This single-storey holiday home is in a superb country location midway between Dorchester and Bridport in West Dorset and 3 miles from the scenic and beautiful Chesil Beach at Abbotsbury and the World Heritage Jurassic Coast. Adjacent to the owner’s home, it is styled in a Georgian Gothic period and offers a lovely home and location for 6. It is ideal for walking and cycling on the nearby Macmillan and Jubilee Trail, and some spectacular Dorset scenery can be found at Eggardon Hill Fort. Enjoy visiting the ever popular seaside resort of Lyme Regis, 18 miles, with its pretty harbour and Cobb, taking in some stunning coastal scenery and smaller seaside resorts of Charmouth, Eype and West Bay. Within easy driving distance, enjoy Abbotsbury Swannery and Sub Tropical Gardens, RSPB nature reserves at Radipole and Lodmoor, or Weymouth with its many family attractions, as well as Sea Life or slightly further on Monkey World and the Bovington Tank Museum. Beach 3 miles. Shop 6 miles, pub and restaurant 2½ miles.

Situated in Easton in the heart of Portland, this 200 year old, mid-terrace cottage, accommodating up to 5 guests, has been tastefully decorated and offers a great holiday location for exploring the area. Steeped in history, Portland has wonderful coastal walking for visitors and their four-legged friends, as well as fishing, diving, bird watching, and of course sailing and wind surfing in Weymouth harbour. Set on the World Heritage Jurassic Coast and Chesil Beach, so one can explore all the way up to the Purbecks to the east and down to Lyme Regis in the west, taking in many popular resorts en-route and some superb scenery. Visit the quaint seaside town of Weymouth with its harbour, sandy beach and shops, or Dorchester with its many museums. Further afield, discover Monkey World, Bovington Tank Museum, historic houses and many other exciting attractions beckon to ensure you have a memorable holiday. Beach 1 mile. Shop and restaurant 400 yards, pub 200 yards.

This charming, spacious, Grade II listed, thatched, detached cottage is set in the delightful village of Chideock. Between Lyme Regis and Bridport, and a short walk from the beach at Seatown and the scenic World Heritage Jurassic Coast, this is an ideal holiday base. Enjoy superb coastal walking, with breathtaking views from Golden Cap, fishing, swimming and fossil hunting, or explore Lyme Regis with its Cobb, harbour and quaint shops, and many other attractions nearby. Shop and pub 400 yards.

The Old Guildhall, reputed to be the original meeting place of the ancient order of stone cutters and marblers, is a unique and individual property with contemporary and quirky design practically combined with many original period features. The house has many original works of art on display which adds to the ambiance, and has been featured in the House and Garden magazine. The owner thoughtfully provides a luxurious hamper. The stunning village of Corfe Castle stands at the gateway to the Isle of Purbeck, and is dominated by the ruined castle, which is a delight any time of year. Other family attractions include a model village and interactive exhibition, the village museum, a steam railway and many shops, and Corfe Common is found just on the edge of the village with the Purbeck Way walking route passing through it to reach Chapman’s Pool and the South West Coast Path. The village is constructed almost completely from the local grey Purbeck limestone and around the village square there are a small collection of shops clustered together. The UNESCO World Heritage Jurassic Coastline is a short drive away, with the famous Lulworth Cove and Durdle Door. Discover the town of Swanage with its beach, boat trips, Durlston Country Park and Steam Railway. Monkey World and the Tank Museum are also close by. Shop and pubs 100 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.