Dog-friendly Hotels Dorset

Approached via a long drive overlooking daffodil fields, this comfortable, single-storey, detached bungalow is a lovely holiday home for families or couples, located on the doorstep to the Jurassic Coast. It has a large enclosed lawned garden and a spacious games room. West View is located within the owner’s country home and has direct access onto bridleways and footpaths, leading all the way to Wareham. Set in a convenient location for road links to the beaches of Poole and Bournemouth, Sandbanks, The Purbeck Coastline, historical maritime Southampton with historic ships, Salisbury Cathedral, Christchurch Harbour and Dorchester. Other attractions include Monkey World, Stone Henge, Marwell Zoo, Beaulieu Motor Museum, New Forest Otter and Owl Park, Kingston Lacy (NT) and Badbury Rings. The New Forest is also within easy driving distance with its heathlands, where ponies and cattle roam. Beach 6 miles. Shop, pub and restaurant ½ mile.

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.

Sympathetically converted, this lovely detached coach house stands within its own large garden, with views over the shared swimming pool (open from May weather dependent) from its open-plan living room. It enjoys use of the owners’ woodland grounds, with shady walks leading down to a river.
For history enthusiasts, Wareham is a treasure trove of ancient sites and stories. Explore the well-preserved town walls and immerse yourself in the town’s Saxon past. Don’t miss the impressive Wareham Town Museum, where artifacts and exhibits transport you back in time. Nearby, the dramatic ruins of Corfe Castle, 6 miles, stand sentinel over the countryside, providing a glimpse into England’s turbulent history.
Just a short drive away lies the vibrant coastal resort of Bournemouth. Here, guests can soak up the sun on the golden sands, stroll along the bustling promenade, or indulge in some retail therapy at the eclectic shops and boutiques. For those seeking a taste of adventure, water sports and beach activities abound, ensuring there’s never a dull moment.
Poole, 7 miles, is a coastal gem, known for its picturesque harbourside and bustling quayside. Take a leisurely stroll along the quay, where traditional pubs, seafood restaurants, and quaint shops line the waterfront. Here, you can savour freshly caught fish and chips, or indulge in a relaxing afternoon tea while watching boats gently bob on the water. Nearby Brownsea Island, a short ferry ride away, is a nature lover’s paradise. This tranquil sanctuary is home to a rich diversity of wildlife, including red squirrels and a multitude of bird species.
Studland Bay is also close by with a sandy beach and ferries to the Channel Islands (summer only) and France. Shops ¼ mile.

In a rural location on the outskirts of the popular, bustling, seaside resort of Weymouth, and with extensive views across the downs towards Hardy’s monument, these well-presented, semi-detached, single-storey holiday homes offer a great location for exploring Dorset. Adjacent to the owners’ home, these properties are within a couple of miles of the famous Chesil Beach and World Heritage Jurassic Coast. There is superb coastal walking and scenery to be enjoyed nearby, and in Weymouth, there is a wonderful sandy beach. Many watersports and activities can be found in Weymouth or at nearby Portland. Weymouth itself offers many family attractions, including Sandworld, Leisureranch, Brewers Quay, Sea Life Centre and tower, and an RSPB reserve at Radipole Lake. Take a day trip to Guernsey, or just enjoy the ambience of this lovely seaside town, with its many restaurants and shops. One can spend days out exploring the beautiful coastline down to Lyme Regis, Abbotsbury and West Bay, or Lulworth Cove and on to the Purbecks. Other places to visit include Corfe Castle, Tank World at Bovington, Monkey World or the Swanage Steam Railway. Inland, Dorchester is on your doorstep, or perhaps visit Sherborne with its abbey and castles. Beach 2½ miles. Shop, pub and restaurant 1 mile.

This superb, spacious, stone holiday cottage with character beams, is situated in the heart of the Purbeck countryside. It is set in a lawned garden on the edge of a small, peaceful, Caravan Club site. The detached cottage has been sympathetically restored and is furnished to an exceptionally good standard with beams throughout. It features an attractive welcoming wood burner in the cosy living room, a dining room and a well-equipped kitchen with everything you need to rustle up your favourite dishes. A useful utility room with laundry facilities also houses a separate toilet. An attractive conservatory leads into a delightful garden with flower troughs, roses, climbing ivy and a pretty stone well. Moving upstairs, there are two bedrooms with double beds and one bedroom with twin beds. A family bathroom can be found here too.
The delightful Swanage Railway runs regular trips on steam and diesel engines from Corfe Castle to Swanage, a pretty seaside resort with golden sandy beaches. Located on the Isle of Purbeck on the Jurassic Coast, Swanage is known for its mild weather and unique micro climate.
Bustling Poole Harbour is the largest natural harbour in Europe, with its sheltered waters and tiny islands. It is ideal for water sports yet is fringed with unspoilt woodland and coastal walks, appealing to all generations.
A little further east is the popular seaside resort of Bournemouth with miles of stunning sandy beaches, a pier and traditional amusements and fairground rides to keep the children entertained. Shop, pub and restaurant 1.5 miles.

Situated in a semi-rural location beside a country road with extensive views across the downs towards Hardys Monument is this cosy cottage, the middle one of three. The cottage has been furnished and equipped to a good standard to provide a pleasant holiday home, boasting a hand crafted 4-poster bed in the main bedroom. There are a further two twin bedrooms, one on the first floor, the other on the second floor. The downstairs living room has an open fire, warming and welcoming during the cooler evenings.
The lovely resort of Weymouth with its gently shelving golden sands and picturesque harbour is only 4 miles, whilst within easy reach is the bustling, historic market town of Dorchester, the county town of Dorset, ideal for shopping, sightseeing and discovering its history.
Alternatively, take the scenic coastal road towards Abbotsbury, known for its swannery where you can walk through a colony of nesting mute swans, help to feed them and even watch their eggs hatching.
Not far from Abbotsbury is the small harbour resort of West Bay, at the western tip of Chesil Beach and is also worth a visit.
Chesil Beach is a natural 18 mile long, curving pebble beach which serves as a barrier from the winter storms and stretches from West Bay to Portland.
The Isle of Portland is joined to the mainland by Chesil Beach which also provides road access. For a small island, it is packed with attractions and activities from a castle and lighthouse to water sports and hidden coves. Golf can also be found nearby. Shop, pub and restaurant 0.5 miles.