Dog-friendly Hotels Dorset

These delightful holiday cottages are set in the peaceful conservation village of Puncknowle, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The Jurassic Coast is just 1½ miles away with superb scenic walking. Each cottage is finished to a high standard offering very comfortable holiday accommodation and is set in the same smart courtyard area as the owners’ homes. The ‘chocolate-box’ village of Burton Bradstock is 3 miles with a good small beach. Abbotsbury, along the coast, has its famous swannery and sub-tropical garden. Further east is the Victorian seaside town of Weymouth, with Blue Flag beach, sea fishing, windsurfing, Sealife Centre and two RSPB nature reserves. Monkey World and the Tank Museum near Wool are great places for a family day out. Dorchester, the county town also known as Thomas Hardy’s ‘Casterbridge’ is 30 minutes’ drive and has a lively weekly market and beautiful Maiden Castle. To the west is the market town of Bridport which was Thomas Hardy’s ‘Port Bredy’ and has the twice weekly market as featured in the popular TV programme River Cottage. The picturesque harbours of West Bay are a great place for fishing. Lyme Regis is an attractive seaside resort which enjoys a dramatic setting with high cliffs, landslips and handsome harbour, known as The Cobb. Both Lyme Regis and Charmouth are renowned for their prehistoric fossils which are displayed in the local museum and on sale in the fossil shops. Local pub serving good food 250 yards.

Marshwood Manor offers excellent accommodation and facilities in a tranquil rural setting, surrounded by Dorset’s loveliest countryside, and only 5 miles from the unspoilt beaches and golden sandstone cliffs of the coastline. The estate’s 10-acres of lawn, garden, pasture and woodland offer plenty of room for adults to stroll and children to play.

The properties have been carefully formed from a fine original range of buildings next to the manor house and may be booked together to accommodate larger groups holidaying together (property refs DEY, DFA, DEX, DUS, DWS and UK41304). Previously filmed for BBC television, all retain character and charm, whilst offering comfortable holiday accommodation fitted to a high standard throughout. Each has its own garden or courtyard with furniture, and all enjoy shared use of the extensive gardens and grounds. There is a large lounge bar/games area with table tennis. Approached along a private drive and set well back from the road, the cottages are perfectly positioned for enjoying this delightful corner of Dorset.

There is a variety of beautiful beaches, both sand and pebble, within a five to ten mile radius, including those at Lyme Regis, Charmouth, Seatown, Eype, West Bay and Burton Bradstock. Fossil-rich cliffs define this dramatic stretch of coastline, which encompasses the 2,000-acre National Trust estate of Golden Cap. This is a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and superb walking country, both on the rolling chalk hills overlooking fertile inland valleys and on the coastal footpaths offering spectacular clifftop views. It is also an area full of romance and history, with three ancient hill forts and the house and gardens of Forde Abbey all nearby.

A range of attractions is on offer in nearby country towns. Lyme Regis is a pretty seaside resort, its elegant colour-washed buildings and promenade lining a handsome harbour. Motor boats can be hired and there are fishing trips, a sailing school and a windsurfing school. Bridport is a thriving market town, featured on TV’s River Cottage, the Port Bredy of Hardy’s novels, offering a good choice of shops, inns, restaurants, an arts centre and a sports centre with indoor pool. The coastline is excellent for sea fishing and inland waters offer good coarse fishing. Golfers will find courses at Lyme Regis and West Bay and there is also horse riding nearby within 5 miles. Caterers are available locally. The local shop at Marshwood and two charming thatched country pubs are within a short drive. Shops 2 miles.

Manor Court Cottages are set in the picturesque village of Shipton Gorge. Within walking distance, 110 yards, are the village playing fields and pub selling the famous Palmers Ales and local food. This a fantastic location to explore the Dorset countryside and World Heritage Jurassic coastline, 1½ miles away. Whether its a family holiday, walking, bird watching, fishing, cycling or for a quiet break Manor Court Cottages are ideal. The pretty village of Burton Bradstock, 1½ miles, has a beach with a café, shop, post office, garage and pubs. The market town of Bridport, 2 miles away, has a lively and vibrant street market Saturdays and Wednesday, along with small shops, cafés, antiques and local food can be found, or pop into the museum and learn its history of rope and net making.
The picturesque harbour of West Bay is 2 miles away and was made famous by the TV drama ’Broadchurch’, while the village of Abbotsbury, 3 miles away, is popular for its swannery, sub-tropical gardens and childrens farm. Spread along the coast from Sidmouth is a host of attractions, including the Donkey Sanctuary and Beer Caves at Seaton and Axminster where you can ride on the trams or eat at the River Cottage restaurant. Into Dorset try fishing in a boat out of the cobb at Lymm Regis, fossil hunting at the museum or a walk up Golden Cap for the breathtaking views. Weymouth with its sandy beaches and Sealife Centre is well worth a visit, discover the dinosaurs at the Dorchester museum or travel back in time with a visit to Thomas Hardy’s cottage, go to war at the Bevington Tank Museum, or say ’hi’ to the monkeys at Monkey World. Enjoy a dip at Lulworth Cove and Durdle Door for a sightseeing walk, explore Crofe Castle, and then all aboard the steam train at Swanage. Shops and pubs 1 mile.