Dorset Holidays, Self-Catering Cottages and Apartments

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. Still looking for a countryside holiday destination? Head here to see our full UK countryside holiday listings.

Exterior of a 2-bedroom, semi-detached holiday home with parking spaces.
  • Sleeps 4
  • Bedrooms 2

For self-catering holidays in Lyme Regis, explore Anchor, a ground-floor haven just a 10-minute walk to the bustling seafront. This pet-friendly cottage offers comfort within easy reach of the town. Modern amenities, two bedrooms, and a private patio make it ideal for mobility-challenged guests. Off-road parking, stunning beaches, and local attractions create a perfect coastal retreat. Discover the charm of Lyme Regis and plan your Dorset self-catering escape at Anchor.

  • Active Holidays
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Fishing Holidays
  • Short Breaks
  • Small Cottages
  • Walking Holidays
Exterior of a modern detached house with covered balcony.
  • Sleeps 5
  • Bedrooms 2

Discover the charm of Cobblestones, a two-bedroom holiday cottage in Lyme Regis. Centrally located, it offers easy access to the seafront, shops, and attractions. Enjoy comfort in the well-equipped kitchen, lounge with a flat-screen TV, and a conservatory with patio access. The property features a spacious garden with coastal views. Parking is available. It is ideal for self-catering holidays in Lyme Regis, providing a perfect base to explore the UNESCO Jurassic Coast and the town’s vibrant festivals. For further information or booking, use the ‘Visit Website’ or ‘View Availability’ buttons when viewing our main page.

  • Active Holidays
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays
A single-storey Dorset holiday cottage overlooks a large lawn surrounded by a wooden fence, trees and rose bushes.
  • Sleeps 11
  • Bedrooms 5

Situated amidst the splendour of the Dorset Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and boasting amenities suitable for all ages, Court House Farmhouse is a large holiday cottage on the edge of the Dorset village of Whitchurch Canonicorum. This a child-friendly cottage with five bedrooms, a private hot tub, and a shared games barn.

  • Active Holidays
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Cottages With Games Rooms
  • Cottages with Hot Tubs
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Farm Cottages
  • Large Holiday Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays
A limestone-built Dorset holiday cottage with a porch and tiny front garden.
  • Sleeps 4
  • Bedrooms 2

Explore Dovecot Cottage, a quality holiday home in the sleepy coastal village of Portesham in Dorset. This charming retreat boasts an open-plan living space, a delightful garden room, and a secure patio garden, ideal for relaxation and pets. Discover hidden gems like Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens and Chesil Beach on the stunning Jurassic Coastline. With allocated parking, proximity to Weymouth and Dorchester, and local amenities, it's the perfect choice for cottage holidays in Dorset. Immerse yourself in tranquillity—view our full description for an unforgettable Dorset holiday!

  • Active Holidays
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Small Cottages
  • Walking Holidays
Modern, 3-storey Dorset eco-lodge overlooking a patio and large lawn.
  • Sleeps 8
  • Bedrooms 3

Harbour Lights is a spacious seaside cottage located in Dorset, situated between Bridport and West Bay. The cottage provides modern amenities and offers breathtaking views of both the countryside and the sea. It is pet-friendly and comes with a large furnished terrace, perfect for hosting gatherings. Inside, the cottage features elegant Corian work surfaces, as well as marble and wooden floors.

  • Active Holidays
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  • Cycling Holidays
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  • Fishing Holidays
  • Large Holiday Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays
A Weymouth apartment deck with a table laid for breakfast.
  • Sleeps 2
  • Bedrooms 1

Discover the homely comforts of The Seafoal, a Lyme Regis holiday apartment, perfect for a seaside retreat for two. Enjoy breathtaking sea views, a private roof terrace, and a king-size bed. This contemporary haven, nestled behind Lyme’s main high street, offers a prime location with onsite parking. Immerse yourself in comfort with a well-equipped kitchen, smart TV, and Juliet balcony. Explore Lyme Regis’s charm, beaches, and iconic landmarks from this exclusive second-floor escape. Experience the best of the coast at The Seafoal – your ideal seaside apartment.

