High tide on Weymouth's beautiful sandy beach Explore our Collection of Dorset Holiday Cottages

Find My Favourite Dorset Holiday Cottages

A delightful selection of Dorset holiday cottages for families and friends can be found in one of England's most beautiful counties. Dorset's appeal is that it offers holidaymakers a choice of self-catering holidays by the sea or inland in wonderfully-named, idyllic and sleepy villages such as Compton Abbas, Gussage All Saints and Lytchett Matravers. Whether for a weekend break in a secluded country cottage in Beaminster or a luxury holiday home in Sherborne.  Find Dorset coast cottages for leisurely summer holidays in quaint seaside cottages from Swanage to Lyme Regis; you will fall in love with the fresh air and slow way of life in Dorset.

Behind a low stone wall and lawns stands a lighthouse tower and buildings.
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

View Stopes Cottage at The Old Higher Lighthouse, an unusual Portland Bill holiday cottage with sea views near Weymouth in Dorset, offering a sensational and unique holiday home. Once the dwelling place of Marie Stopes, this converted Jurassic Coast Lighthouse sleeps 4 in 2 bedrooms.

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Exterior of a modern holiday home with French Windows overlooking a paved courtyard garden.
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

3 Allington Square promises a relaxing holiday by the sea. The coastal cottage sits in a residential area near the heart of Bridport in Dorset. It offers families and pets contemporary comfort, a lawned garden with a furnished patio, abundant natural light and easy access to the Jurassic Coast.

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Exterior of a thatched holiday cottage in Dorset with a flower-filled garden.
Sleeps
5
Bedrooms
3

One of a group of Grade II-listed holiday homes tastefully restored in the peaceful hamlet of Coombe Keynes, Dorset, Odd Nod Cottage is a picturesque thatched coastal cottage amidst an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty with three first-floor bedrooms and a large lawned garden.

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Exterior of a thatched Abbotsbury holiday cottage with farm buildings behind.
Sleeps
6
Bedrooms
3

Enjoy the gentle allure of Dairy Cottage, a serene Dorset coast cottage in Abbotsbury. It offers rural views, a pet-friendly garden, and a cosy wood-burning stove. With three bedrooms, including two doubles and a twin, it comfortably accommodates six guests. The well-equipped farmhouse-style kitchen/diner is perfect for preparing and tucking into family meals. Explore nearby Abbotsbury, the Subtropical Gardens, and the Southwest Coast Path. Experience a wonderful Dorset holiday at this Abbotsbury holiday rental. Book now for an enriching escape amidst picturesque rural surroundings.

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Large, thatched Dorset Farmhouse overlooking a courtyard.
Sleeps
8
Bedrooms
4

Manor Farmhouse is a thatched and beautifully presented country cottage near Maiden Newton, sleeping eight in four bedrooms with expansive rural views and river frontage, situated in a peaceful and idyllic location.

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Exterior of a double-fronted, wisteria-clad Abbotsbury holiday cottage
Sleeps
6
Bedrooms
3

Market House, an Abbotsbury holiday home, offers a tastefully updated, spacious retreat with charming original features. This family-friendly holiday let in Dorset accommodates up to six guests, featuring a wood-burning stove, contemporary decor, and a delightful courtyard. Centrally located, it provides easy access to Abbotsbury's quintessential high street and numerous attractions, including the Subtropical Gardens and the Jurassic Coast Path. Discover the charm of this family-friendly retreat – your ideal coastal escape in Dorset.

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S single-storey chapel conversion to a holiday cottage in West Lulworth
Sleeps
6
Bedrooms
3

Explore St Mary's Chapel, a luxurious West Lulworth holiday let in Dorset, offering an unforgettable escape in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. This converted chapel sleeps up to six guests, featuring unique architectural elements, an open-plan living space with underfloor heating, and flexible sleeping arrangements. The enclosed garden with scenic views and proximity to local amenities, including Lulworth Cove's pebble beach, adds to the property's allure. Discover a perfect blend of comfort and coastal beauty at this Dorset holiday rental. View more information and photos for an enticing escape.

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2-storey barn conversion with a patio for dining and large lawn.
Sleeps
6
Bedrooms
3

Rampisham Hill Farm Barn sits in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty on a working sheep farm near Hooke in Dorset, & the rural cottage promises beautiful views, spacious outdoor areas, an open fire, fresh farm eggs, contemporary comfort, open-plan design, serenity & access to the Jurassic Coast.

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Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

The Stables, situated amidst the owners’ 130 acres of wooded farmland in the rural village of Fifehead Neville, is a dog-friendly cottage in Dorset. It is a barn conversion lovingly renovated to an exceptionally high standard. The cottage offers spectacular views across the Blackmore Vale.

 

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The County offers endless opportunities for holidays, ranging from cheap weekend or mid-week breaks out of season to long, leisurely week or fortnight holidays in high summer. It's not just the tranquil charm of its quaint holiday cottages in Dorset that attracts visitors to the County - it's their location too. Dorset also offers its visitors a wide choice of lovely beaches. Find coastal cottages in Dorset from the seaside resort of Weymouth in the east along the South West Coast Path to the Regency town of Lyme Regis. There's a splendid choice of Dorset coast cottages, including Chideock, the long shingle banks of Chesil Beach (taking in the world-famous Swannery at Abbotsbury), Studland Bay, Burton Bradstock, peaceful Charmouth and picturesque Lulworth Cove. Just think of a day spent fishing in rock pools on a beach for minute sea creatures (Kimmeridge Bay is particularly recommended) and then turning to the cliffs on this famous Jurassic coastline. Here, winter rockfalls often reveal fossils (although you're no longer allowed to go digging for them). The

There's an equally appealing choice of attractions to enjoy away from Dorset's south coast beaches. Why not spend an afternoon viewing the Purbeck countryside from the windows of a heritage steam train on the Swanage Railway? Next, catch your train at Corfe and visit the magnificent ruins of Corfe Castle, high on the hill above the town. Then, head west to Bovington, where you'll find the (seriously) best and most entertaining tank museum or the nearby Monkey World, which is as educational as its primates are adorable.

In the far west of Dorset lie the attractive little coastal towns of Bridport, West Bay, with its fantastic fish restaurant and Lyme Regis.

Inland Dorset is as pretty as the names of its villages imply. How can you resist a holiday in a county with place names such as Fifehead Magdalen, Purse Caundle, Hazelbury Bryan, Piddletrenthide, Sixpenny Handley, Toller Fratrum and Tolpuddle (home of the Tolpuddle Martyrs)?

Many of its towns boast splendid vernacular architecture (usually accompanied by quaint tea rooms), as visitors to Blandford Forum or Gold Hill in Shaftesbury will readily testify. The latter is the location for a famous Hovis Bread advert in the '70s.

Other attractions worth visiting include the Model Town at Wimborne and the Great Dorset Steam Fair near Blandford Forum at the end of August. Unfortunately, the Steam Fair is so large you'll need more than one day to work around it. But, of course, this shouldn't be a problem if you stay in a Dorset holiday let!