Dog friendly Lodges Dorset

This semi–detached thatched cottage, close to the pretty town of Christchurch is bursting with charm and character, boasting many of the original period features including beams (some low), stable door, inglenook and wooden floors. New for 2021, a private outdoor patio and grass area with outdoor furniture, on which to relax and enjoy your stay.
A 5-minute stroll will take you into the centre of tranquil Christchurch, where you will find a wealth of opportunities on offer including pubs, restaurants, shops and a natural harbour. The cottage is a perfect base for exploring the great outdoors. Christchurch is well-known for its many dog walking trails, bike routes, running tracks and interesting hikes and bird watching. A particular favourite is the fine circular walk that takes you around the beautiful Christchurch harbour. Make a visit to the Priory, climb to Hengistbury Head, stroll along the stunning beaches at Mudeford, and visit the pretty Stanpit Marsh Reserve. If you wish to explore further afield, the outstanding natural beauty of The New Forest is a 15-minute drive away and in the opposite direction you will find Bournemouth town centre with a 7 mile coastline to explore. A perfect holiday retreat to unwind and recharge your batteries. Shop 380 yards, pub and restaurant 660 yards.

In the small village of Winterborne Abbas, in west Dorset’s Hardy Country, this large, 300 year old, former guest house is conveniently located next to the main road, making an ideal base for venturing out on day trips and exploring this wonderful area. Churchview House offers great accommodation for 17 guests, which is excellent for family or group gatherings. The house offers 2 living rooms, a large dining area with open fires, and 9 bedrooms, of which 8 are en-suite, all with TV’s the other having a bathroom next door. It is in an ideal location near Dorchester (4 miles) which is the county town of Dorset, and Bridport (10 miles) and West Bay (12 miles). The amazing Chesil Beach and the Fleet Lagoon is 5 miles with many water sports available. Travelling a short distance along the causeway, you can enjoy stunning views from Portland and the famous Portland Bill Lighthouse, all the way over to Lyme Bay, and along this famous stretch of English coastline, now designated as the World Heritage Jurassic Coast, with its superb coastal walking and scenery. Within easy driving distance, enjoy family days out at Weymouth with its stunning, award-winning sandy beach which the children will love, visit the Sea Life Adventure Park and Sea Life Tower, or perhaps try some windsurfing in Portland harbour. There are many attractions in this lovely part of the world; Dorchester has many museums, there is the Tank Museum at Bovington, Monkey World, Corfe Castle, Lulworth Cove, Abbotsbury Swannery and Subtropical Gardens. Further west, enjoy a day out taking in the famous Cob and harbour at Lyme Regis with its beach and quaint shops. Sherborne, Poole (28 miles) and Wareham (22 miles) are also worth visiting for many further attractions. Beach 5 miles. Shop and restaurant 2½ miles, pub ¼ mile.

These holiday properties enjoy a rural setting and are located just 2 miles from Blandford Forum.
Places nearby to visit include Wimborne’s Model Town and Gardens, which is a scale model of how the town looked in the 1950’s, and Blandford Forum, with the Royal Signals Museum, The Blandford Fashion Museum and a brewery which offers tours, as well as shops, cafés and restaurants. National Trust sites within easy reach include Kingston Lacy House, Hod Hill, Hardy’s Cottage and the Cerne Abbas Giant.
Explore the New Forest National Park with its free roaming ponies, or visit the scenic Jurassic Coast and spend the day wandering the cliffs along Durdle Door and Lulworth Cove. Children will love the Dorset Heavy Horse Farm, where you can enjoy a horse drawn carriage ride, feed the farm animals and ride the ponies. Further afield, you can explore Shaftesbury, Poole, Bournemouth, Weymouth and Dorchester.
Activities in the area include cycling along the North Dorset Trailway and golf at nearby Ashley Wood. More exhilarating sports can be found at Gorcombe Extreme Sports, which has an assault course, archery, go karting and paintballing. Beach 18 miles. Shop 2½ miles, pub 2 miles and restaurant 1½ miles.

Enjoying a great location in the grounds of the owner’s home, these charming properties (UKC3990 and UKC1812) are accessed via a farm track and are in a lovely peaceful location away from it all. Situated on the border of Somerset and Dorset, making these properites ideal for enjoying both counties.
Nearby is a wealth of attractions including Yeovilton Fleet Air Arm Museum, the Haynes Motor Museum with its classic collections of cars, Forde Abbey and Gardens and a few nature reserves. Visit historical houses such as Montacute or the scenic World Heritage Jurassic Coast and seaside resorts of Lyme Regis, West Bay and Weymouth.
Inland you can visit the ever popular Clarks Factory Village, the enchanting Glastonbury Tor and Abbey, the cathedral cities of Wells and Bath, and the amazing Cheddar Gorge and caves. On your return, relax and enjoy a barbecue in this peaceful location, or take a country walk with the dog. Within easy driving distance there is golf, fishing and many country village pubs to wine and dine in. Beach 13 miles. Shop, pub and restaurant 2 miles.
These properties can be booked together to accommodate up to 8 guests.

