Labour in Vain Cottage

• Follow a track through fields to a vast shingle beach   

• Explore the South West Coast and surrounding countryside 

• Drive 20 minutes to Bridport for markets, antiques and great cafés

Labour in Vain Cottage is on a small working farm that dates from the 1860s, and its intriguing name is thought to refer to a year of crop failures in the late Middle Ages. It has a tucked-away, rural feel in an area of big, changing skies and spectacular stretches of coast, and is joined to another cottage for four guests – Chesil Cottage. 

You'll be close to Chesil Beach, an 18-mile sweep of shingle dotted with wildflowers. You can walk along to Cogden Beach, a popular fishing spot, and Hive Beach to find out more about fossil hunting and wildlife spotting at the ranger’s welcome hut. There are places to enjoy local seafood, a drink or a coffee.  

With low ceilings, an inglenook fireplace and a woodburner, the cottage is delightfully welcoming and cosy. And in contrast, at the top of the house above the first-floor bedrooms, the entire attic has been converted into an airy eaves room with a high, pitched roof and views of the sky, fields and sea. It’s a great place to relax, play games and look at the stars.  

Chesil Beach is backed by reedbed and wet meadows attracting migratory birds. When you’re out walking among the fields, you might notice the wide hedgerows which make great habitats and are home to yellowhammers and linnets throughout the year. Follow a trail through the fields to the top of Tulks Hill, looking out for the Bronze Age burial mounds at the top as well as the brown hares and roe deer which are becoming more common in the fields. Hedge-laying, grazing and pond restoration all support wildlife in the area, and the money you spend on your holiday goes back to conservation. 

It’s about a 20-minute drive to Bridport, a bustling market town known for its street market, antique shops, independent stores and cafés. There’s plenty to see and do on a holiday in West Dorset, from boat trips to cycle trails and vineyards to breweries.