  • Active Holidays
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Romantic Cottages
  • Short Breaks
1930s-style detached chalet bungalow with a paved deck surrounded by lawns and the Dorset countryside.
  • Sleeps 8
  • Bedrooms 3

This large shooting lodge is located in Dorset with peaceful rural views in a secluded location, only a short walk to Symondsbury. Axen Lodge sleeps eight over four bedrooms. This property accommodates a large garden with a hot tub, trampoline and gas BBQ. Dogs are welcome.

  • Active Holidays
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Cottages with Hot Tubs
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Farm Cottages
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  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays
  • Sleeps 8
  • Bedrooms 3

The Brewery is a unique conversion providing a very comfortable 3 bedroomed detached house with a large garden and access to an organic farm littered with swimming ponds. The kitchen dining area works very well and the views from the bedrooms and living rooms are incredible with views through the adjacent swimming lake south to the Jurassic coast and west towards Golden Cap, Hardown Hill and Morcombelake. The fold down downstairs bed and adjacent shower room allow for less mobile guests to be comfortable as do the ramp to the patio. The coast at Seatown is 2 miles and the vibrant towns of Bridport and Lyme Regis are 15 mins.

  • Accessible Cottages
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  • Coastal Cottages
  • Cottages With Games Rooms
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Farm Cottages
  • Fishing Holidays
  • Holiday Cottages With a Pool
  • Independent Cottages
  • Large Holiday Cottages
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  • Romantic Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Small Cottages
  • Walking Holidays
  • Waterside Cottages
Jurassic View living room view
  • Sleeps 4
  • Bedrooms 2

This Comfortable 2nd floor apartment is in the village of West Bay near to Bridport in Dorset and can sleep 4 people in 2 bedrooms.

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.

  • Active Holidays
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Cottages With Games Rooms
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Large Holiday Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays
  • Waterside Cottages
  • Sleeps 10
  • Bedrooms 5

Welcome to Yarrow, your large Jurassic Coast holiday cottage in charming Charmouth. This Dorset coastal retreat is perfect for families or friends seeking a break in all seasons. Yarrow is more than just a holiday let; it's a stylishly presented home away from home. Our property has undergone extensive renovations and extensions, ensuring your stay is nothing short of exceptional.

  • Active Holidays
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Large Holiday Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays
A stone barn stands alone surrounded by wheat fields.
  • Sleeps 6
  • Bedrooms 3

Blagdon Lower Barn promises true seclusion in its beautifully positioned remote location amid the Dorset countryside. Fields surround the pet-friendly cottage near Dorchester. It boasts extensive gardens with rural views and an interior with a high brick arch, open fire, open-plan design and luxurious décor.

  • Active Holidays
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
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  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Farm Cottages
  • Luxury Holiday Cottages
  • Remote Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays
A large contemporary holiday home looks down over a large lawn.
  • Sleeps 10
  • Bedrooms 5

Welcome to Somerhill, a genuinely exceptional holiday cottage nestled in the heart of Lyme Regis. If you're seeking spacious and luxurious accommodation for your large family or group of friends, you've found it. Somerhill is your home away from home, complete with a stunning outdoor heated swimming pool, perfect for relaxation and fun for up to ten guests on the Dorset Coast.

  • Accessible By Train
  • Active Holidays
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  • Holiday Cottages With a Pool
  • Large Holiday Cottages
  • Luxury Holiday Cottages
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.

  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Cottages with Hot Tubs
  • Holiday Cottages With a Pool
  • Quirky Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays

Why Stay in a Holiday Home in Dorset?

  • 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. There's 70 miles of golden beaches so plenty to choose from! You can find coastal cottages in Dorset just moments away from the beach or after a small drive.  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).
  • 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)?
  • For an authentic country feeling, find a countryside cottage with beams, a thatched roof and a cosy fire place to relax and unwind by. The architecture here feels like stepping back in time.
  • Dorset is perfect for hiking, sailing, cycling or just relaxing. Enjoy the local cuisine, potter around the local towns or go fossil hunting along the Jurassic coast.

 

 

Where Can You Visit and What Can You Do From Your Dorset Holiday Home?

  • Make your way to the well know Seven Sisters beach where you'll be greeted with stunning chalk sea cliffs.
  • The Jurassic coast offers an insight into our past world. You may stumble upon a fossil on the beach at Lyme Regis and Charmouth.
  • It's worth visiting 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!
  • Adventure to seaside resorts like Weymouth in the east and head along the South West Coast Path to the Regency town of Lyme Regis.
  • 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.
  • 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.