This elegant, Grade II listed Georgian town house is located next door to the popular Tivoli Theatre – perfect for a night out. Families, groups or couples will enjoy the delights of this charming town which has various eateries, inns, cafés, traditional shops and the beautiful historic minster. The Town House has many attractive period features, such as wood floors, sash windows and ornamental fire surrounds. On the ground floor is a large bedroom with en-suite shower room, a living room complete with an open fire, and a kitchen/dining room. Upstairs there are four further bedrooms, three benefiting from en-suite facilities, and a family bathroom with roll-top bath. Outside, the enclosed patio has a seating area and barbecue, and there is a park close by, ideal if you have brought your four-legged friends or for children. It is about a 5-minute walk to the public car park.
Wimborne Minster is centrally located within this quaint town. Built in 705 AD, it was founded by the mother of King Henry V11, and is famed for its chained library and the tomb of Alfred the Great’s brother. Many people also frequent the Gin House which has a large selection of worldwide gins available. There are various festivals and fairs throughout the year too. Within easy driving distance are beaches at Sandbanks, Studland Bay, Bournemouth, Poole Nature Reserve and Brownsea Island, and to the west, you can visit The Purbecks, Corfe Castle and the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site.
For the outdoor enthusiasts there are various walks within easy reach, plus for a family day out, visit Moors Valley which is ideal for all age groups and is also dog friendly. As well as scenic walks and excellent wildlife spotting, there are a host of recreational activities available such as angling, orienteering, cycle hire, golf, Go Ape Tree Top Adventure, Forest Segway, walking groups, canoeing and péntanque. For keen amblers, Avon Heath is also nearby. The New Forest National Park is easily accessible and provides miles of scenic walks and a network of bridleways and footpaths, and you can often find the ponies and cattle roaming the streets in one of the many picturesque villages.
There is a water park nearby in the charming town of Fordingbridge which also has a host of shops, cafés and eateries, and the gentle flowing River Avon. The Town House is convenient for road links to the cathedral cities of Winchester and Salisbury, Christchurch Harbour and Stonehenge. Other attractions include Marwell Zoo with Peppa Pig World, the National Motor Museum at Beaulieu, Bovington Tank Museum, New Forest Otter and Owl Park and various other tourist attractions. Beach 11½ miles. Shop, pub and restaurant 100 yards.

Less than 2 miles from the popular seaside town of Charmouth, and boasting spectacular, far-reaching panoramic views, these three properties (refs UKC3748, UKC3749 and UKC3750) are located in a superb location in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, overlooking Marshwood Vale rolling countryside. Ideal for families and couples, they are suitable for all ages and there is something for everyone! Smiths Farm is around 200 years old, and the friendly owners live on-site, ready to give their guests a warm welcome. It used to be a small farm owned by the local blacksmith. Adjoining one another, The Smithy and The Stables are cosy cottage conversions of the old stable and hayloft. The Barn is a single-storey barn renovation, situated adjacent to the owners’ farmhouse, and has a sumptuous feel and high vaulted beamed ceilings. There are two en-suite bedrooms, and an additional shower room off the living room, which is useful for any guests who wish to use the comfortable sofa bed.
The properties are close to some of the most popular seaside resorts in Dorset including Lyme Regis, West Bay, Charmouth and Bridport. Charmouth is the nearest, which also has a local supermarket, pubs, eateries and a fantastic beach! Charmouth and the Jurassic Coastline have some of the most beautiful and accessible coastline in the UK, with spectacular fossil rich beaches. The area between Charmouth and nearby Lyme Regis is the only UK entry into the National Geographic 21 Best Beaches in the world 2017! There are also rolling hills and unspoilt countryside, much of which is managed by the National Trust, as well as the South West Coast Path. The popular seaside resort of Lyme Regis is less than 10 minutes’ drive away; it is an ancient town featuring in the Domesday Book and is home to historic Cobb and bustling harbour, great gastronomy, historical landmarks and educational attractions. Axminster is also nearby, which has excellent rail links to London and Exeter, as well as a thriving artistic community and great birdwatching on the mudflats.
Outdoor enthusiasts can choose from one of the many scenic walks for keen amblers including Charmouth to Seatown, or a shorter walk from Charmouth to Fitzpaine, the Golden Cap Estate (National Trust) and The Undercliffe at Lyme Regis. You can also enjoy golf, fossil hunting, swimming, fishing, kite flying, sailing, Lyme rib boat rides, West Bay Canoes and many other water sports.
Popular attractions within easy driving distance include Pecorama, a model railway with a light railway and indoor play area, gardens and cafés; Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens and Abbotsbury Swannery; Lyme Regis Marine Aquarium; Axe Valley Wildlife, and Seaton Tramway. Also worth a visit is Corfe Castle, which has a rich and ancient history as well as the most evocative ruined castles in England. The famous cobbled Gold Hill and abbey ruins in Shaftesbury, the Iron Age hill fort of Maiden Castle in Dorchester, and the amphitheatre at Maumbury Rings are also popular attractions. Dorset also offers magnificent gardens and historic houses, as well as stately homes, and a wide range of events ranging from family fun and entertainment for all ages, interesting craft and antique fairs, village fetes, open air concerts and theatres. For more adventurous pastimes, you can take a guided walk along the coastal paths or through ancient woodlands, or enjoy treasure trails, beach games and water sports. Beach 1¾ miles. Shop, pub and restaurant 1¾ miles. These properties can be booked together to accommodate up to 13 guests.

