Dorset, in the south west of the United Kingdom, is famed for its beauty; from undulating countryside to the Jurassic Coast which has attained World Heritage Site status. The county of Dorset is mainly rural, but the amazing coastline affords family-friendly sandy beaches, making the area the ideal holiday destination. It's an area of historical and archaeological importance with human settlements dating back as far as the Mesolithic hunters of 8000 BC. Dorset is also famous for its literary and artistic links, being the native county of Thomas Hardy, with more recent notable residents such as Tim Berners-Lee - the inventor of the Internet - and Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall - who records many of his cookery programmes from his home outside Bridport.
Dorset makes the ideal destination for a relaxing holiday, wandering through the breathtaking country side, exploring the archaeology or lazing on the beaches. With warm Summers and mild Winters it's a part of the UK that's popular with holidaymakers throughout the year. The stunning coastline of Dorset begins in the east at Poole Harbour, then stretches west towards Weymouth and Bridport.
Things to do in Dorset With such a rich heritage and beautiful scenery you're never at a loss for something to do in Dorset. You can go walking through the Dorset Downs and Cranborne Chase, with its deer, wild flowers and butterflies. The world-renowned coastline obviously makes for a great day out, with Purbeck being home to an area of outstanding natural beauty. Chesil Beach provides seventeen miles of shingle beach, which reach amazing heights. There are also more family-orientated beaches dotted along the coastline, such as Lyme Regis, Sandbanks with its lofty property prices, and Bournemouth.
If you're more interested in history then the Jurassic Coast provides a fossil and geological record that has made it a World Heritage Site. Alternatively, you could plan a day out to the historic house at Sherborne Castle, which was built in the late 16th Century by Sir Walter Raleigh. The Castle has 30 acres of lakeside gardens and is one of the finest examples of landscaping by 'Capability' Brown you will see. Any note of historical Dorset would not be complete without mention of the Cerne Abbas Giant, cut into the chalk downs and overlooking the village of Cerne Abbas with its Abbey ruins.
Top Destinations
Lulworth Cove is one of the finest examples of its type in the world, attracting more than a million visitors each year. The cove itself is a sheltered horseshoe-shaped bay, with the nearby Durdle Door, a natural limestone arch making it a worthwhile place to visit.
Bournemouth is the largest tourist destination within Dorset. It's a traditional English holiday town with miles of Sandy beaches, restaurants, shops and cafés.
Weymouth is another traditional tourist destination made popular by King George III. Famous for its donkey rides, Weymouth Bay and its Georgian Esplanade, Weymouth has everything a tourist needs.
Lyme Regis at the western end of Dorset is noted for its local fossil finds, family-friendly beaches and the Cobb, a historically important harbour wall used in the filming of 'The French Lieutenant's Woman'.
With such a great opportunity on your doorstep, our Dorset holiday cottages will make the perfect base for a wonderful holiday.
Ratty's Retreat is one of a small number of luxury holiday cottages imaginatively converted from a courtyard of seventeenth century stone barns.
Just over a mile from the Jurassic coast and Ringstead Bay, but no more than ...
Riverside View cottage is located in the Dorset village of Winfrith Newburgh (only 3 miles from Lulworth Cove), a picture postcard village surrounded by areas of outstanding and natural beauty. Close to historic towns of ...
Bankhayes, Smiths Lane, Piddletrenthide, Nr Dorchester, Dorset
Bankhayes is a detached cottage on the River Piddle in the heart of Hardy's Wessex (an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty). It is an eighteenth century farmhouse in Piddletrenthide with a large garden with barbeque ...
newly renovated 2 bedroomed house with countryside views. In Litton Cheney
which is a small, pretty village in Dorset AONB. The bedrooms both have a double bed. An extra single bed can be put in one of the bedrooms, ...
Win Place cottage is located in the Dorset village of Winfrith Newburgh (only 3 miles from Lulworth Cove), a picture postcard village surrounded by areas of outstanding and natural beauty. Close to historic towns of ...
Laverstock is a beautiful private estate within a working farm comprising of a country house, two cottages, three flats and a studio.
Laverstock is nestled in the Marshwood Vale at the foot of Lewesdon Hill and Pilsdon ...
Gould's Farmhouse, Milborne St Andrew, North Dorset District, Blandford
Beautiful Old Farmhouse In Milborne St Andrew
Sleeps 8. 4 bedroom farmhouse with large enclosed garden. Gould's Farmhouse is a beautiful period farmhouse dating back to 1600s with some original features. It has recently ...
Nestling down a little lane, this charming holiday cottage dates back to 1830 and has been carefully renovated to provide very comfortable accommodation. The Georgian seafront, harbour and sandy beach at Weymouth is just a ...
Santa Cruz, West Road, West Lulworth, Dorchester, Dorset
Santa Cruz is located in the Dorset village of West Lulworth, a picture postcard village surrounded by areas of outstanding and natural beauty and less than 0.5 miles from the beach. Two pubs within walking distance and ...
Excellent locationIn the fishing port and popular seaside resort of West Bay near Bridport on the famous Chesil Beach and World Heritage Jurassic Coastline, this third floor holiday apartment (with lift), has been ...
14 Park Gardens, Purewell, near Christchurch, Dorset, Bournemouth
Close to beaches and the New ForestSituated in a cul-de-sac in a small development on the edge of Christchurch is this well appointed terrace house. This house is conveniently located close to local amenities and is only ...
These delightful holiday cottages are set in the peaceful conservation village of Puncknowle, an AONB. The Jurassic Coast is just 1½ miles away with superb scenic walking, along with use of 4 acres of grounds and ...
