Dog-friendly Hotels Dorset

Within 2 miles of the famous Chesil Beach and World Heritage Jurassic Coast and between West Bay and Portland Bill, this Grade II 13th-century stone tithe barn, situated in Litton Cheney on a working farm, has been restored and extended to provide excellent detached character accommodation for 19 guests, in this sought after part of West Dorset. It offers a great location for enjoying this holiday area, and boasts nine en-suite bedrooms (five doubles, one with an additional single, and four twins), each with TV, and a large kitchen, ideal for self catering with a large group. There is even the added benefit of a self-service bar, so you can keep your friends and family entertained throughout the evening. The original stone barn, now a very impressive vaulted and beamed living/dining room, comfortably accommodates eighteen. There is plenty of room for all; guests can relax and unwind in the large garden, the children can play in the games room equipped with pool table, there is fishing (by arrangement with the owner) in the 2-acre coarse fishing lake, or simply wander down to the village pub to wine and dine, or enjoy some glorious country walking.
Within a few minutes’ drive is Chesil Beach at Burton Bradstock which stretches for 17 miles from Portland to West Bay and is a unique shingle ridge and natural beauty spot. The pebbles on the beach are said to increase in size from east to west, the largest being at Portland where a centre for wind and kitesurfing can also be found. West Bexington and Abbotsbury are a short drive away with opportunities for swimming and fishing. Abbotsbury is home to the swannery which is a popular family attraction for holidaymakers and where visitors can walk amidst colonies of nesting mute swans in a natural wildlife habitat. Originally established by Benedictine monks who built a monastery at Abbotsbury, the swannery was used to provide food for their banquets and has been featured in films including Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. The Abbotsbury Sub-tropical Gardens, which were established in the 1700s by the Countess of Ilchester, are another place of interest to visit. Magnolia and camelia collections are of particular note as well as rhododendrons and hydrangeas; a gift shop, restaurant and plant centre complete the facilities for a good day out. There is much to see and do in Dorset for families, especially at Weymouth, a short drive away, which offers many attractions including the Sea Life Museum, or visit Dorchester with its many attractions and shops. Further afield, family days out include Wool with its Tank Museum and Monkey World, or admire the natural arch of Durdle Door and the almost circular cove of Lulworth on the way to Wareham and the Isle of Purbeck. To the west one can see the magnificent World Heritage Coast and visit West Bay, Eype, Charmouth and of course the ever popular seaside resort of Lyme Regis, with its pretty harbour and Cobb. Shop 3 miles and pub 400 yards.

Near the character abbey town of Sherborne, 2 miles, these two well-presented single-storey barn conversions with rugs on polished wooden floors, offer comfortable and spacious accommodation in a peaceful location. They are delightfully situated, and yet within 2 miles guests can be in the lovely town of Sherborne, enjoying the picturesque Blackmore Vale, or visiting many historic houses, such as Montacute, Forde Abbey, Stourhead and Longleat. Within easy driving distance of many family attractions such as the popular Yeovilton Fleet Air Arm Museum and the Haynes Motor Museum, and days out exploring the World Heritage Coast from Weymouth to Lyme Regis, or inland central Somerset, Glastonbury Tor and the exquisite city of Bath. Shop 2 miles, country hotel with bar and food 110 yards. Can be booked together to accommodate up to 8 guests.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The Retreat is a semi-detached, Grade II listed, stunning five bedroom country house nestled at the heart of the pretty Dorset Village of Burton Bradstock. Set just ½ mile from Hive Beach, on the world heritage Jurassic Coast, it’s perfectly located between Weymouth and Lyme Regis. The house itself is perfect for large family groups with stylish and flexible accommodation over three floors. The social hub is a large kitchen/dining room and is perfect to relax, cook and enjoy each other’s company. The stylishly furnished living room is the perfect space in which to relax after a busy day exploring.
The village of Burton Bradstock is a beautiful place to explore, with village inns, a restaurant and a superb café directly on Hive Beach. A little further afield is the harbour settlement of West Bay which is a spectacular place to while away a few hours. The pretty harbour has a back drop of stunning sandstone cliffs and beautiful beaches.
The Market towns of Dorchester and Bridport are a short drive away and offer a wide variety of independent shops and eateries. This luxury holiday home will have you enchanted from the moment you step inside, and will have you longing to return.
The Retreat can be booked together with Coach House Retreat (UK32202) to accommodate up to 17 guests.