fishing village on Dorset coast

Self-catering holiday cottages in Dorset

Popular with holiday makers and home to many wonderful holiday cottages, Dorset, situated on English Channel south west coast of England has a history of habitation stretching back to Neolithic times. Most of the county’s coastline is part of the Jurassic Coast, which is a World Heritage Site, and features some superb and altogether rather famous landforms such as Lulworth Cove, Durdle Door and the Old Harry Rocks. The county also boasts one of the highest proportions of conservation areas (190) in England, together with no fewer than 12,850 listed buildings, 1,500 Scheduled Ancient Monuments and over 30 registered parks and gardens.

It’s a county well known for annual festivals and fairs such as the Great Dorset Steam Fair (Blandford), Bournemouth Air Festival, Spirit of the Seas (Weymouth and Portland) and the Dorset County Show to name but a few of the more major ones. The county also has some of the best family attractions, so a family taking a self catering cottage holiday will certainly not run short of things to see and do – The Keep Military, Tutankhamen, Dorchester’s famous Market and the Jurassic Skyline. Also, there is plenty of “celebrity” spotting to be done where Dorset has been the star of many famous films and TV productions.

Exterior | Willow Yurt - Walnut Farm, Beaminster

Willow Yurt - UKC6947, Beaminster, Dorset, DT6 3WB.

Holiday in this fully insulated yurt with a wood burner and stargazing roof window, set in a peaceful rural haven with stunning countryside and lake views right from your private decking.

  • 2 Pets welcome
  • Golf nearby
  • Pub within 1 mile
  • Short Breaks All Year
  • Fuel and Power Included
  • Pets – no charge
  • Rural Location
  • Bed Linen & Towels Included
View Property Details
Exterior | Skylark Yurt - Walnut Farm, Beaminster

Skylark Yurt - UKC6946, Beaminster, Dorset, DT6 3WB.

Escape to a fully insulated yurt in a peaceful rural haven, with stunning lake and countryside views and your own private wood-fired hot tub for the ultimate nature retreat.

  • 2 Pets welcome
  • Golf nearby
  • Pub within 1 mile
  • Hot Tub
  • Short Breaks All Year
  • Hot Tub - Private
  • Fuel and Power Included
  • Pets – no charge
  • Rural Location
  • Bed Linen & Towels Included
View Property Details
Exterior | Russet Yurt - Walnut Farm, Beaminster

Russet Yurt - UKC6945, Beaminster, Dorset, DT6 3WB.

Escape to this charming two-bedroom yurt nestled in a peaceful rural haven, with tranquil lakes right on your doorstep, perfect for a relaxing nature retreat.

  • 2 Pets welcome
  • Golf nearby
  • Pub within 1 mile
  • Short Breaks All Year
  • Fuel and Power Included
  • Pets – no charge
  • Rural Location
  • Bed Linen & Towels Included
View Property Details
View | Pippin Yurt - Walnut Farm, Beaminster

Pippin Yurt - UKC6944, Beaminster, Dorset, DT6 3WB.

Unwind in this cosy yurt with a superking bed and wood burner, nestled in a peaceful rural haven with lakes on your doorstep and sweeping views across the countryside.

  • 2 Pets welcome
  • Golf nearby
  • Pub within 1 mile
  • Short Breaks All Year
  • Fuel and Power Included
  • Pets – no charge
  • Rural Location
  • Bed Linen & Towels Included
View Property Details
Exterior | Mistle Roundhouse - Walnut Farm, Beaminster

Mistle Roundhouse - UKC6943, Beaminster, Dorset, DT6 3WB.

Brand new for 2025, this fully insulated Roundhouse features a cosy wood burner and a spectacular stargazing roof window, set in a tranquil rural haven with breathtaking lake and countryside...

  • 2 Pets welcome
  • Golf nearby
  • Pub within 1 mile
  • Short Breaks All Year
  • Fuel and Power Included
  • Pets – no charge
  • Rural Location
  • Bed Linen & Towels Included
View Property Details
Exterior | Hazel Roundhouse - Walnut Farm, Beaminster

Hazel Roundhouse - UKC6942, Beaminster, Dorset, DT6 3WB.

Escape to this brand-new, fully insulated roundhouse for 2025, complete with a wood-fired hot tub on the deck, nestled in a tranquil rural haven for the perfect countryside retreat. All on...

