Dorset Holiday Cottages: 10 Amazing Dorset Cottages to Rent

Our home for the weekend was the wonderful Sturthill Stable, a beautiful barn conversion at the heart of a working dairy farm is and only 15 minutes from Dorset’s spectacular Jurassic Coast. The cottage is set in a rural setting which will please the whole family, with tennis courts on-site, countryside walks, village pubs and cows just outside your window.

When we arrived after a weary four-hour drive from Buckinghamshire, we were welcomed with open arms, by the lovely owner who showed us the cottage and where everything was.

The cottage was surprisingly big, with a large open plan kitchen and dining room, large lounge, games room and wash facilities downstairs, and then upstairs there were three bedrooms, one of which was a master bedroom with ensuite and king-size bed, whilst the other two rooms were set out as twin rooms, with an adjacent bathroom.

I managed to reserve the master bedroom for myself, which was lovely to get some space and relax in a large bed, with a skylight looking out up to the stars, whilst the other girls split themselves between the two other rooms. We spent most of our time at the cottage in the huge kitchen and dining room, where we had dinner both nights and played games in the evening. 

Nearby is the bustling town of Bridport, which has some great cafes, and a street market on Wednesdays and Saturdays, and also a great fish and chip shop which we dined from after our long drive from London on a Friday night.

Also just around the corner is the Hive Beach Cafe at Burton Bradstock, overlooking the beach, which serves locally caught seafood, and delicious cakes. And this is also where some of the scenes for Broadchurch were filmed a few years ago.

Also, a short drive away is the seaside town of Lyme Regis, with its iconic Cobb, and Monmouth Beach, where you can hunt for fossils, enjoy the cafes and restaurants or just relax on the beach with ice cream. 

We loved Sturthill Stable for our weekend adventure in Dorset and we would love to come back soon, to explore this region even more. It is a great base for exploring this beautiful part of Dorset!

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If you’re looking for a holiday right on the beach, this is the cottage for you. At Chalet on the Beach, you can relax on your veranda with a glass of something refreshing, as you watch the gentle waves of Monmouth Beach.

It’s a great location for an exploration of the world-famous Heritage Site, the Jurassic Coast, where you can find dozens of large ammonites on the exposed boulders and bedrock at low tide; some of the rocks date back to 199 million years ago.

The open plan living area has a compact fitted kitchen with an under-counter fridge, complete with ice-box for that perfect gin and tonic. The wet-room has a shower, with WC and washbasin and for that added luxury it has under-floor heating.

The stairs lead up to the mezzanine level sleeping area, with a super comfy mattress and views looking up to the stars!

Monmouth Beach is much quieter than the main town beach, a mixture of sand and rock, and is a fantastic location all year round. From your deck you can look across Lyme Bay to Golden Cap, the highest point along the south coast, an energetic but very worthwhile walk, The Anchor Inn at Seatown your reward at the end; further out in the bay you may be lucky enough to see a pod of dolphins.

If you can tear yourself away from the coast, River Cottage HQ is a 5-minute drive, treat yourself to a special holiday meal or even a one-day cookery course and the River Cottage Canteen and Deli, in nearby Axminster, is just 15 minutes away.

The teal green door sold this place immediately after I saw it.

It is quintessentially British, located in a tranquil Dorset village. Ivy Cottage is just the sort of place you may picture in your mind when someone says British village cottage, set in the midst of an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, in the pretty village of Cattistock.

This traditional ham stone and flint, Grade II Listed terraced cottage has been renovated to provide a delightful country retreat, full of character, with modern kitchen and bathroom facilities. This cottage to rent in Dorset has all the space you need, with a sitting room with wood burner, south-facing patio, enclosed garden, double bedroom with king-sized bed and a twin bedroom.

Ivy Cottage is also a great base to explore this wonderful part of the UK, with Lyme Regis being well worth a visit, The Isle of Purbeck only an hour’s drive, and Durdle Door, Lulworth Cove, Old Harry’s Rocks, and the South West Coast Path connecting them all.

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A stunning west Dorset location, amazing rural views and a truly luxurious property, Phoebes House and neighbouring property Lottie’s Loft (2565) both hidden gems just a short drive inland from the famous Jurassic Coast.

Phoebes House is a detached single-storey cottage and enjoys a private setting on the edge of the farmstead at West Farm. It has its own parking area and a secluded enclosed garden.

