherborne Abbey Festival. Special award; Poole Harbour Boat Show.

Bed and breakfast and guest accommodation (Goadsby). Gold: The Balincourt, Bournemouth. Silver: Bradle Farmhouse, Wareham. Bronze: Launceston Farm, Blandford.

Venue and business tourism (Saffery Champness). Gold: Italian Villa. Silver: Marsham Court Hotel, Bournemouth.

Tourist information service (Resort Marketing). Gold: Bournemouth Tourist Information Centre. Silver: Discover Purbeck Information Centre, Weymouth. Bronze: Swanage Tourist Information.

Tourism activity, sport and experience (Horsey Lightly Fynn). Gold: Lyme Bay Rib Charter, Bridport. Silver: Go Ape Moors Valley Tree Top Adventure. Bronze: Brownsea Island.

Unsung hero award for customer service: Lawrence Smith from tourism and seafront services, Bournemouth.

Sustainable tourism (Dorset Cereals). Gold: South Lytchett Manor Caravan and Camping Park. Silver: Fernhill Hotel, Bridport. Bronze: Bagwell Farm Touring Park, Weymouth.

Large hotel of the year (NatWest). Gold: Christchurch Harbour Hotel & Spa. Silver: RNLI College.

Award for outstanding contribution to Dorset Tourism: Pommery Dorset Seafood Festival, Weymouth.

Large visitor attraction (Take One Media). Gold: Moors Valley Country Park & Forest. Silver; Farmer Palmers, Organford. Bronze: Kingston Lacy, Wimborne Minster.

Tourism pub of the year (A Head for PR). Gold: White Post, Rimpton. Silver: Acorn Inn, Evershot. Bronze: Thimble Inn, Piddlehinton.

Self catering establishment of the year (Quality in Tourism). Gold: Symondsbury Estate. Silver: Lancombe Country Cottages & Lodges, Dorchester. Bronze: Caalm Leisure, Shaftesbury; Glampotel, Bere Regis.

Restaurant of the Year (Dorset Food & Drink). Gold: Arbor Restaurant at the Green House Hotel, Bournemouth. Silver: Eastbury, Sherborne. Bronze: Dorset Burger Company, Weymouth.

Winner of Winners (Dorset LEP): Moors Valley Country Park & Forest.