Plan a stay at one of our many Dorset holiday cottages and see what this idyllic corner of the country has to offer. Go hunting for fossils along miles of Jurassic Coast, discover a hill fort perched on a chalk hill or explore the cobbled streets of one of many picture postcard towns.
You’ll never run out of things to visit, but when you run out of steam our Dorset holiday cottages make the perfect place to unwind.
The exterior of The Bakehouse, Middlebere Farm, PurbeckNational Trust / Chris Lacey
Complete with its own hide, The Bakehouse is a prime location for spotting rare birds. Overlooking the RSPB Arne Reserve and Poole Harbour you can look out for marsh harriers or Dartford warblers. If you’re not twitching at the thought of all this then there are plenty of other options. Corfe Castle and the historic town of Wareham are both within five miles.
At the end of a quiet valley with the South West Coast Path running past your door, the cottages of Ash, Oak and Elm make a great base for exploring the Jurassic Coast. The three cottages share a garden and car park but can be booked individually. In total the three cottages sleep 12, and all enjoy views across Golden Cap.
Whether you’re looking for a seaside break, a piece of history or the chance to seek out lesser-spotted wildlife, the Isle of Purbeck has it all. It’s almost enough for us to forget the fact that it’s not actually an island. One of two farm workers’ cottages, this semi-detached two-bed has Corfe Castle, Studland Bay and the surrounding nature reserves all in reach.
If you’re a fan of sea views, they don’t come much better than those from Custom House. With water lapping just metres away, you’ll be able to watch boats as they sail past your door. With most of Brownsea Island’s visitors heading back to the mainland at the end of the day, you’ll feel like you have this special place all to yourself.
The three Heathlands Cottages were once an old isolation hospital, making this a great place to get away from it all. This intriguing conversion features a pine interior and gallery bedroom above the open plan living area. As the name suggests you’re right on the heath, so exploring the local area couldn’t be easier.
On the very edge of Poole Harbour, this old farm workers’ cottage enjoys views of Brownsea Island. Venture down through the large garden and you can access the water, or head inland and lookout for rare woodlarks and Dartford warblers. For beach bums Studland Beach and Shell Bay are nearby, as is the short ferry crossing to Sandbanks.
Positioned at the heart of Dorset’s Jurassic Coast, this thatched cottage is close to the South West Coast Path. With cliff-top views from the Golden Cap just two miles away you’re in the perfect place to discover the area. The local seaside towns of Lyme Regis, Charmouth and Seaton all make great places to refuel after a cliff-top walk.
This quirky, former tennis pavilion is tailor made for a beach break. From the large verandah you can look out over Studland, and within a 180-metre walk is the sandy South Beach. But with a large garden and picnic area, and a pub next door to the cottage, you might be happy just staying put.
Step inside this Art Deco villa and pretend you’re a millionaire. This grand property is set in a large garden and has room for 12 guests, boasting seven bedrooms and two large terraces. Most rooms have french windows opening out onto south-facing sea views. The style of the property continues throughout, with original features and furniture.
