Read on to discover some of the local attractions you can enjoy while staying at one of our Dorset cottages. This gem of a county features all that is best in rural England - rolling hills, gorse heaths, traditional Dorset cottages, woodland and hedgerows running down to the one of the finest coastlines in England. The unspoiled coastline is ever-changing over its 90 miles which take in dramatic cliff-top walks, safe beaches and seaside resorts with charming Dorset coastal cottages.
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To the east of the county the visitor encounters the natural harbour of Christchurch and charming beach huts of Mudeford Spit. Travelling west, the coast takes in the popular resort of Bournemouth and continues towards Poole where Brownsea Island lies in one of the world's largest natural harbours, famous as a red squirrel sanctuary and the birthplace of Scouting. Next, the traveller encounters Purbeck Island, in reality a peninsula guarded by the spectacular ruins of Corfe Castle. Here, the award-winning Swanage Railway offers a great way of getting around. Westwards lie the fabulous beaches of Studland Bay, the landmark of Old Harry's Rock and resort of Swanage.
However, the coastal attractions are far from exhausted. Continuing west, Lulworth Cove is reached. If staying at one of our Dorset coastal cottages a visit here is a must. A short cliff-top walk leads the visitor to the natural chalk arch of Durdle Door, featured on many postcards. Nearby Ringstead Bay is a hidden gem with its shingle beach transformed to sand as the tide recedes. Flanked by high chalk cliffs, there are fabulous views over to the resort and fishing port of Weymouth from here. Beyond Weymouth lies the remarkable Chesil Bank, a shingle beach stretching 15 miles to Bridport, lying just inland. The next coastal town of note is pretty Lyme Regis, the 'Pearl of Dorset', renowned for its long harbour wall - The Cobb - full of character and history. This stretch of coastline is a World Heritage site, so rich in fossils that it bears the name Jurassic Coast. There are excellent fossil-hunting opportunities to be had whilst holidaying in one of our Dorset coastal cottages.
Holiday cottages in Dorset bring to mind scenes of rural tranquillity and for traditional thatched holiday cottages Dorset is the place to look. The landscape of this county's interior has a pastoral charm immortalised by Thomas Hardy, who set his novels here. He turned the county town of Dorchester, close to where he was born, into Casterbridge. Thousands of visitors arrive each year to explore the real-life locations of his novels Far from the Madding Crowd, Jude the Obscure and The Mayor of Casterbridge. The historic market town of Shaftesbury and its steep cobbled street Gold Hill (immortalised in that Hovis advert) draws visitors to admire the charming ranks of Dorset cottages.
Few other towns in Britain have such a wealth of unspoilt medieval buildings as Sherbourne, while the twin towers of the magnificent Minster church dominate the market town of Wimbourne Minster. At Cerne Abbas the abbey ruins and infamous - if rather rude - chalk giant can be admired. In the folding hills of West Dorset lies Beaminster. This little market town once thrived on wool and sailcloth, leaving a legacy of fine Georgian buildings and picturesque 17th-century Dorset cottages. Glorious walks abound here as Beaminster stands at the head of Dorset's 'Hidden Valley', the historic Vale of the River Brit, whose tranquil beauty hides rare flowers and old water mills. From our selection of holiday cottages in Dorset all these attractions await your exploration.Cottages close to Dorset
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