Discover Dorset
There’s a wealth of places for you to explore and enjoy from beautiful beaches and countryside to stately homes, historic monuments, and museums all waiting to be discovered.
Beaches and clifftop walks
Dorset is blessed with an abundance of beautiful beaches and some stunning countryside
Our favourite sandy beach is Shell Bay in Studland and another favourite beach is Ringstead Bay. It is a pebble and shingle beach but we find it is the beach that doesn’t get too busy, probably for that very reason! There are amenities such as a cafe, toilets and shop, parking is payable and it’s a short walk to the beach.
Lulworth Cove is a beautiful secluded pocket of the Jurassic Coast with great clifftop walks and a fabulous visitor centre. For those who don’t fancy the steep climb up the hill to neighbouring Durdle Door, a day spent at the Cove is a great option.
Swanage on the other hand is a nostalgic, traditional seaside town with a Victorian pier, a steam railway, fish and chip shops and ice-cream stalls. There’s even a Punch and Judy show on the beach (we know it’s not very PC) and the sea is lovely and shallow.
If you fancy a short walk, head across the road from the cottage, walk past the school and follow the road (past the farm gates) until you come to a big tree at a fork in the road. You can turn right and follow the path back down to the road and then turn right at the end of the road which will bring you back into the village. Or you can turn left at the big tree with the bench and walk for miles, with some beautiful views over the Dorset Countryside
Wareham Forest is a great place to explore and discover the famous heaths and woods of the Dorset countryside. Many miles of tracks take you through beautiful and ancient landscapes, where if you are lucky you’ll see some of the very special plants and animals it’s home to. There are dedicated walking and cycling paths.
Step back in time
There are plenty of places of historic interest and National Trust properties to visit
The Isle of Purbeck is home to the gravity-defying ruins of Corfe Castle and the pretty village of Corfe. We strongly recommend relaxing with a drink in The Fox Inn garden, the views over the countryside and the castle are amazing
Max Gate is the former home of Thomas Hardy, located on the outskirts of Dorchester. It was designed and built by Thomas Hardy for his own use in 1885 and he lived there until his death in 1928. In 1940 it was bequeathed to the National Trust by Hardy's sister and is now open to the public.
Hardy's Cottage, Hardy’s childhood home, is just a few miles away in Bockhampton. Step back in time in this evocative cob and thatch cottage, and experience the atmosphere that inspired Hardy to write some of his most famous works including ‘Far from the Madding Crowd’.
Clouds Hill is the former home of T. E. Lawrence, or as he’s better know, Lawrence of Arabia. You can lose yourself in the atmospheric cottage rooms where he sat down to read, write, relax, listen to music, entertain friends and escape the hourly burly of army life nearby at Bovington Camp.
The Tank Museum, at Bovington Camp, is the largest indoor attraction in Dorset. It tells the story of tanks and the crews that served in them. You can explore the broadest and most significant collection of armoured vehicles in the world. There are also live demonstrations.
Shop till you drop
Dorset is home to a number of interesting towns, with plenty of independent shops and local markets to enjoy
The county town of Dorchester is approx a 15-minute drive away with its large selection of shops, restaurants, cafes, museums and two cinemas.
Bridport is a lovely market town, with an eclectic and artsy vibe. With street markets every Wednesday and Saturday and a fabulous Art and Vintage Quarter in St Michaels, this is a must for anyone with a passion for vintage. I particularly love the Vintage Market held on the last Sunday of the month from March-October.
Sherborne is situated on the edge of North-West Dorset, this quintessential market town is home to lots of independent shops as well as a magnificent Abbey. My favourite coffee shop is D’Urberville which is located at the bottom of the high street. There is also the magnificent Sherborne Castle and the rather romantic gardens to see while you are here. Approx 40 minutes drive from the cottage.
The historic market town of Wimborne is only 14 miles away with quaint streets and shops. The National Trust’s Kingston Lacy is situated on the edge of Wimborne which has an impressive family home re-imagined as a Venetian Palace surrounded by glorious gardens.
Swanage is full of old-world charm. It has award-winning beaches, fun parks and crazy golf. One of the most popular attractions is to take a trip on the steam railway to nearby Corfe Castle.
Fun days out
If you’re looking for fun days out for the kids and all the family Dorset’s got it covered
The heritage railway in Swanage operates full-size steam and diesel passenger trains along the five and a half miles of line from Norden to Corfe Castle and down to the Victorian seaside town of Swanage.
If it’s a rainy day but the kids are needing to get out head to Crazy Monsters which is a soft play area just 7 miles away in Blandford.
Discover an amazing underwater world at the Sea Life Centre in Weymouth (approx 30 minutes away). It’s family-friendly with 13 different zones where you'll encounter some of the world's most incredible animals, including huge sharks, sassy seals, mysterious stingrays, seahorses, the world's smallest penguins and thousands of tropical fish. It also has a small water park and adventure play area.
Farmer Palmers Farm Park is an outdoor/indoor fun park with play areas, farm animals woodland trails and a seasonal maize maze. For children aged 0-8yrs. It’s approx 12 miles away heading towards Poole.
Enjoy some great family time at Monkey World set across 65 acres this is a sanctuary for over 250 primates. It was set up in 1987 by Jim Cronin to provide abused Spanish beach chimps with a permanent, stable home. Today Monkey World works in conjunction with foreign governments from all over the world to stop the illegal smuggling of apes out of Africa and Asia. They have over 250 primates of more than 20 different species.
“We’ve had a wonderful time at Little Dorset Cottage! What a welcome with all the jolly Jubilee decor.
Such a fabulous home restored beautifully with so much character and personality. The perfect place for us to unwind from our busy lives. We came to Dorset for a friend’s wedding but with plenty of time to explore the area. We visited Corfe Castle, Swanage, Blue Pool, Ringstead Bay, Studland Bay and Langhams Wine estate. There is so much to do here we plan to come again. Thank you for the treats in the welcome hamper. The kids absolutely loved the dressing-up trunk!”
The N Family - May 2022
“Absolutely beautiful, comfortable quirky cottage. One of the best we’ve experienced. A lovely holiday with all four of us having a great time. We took a day trip to the Isle of Wight using the Red Jet which was fun. Great lunch at the Harbour Kitchen - worth finding! West Bay is one of our favourites, we always visit it when in Dorset. Beaulieu Motor Museum, great fun, very interesting (book in advance to get big discounts per person) Finally the Royal Oak just 5 minutes up the road is well worth a visit - friendly people and fantastic food. Thank you for sharing your beautiful place.”
The J Family - June 2022