Coastal Dream is a delightful, light and airy, single-storey detached bungalow located in a quiet residential cul-de-sac, near Christchurch and less than a mile from the sea at Mudeford. Perfect for couples, or friends and family holidaying together, and dogs are welcome too, guests will find plenty to do. Coastal Dream enjoys an enclosed lawned garden with patio and private parking for two cars, it is attractively decorated with modern furnishings offering a comfortable stay.
Mudeford itself is a charming village, Mudeford Quay, which is a former fishing village and now a suburb of the borough of Christchurch, is the entrance to Christchurch harbour and offers spectacular views out to sea, with local shops, pubs and restaurants all set in a pretty harbour area. Avon and Friars Cliffe beaches are less than one mile away, offering golden stretches of sand lined with traditional style beach huts, and is an ideal place for cycling, exploring the beaches and dog walking too, with the delightful, scenic views. Why not jump on the local ferry that takes you from Mudeford Quay across to Hengistbury Head, which is a fascinating place for its wide variety of wildlife habitats, archaeology, geology and has long sandy beaches - a perfect place to go on a sunny day.
Located within easy reach, just 15 minutes away, you also have the New Forest National Park, which is a must for anyone visiting this area for beautiful scenic walks, and to see the New Forest ponies roaming free. Bournemouth is just along the coast with great shops and beaches, as is Poole with its large natural harbour. Further afield to the west is the world famous UNESCO World Heritage Jurassic Coastline, with Lulworth Cove and Durdle Door. Explore the Channel Islands of Guernsey and Jersey on a day trip from Poole harbour or the Isle of Wight from Lymington. The medieval city of Salisbury and its cathedral, maritime Southampton, Stonehenge, Marwell Zoo, Monkey World, the Tank Museum, Exbury Gardens, Peppa Pig World, Winchester cathedral, Beaulieu Museum and Exbury Gardens are just a few of the places you can also visit from Coastal Dream. Other activities nearby include, horse riding, rambling, fishing, cycling, watersports, golf, swimming and browsing the art work at the local galleries. Beach 1 mile. Shop 500 yards, pub and restaurant ½ mile.

Situated on a 300-acre working sheep and beef farm in the beautiful surroundings of the north west Dorset countryside, and only 5 miles south of the delightful abbey town of Sherborne, these three holiday homes offer a great location to get away from it all. The Farmhouse (UKC2911), which sleeps up to twelve guests, and the smaller wing of the property, Churchill Cottage (ref DQR), which sleeps six guests, have an interconnecting door allowing for both to be booked together (sleeping 18 guests) or independently. Standing detached is The Stables (ref DSG) which sleeps five guests.

The Farmhouse and Churchill Cottage have interesting historical connections, having once been owned by John Churchill, the Duke of Marlborough and the highwayman John Clavell respectively. The Farmhouse offers its own games room with a pool table, and a dining area seating 18, although all three properties have use of a shared outside games room. The properties also have use of the coarse fishing lake, 100 yards away.