Riverside View cottage is located in the Dorset village of Winfrith Newburgh (only 3 miles from Lulworth Cove), a picture postcard village surrounded by areas of outstanding and natural beauty. Close to historic towns of ...
Acorn Cottage, North Perrott, near Crewkerne, Somerset, Beaminster, Dorset
In a great location, accessed via a ½ mile farm track, in the grounds of the owners’ home, this single-storey barn conversion for four is in a peaceful location away from it all - ideal for enjoying west Dorset and ...
During the first half of 2018 this apartment has been renovated and improved. The garden has undergone a complete overhaul as have the majority of the rooms within the apartment. Returning guests will notice a vast ...
Amberley View, Higher Chilfrome, near Maiden Newton, Dorset, Beaminster
Situated on the owner’s working alpaca farm, with stunning views over the West Dorset countryside and a 6-seater hot tub on the wooden decked patio, this detached, single-storey, wooden holiday cabin offers a superb ...
This detached holiday cottage, set in the owners’ grounds, is situated right in the centre of Beaminster and is within walking distance of the town square with its shops and restaurants. The beach at West Bay, scene of ...
Anchor Cottage is in a quiet cul-de-sac overlooking Portland and Chesil Beach with stunning panoramic sea views. It is a great base for exploring the delights of the Jurassic Coast scenery and surrounding nature. Famous ...
External steps to entrance. All on the first floor.Living/dining room: With Freeview TV.Kitchen: With electric oven, electric hob, microwave, fridge/freezer, dishwasher and washing machine.Bedroom 1: With double bed and ...
External steps to entrance. All on first floor.Open plan living space.Living area: With Freeview TV and patio doors leading to balcony.Dining area.Kitchen area: With breakfast bar, electric oven, electric hob, microwave, ...
Set in the heart of the charming seaside resort of Charmouth on the World Heritage Jurassic Coast, this delightful detached cottage for 3 is tucked away in a great location. It offers a master bedroom with a super ...
In the small village of Walditch, in an AONB, 2.5 miles from the quaint fishing port of West Bay on the famous scenic World Heritage Jurassic Coast and Chesil Beach, and 1 mile from the market town of Bridport, this well ...
Situated in the village of Longburton, 3 miles south of the quaint abbey town of Sherborne, this terraced holiday cottage is situated on the main road, which gives easy access to Sherborne and Dorchester. The property ...
Bakers Barn, Bransgore, near Christchurch, Hampshire, Burley
This charming, detached, single-storey barn conversion is conveniently located on the edge of the ever-popular New Forest National Park. It is just a short drive from the priory town of Christchurch and beaches such as ...
Bankhayes, Smiths Lane, Piddletrenthide, Nr Dorchester, Dorset
Bankhayes is a detached cottage on the River Piddle in the heart of Hardy's Wessex (an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty). It is an eighteenth century farmhouse in Piddletrenthide with a large garden with barbeque ...
Situated on the edge of Gillingham in North Dorset, close to the Wiltshire/Somerset border, these two detached converted barns (refs 27736 and 27737), both for four and which can be booked independently or together, offer ...
Overlooking open countryside, this attractively furnished cottage is one of a pair in a large lawned garden about a mile from the sea. The village of North Chideock (¾ miles) has a shop and friendly pubs. To the east lies ...
Just a 10-minute walk to the sandy beach in the heart of the popular seaside resort of Lyme Regis, with its picturesque harbour and Cobb (setting for the film ’The French Lieutenant’s Woman’), and on the famous World ...
Located on the outskirts of Poole, this single-storey holiday home offers a great base to enjoy the best of Poole and is within easy driving of many delightful attractions. The famous Sandbanks Beach is 4 miles away, and ...
Step to entrance. Ground floor: Living room with beams and tiled floor. Dining area/kitchen. First floor: 2 bedrooms: 1 double (5ft four poster), 1 twin. Bathroom with shower over bath and toilet. ...
Bluebell Cottage, Wootton Fitzpaine, near Charmouth, Dorset, Lyme Regis
In a fine location in the scenic Marshwood Vale, midway between the popular and picturesque seaside resort of Lyme Regis and Bridport, on the famous World Heritage Jurassic Coast and only 3 miles from the quaint seaside ...
This detached holiday cottage, next to the owner’s home, is accessed via an unmade lane and is a short walk from Wimborne with its pubs, restaurants and shops. Visit National Trust Kingston Lacy, Poole and its natural ...
Panoramic country viewsThis super, detached, single storey holiday property with two steps leading up to it, is situated in a large enclosed garden, on the Devon/Dorset border. This property provides the perfect setting ...
Set in the unspoilt village of Bothenhampton about a mile from Bridport and the new harbour of West Bay, where the TV series 'Broadchurch' was filmed, and its beaches. The historic rope-making town of Bridport with its ...
This delightful Grade II listed cottage is one in a row of similar properties, set along the road which leads to the river and various scenic walks, including Castlemans Way, which leads to Poole. The cottage is one of 111 ...
Located in the heart of the wonderful Blackmore vale countryside, Bridles Farm Holiday Cottages are two Grade II listed, single-storey converted barns (refs 29954 and 29955) situated on a working sheep and beef farm. ...
Set in the pretty, rural village of Horton, this holiday cottage forms part of the owner’s home, but has its own entrance, garden area and drive. Horton has a famous tower which was used in the Thomas Hardy film ‘Far ...
Character barnThis charming 17th century barn has been tastefully refurbished to retain much of its original character with low beams, exposed roof timbers and wood burning stove. Set in beautiful West Dorset countryside, ...
Nestling in a conservation area in the heart of the picturesque village of Stoke Abbott, one of West Dorset’s hidden treasures and an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, is this stone, corner cottage, formerly The Old ...
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