Every detail has been thought of, from complimentary logs for the wood-burner throughout your stay, to chocolates on your bed!

West Farm is at the end of a mile-long unmade farm track, setting the scene for your ‘away from it all’ holiday and yet an easy drive from the lovely local towns of Beaminster and Bridport. Although it is no longer an agricultural-based farm it is still a working farm where the owners run a thriving kiln-dried log business.

The ethos is to run this as eco-friendly as possible using locally-sourced timber and drying in professional kilns with all the waste wood being recycled. It is worth noting you may smell wood smoke on occasions in the air. Great care is taken to ensure that the operation of the business has minimum impact on guests, and on the plus side, you are never short of free supply of kiln logs for your wood-burning stove!

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This cosy, compact, delightful bolthole for two is set in a wonderfully tranquil hamlet in north Dorset with village shops and a choice of two pubs within two miles.

Built in local stone, Owl’s Nest Cottage was once the home of a breeding pair of Barn Owls. The cottage is all on one level; the well-equipped kitchen has a sitting-area with a wood-burner for snug evenings in, and the dining-area in the conservatory allows for meals with a view. There is a comfy 5′ bed, and the en suite has a fully tiled shower cubicle with drench head shower.

The unobtrusive owners live on site and are happy to help in any way.

Owl’s Nest Cottage is on the edge of the Blackmore Vale and provides all you need for a very comfortable stay. The conservatory/dining-room is the perfect place to enjoy a cup of coffee whilst planning your adventure for the day. The outside space has parking and a patio with furniture, and there is a store with a freezer for guests’ use; miles of paths and tracks are accessible from your doorstep.

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The Linhay is a tucked away single-storey retreat – and an ideal base for exploring the wonderful coastline. The cottage nestles alongside the barns, with a fully enclosed gravel courtyard, but just steps away is the start of the track leading down to the coast and some stunning views.

The cottage is completely independent yet has the possibility of an internal link to The Parlour (2662) when the two cottages can be booked together for an extended family holiday; the link door consists of two doors with sound insulation between.

This working farm on the edge of the historic village of Chideock stretches gently downhill to the Jurassic Coast where one of Dorset’s most famous landmarks – Golden Cap – rises above the sea. This is a great section of the South West Coast Path – a challenge to get to the top but rewarded with the stunning views.

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Beehive Cottage is a charming and cosy cottage on a quiet lane opposite St Mary’s church in the village of Puddletown. Surrounded by farmland, the pretty village is nestled in the heart of Thomas Hardy country and well placed to explore the rest of Dorset. The county town of Dorchester is just six miles away and the spectacular World Heritage Jurassic Coast is within a 30-minute drive.

This gorgeous thatched cottage dates back over 200 years and used to be home to the district nurse. As soon as you step through the door you will be met with a wealth of original features including traditional cottage stairs, low lintels/beams and quirky sloping floors; all enhancing the cottage’s charm and appeal.

The fabulous ornamental inglenook fireplace in the sitting-room is such a special feature. Tucked away behind a wooden door, the stairs lead to the master bedroom, with a king-size double bed, and the second bedroom, with a ‘zip and link’ which can be turned into a king-size double bed or twin beds.

The sheltered courtyard garden is a tranquil sun-trap, fully enclosed to keep children and dogs safe.

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Badgers Cottage, a snug semi-detached cottage for two, is set in a farmyard, beautifully converted from an 18th Century stone barn. All on one level, the open plan design gives a welcoming feel. The very stylish deVOL kitchen is a cook’s delight, with ceramic hob and double oven, perfect for creating delicious meals and the wood-burner ensures you can be toasty warm. The super-comfy six-foot bed can be made up as a double or two singles.

West Hembury Farm is situated in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty; a walker’s paradise. Just four miles from the bustling market town of Bridport, and a short drive to the World Heritage Jurassic Coast and West Bay, where some of Broadchurch was filmed.

From the farm you can gaze across the valley towards Eggardon Hill, a National Trust owned Iron Age hill fort; with magnificent views towards Golden Cap and diverse wildlife, it is well worth a visit.

This working farm has Gotland sheep and lambs in springtime; resident chickens roam the farmyard and the owners’ Shetland ponies, horses and spaniels give the yard an appeal that children will remember a long time after their holiday.

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