  • 2 Pets welcome
  • Golf nearby
  • Pub within 1 mile
  • Hot Tub
  • Short Breaks All Year
  • Hot Tub - Private
  • Fuel and Power Included
  • Pets – no charge
  • Rural Location
  • Bed Linen & Towels Included
View Property Details
Exterior | Bracken Yurt - Walnut Farm, Beaminster

Bracken Yurt - UKC6941, Beaminster, Dorset, DT6 3WB.

Stay in a fully insulated yurt with a cosy wood burner and stargazing roof window, set in a tranquil rural haven with breathtaking views over the countryside and lake.

  • 2 Pets welcome
  • Golf nearby
  • Pub within 1 mile
  • Short Breaks All Year
  • Fuel and Power Included
  • Pets – no charge
  • Rural Location
  • Bed Linen & Towels Included
View Property Details
Exterior | Whispering Pines - Wayside Cottages, West Bexington, near Lyme Regis

Whispering Pines - UK51248, West Bexington, near Lyme Regis, Dorset, DT2 9DD.

A cosy two-bedroom seaside lodge beside Chesil Beach, with one double and one twin room. Open plan living with wood burner, sea views and easy access to coastal walks, wildlife, fishing and...

  • 2 Pets welcome
  • Golf nearby
  • Pub within 1 mile
  • Highchair
  • Sea View
  • Pets – no charge
  • Rural Location
  • Television
  • WiFi
  • Bed Linen & Towels Included
  • Cot Available
  • Seaside
View Property Details
Exterior | Fossil And The Cross - Wayside Cottages, West Bexington, near Lyme Regis

Fossil And The Cross - UK51247, West Bexington, near Lyme Regis, Dorset, DT2 9DD.

A cosy two-bedroom seaside lodge beside Chesil Beach, with one double and one twin room. Open plan living with wood burner, sea views and easy access to coastal walks, wildlife, fishing and...

  • 2 Pets welcome
  • Golf nearby
  • Pub within 1 mile
  • Highchair
  • Sea View
  • Pets – no charge
  • Rural Location
  • Television
  • WiFi
  • Bed Linen & Towels Included
  • Cot Available
  • Seaside
View Property Details
Sun room | Mimosa - Wayside Cottages, West Bexington, near Lyme Regis

Mimosa - UK51224, West Bexington, near Lyme Regis, Dorset, DT2 9DD.

A two-bedroom coastal bungalow with wet room, open-plan living and private garden with sea views. Located within walking-distance to Chesil Beach, Dorset countryside, historic towns, and...

  • 2 Pets welcome
  • Golf nearby
  • Pub within 1 mile
  • Fuel and Power Included
  • Highchair
  • Sea View
  • Rural Location
  • Television
  • WiFi
  • Bed Linen & Towels Included
  • Cot Available
  • Bath/Shower Seat
  • Seaside
View Property Details
Exterior | Old Court House, Sherborne, near Yeovil

Old Court House, Sherborne, near Yeovil, Dorset, DT9 6JX.

A beautifully restored 17th-century thatched farmhouse in Dorset’s Sherborne area, rich in character and charm, offering a peaceful village retreat close to Sherborne, countryside walks,...

  • Golf nearby
  • Dishwasher
  • Fuel and Power Included
  • Highchair
  • Stairgate
  • Television
  • WiFi
  • Bed Linen & Towels Included
  • Cot Available
  • Luxury Collection
  • Pets – not allowed
View Property Details
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Staying in Dorset

Dorset, thanks to the slightly milder climate by British standards, is also a county well known for its fresh local produce, so either making your own tasty meals, or nipping out for a meal that someone else cooks for you in one of the many fine restaurants is simplicity itself. Perfect for self-caterers who want to sample local cuisine and have a holiday from the ktichen.

Some of the larger and well-known cities and towns in the county include Bournemouth (home to legendary comedian Tony Hancock), Poole, Weymouth, Bridport, Dorchester, Gillingham, Sherbourne and Blandford all offering their own unique perspective on life in Dorset. The largest city, Bournemouth, a coastal resort, boasts not only fine sandy beaches, but plenty of culture and history together with superb shopping. Holiday houses often get booked well in advance in Dorset - so if you wait for late availability - you risk properteis being fully booked.