The properties are ideal for a family or groups who might wish to get away from it all, and their location lends itself for some fine country walking and cycling. Visit Sherborne with its abbey, castle, fine character shops, cafés and inns. Within easy driving there are also many historic houses, such as Montacute House and Gardens and Stourhead House and Gardens to name just two. For family outings Yeovilton Fleet Air Arm Museum and the Haynes Motor Museum, with its fascinating classical car collection, are worth a visit, and slightly further afield, the ever popular Longleat House and Safari Park is great for a day out.

The south coast resorts of Weymouth, West Bay and Lyme Regis, on the famous World Heritage Jurassic Coast, beckon, with plenty of water activities to enjoy, or going inland to south Somerset, one can take in the Clarks Village Outlet, Glastonbury Tor and the very popular Roman city of Bath with its many tourist attractions. Nearby, visit Cerne Abbas, famed for its chalk giant on the hillside, and just beyond is Dorchester, the county town with its many museums. Shop, pub and restaurant 3 miles.
Churchill Cottage (ref DQR), The Stables (ref DSG) and The Farmhouse (ref UKC2911) can be booked together to accommodate up to 23 guests.

This lovely, semi-detached barn conversion for two is tucked away in the Dorset Hills in west Dorset, and on the edge of the south Somerset border. It is an excellent holiday home in which to enjoy this wonderful area and unwind. There is superb scenic country walking, for you and your dogs, a lovely Dorset village on the doorstep and village pubs to wine and dine in. Explore the famous World Heritage Jurassic Coast and Chesil Beach, taking in Weymouth, West Bay (scene of the TV series ’Broadchurch’), Bridport, Charmouth and the jewel in the crown of west Dorset, the ever popular Lyme Regis. Visit nearby Forde Abbey and Gardens and the quaint town of Beaminster, or venture inland and explore south Somerset. Beach 11 miles. Shop 1 mile, pub 1½ miles and restaurant 4 miles.

Conveniently located just back off the road, this homely and comfortable semi-detached property is in a semi rural location, perfect for exploring this ever popular area. With Wimborne, Bournemouth, Salisbury, Ringwood, Fordingbridge and the New Forest all within easy access, there is something for everyone, all year round. Oakdene Lodge has an extensive enclosed lawned garden and a sitting-out area under a canopy of wisteria, plus private parking. There is a property attached which is occasionally used by the owner, and a wooded area to the back of the garden. Inside, there are features such as an open fire, parquet floors in the living areas and slate tiled floor in the farmhouse style kitchen/dining room. As well as the large main living room, there is a separate sitting room with table and cosy wood burner.
Oakdene Lodge is located near to Moors Valley Country Park, which is great for all ages and is also dog-friendly. As well as scenic walks and excellent wildlife spotting, there are many recreational activities such as orienteering, cycle hire, angling, horse riding, GoApe Treetop Adventure, Segway and more! Avon Heath and Queens Copse are other nearby walking areas. There is a ski centre in the area as well as other activities including clay pigeon shooting, quad biking, golf and fishing. There is a lovely thatched roof pub/restaurant about a 5-minute walk away. Many holidaymakers visit The New Forest National Park where you can see the free-roaming ponies, donkeys and cattle, and enjoy off-road walking, riding and cycling. The quaint market town of Fordingbridge is close by with its famous stone bridge and fine arches, plenty of shops, pubs, a café and riverside location to enjoy. The priory town of Christchurch is also a short journey away with its beautiful harbour. Oakdene is in an ideal location for leaving the car and exploring close by attractions by foot.
Close by is a waterpark and both market towns of Wimborne and Ringwood are a short drive away, which also have a selection of shops, pubs and eateries. The coastline with its beaches at Bournemouth and Poole is within easy reach, as is the city of Salisbury with its medieval cathedral. There are many places of interest for the family to visit, including Marwell Zoological Park, New Forest Otter and Owl Wildlife Park or a day out at Beaulieu Motor Museum to name but a few places of interest nearby. Further afield, but worth the trip are Stonehenge, Monkey World and the Tank Museum near Wool and Southampton with its maritime history and West Quay shopping centre. There is much to visit further afield, in particular the unspoilt countryside of Dorset, famous World Heritage Jurassic Coast from West Bay, Bridport and on to Weymouth with its superb scenery and coastal walking. Spend a day at Lyme Regis with its harbour, renowned Cobb, beach and shops and enjoy fossil hunting, boating, swimming and fishing. There are many historic houses to visit in particular Forde Abbey and Gardens, or family attractions such as Pecorama, the quarries at Beer, or inland at the Fleet Air Arm Museum at Yeovilton which is an adventure in itself. Beach 8 miles. Shop 1 mile, pub/restaurant ¼ mile.