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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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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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.

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A partially thatched Dorset cottage overlooks a large and secure lawned garden
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
3

Enjoy the unspoilt beauty of the hamlet of Benville, Dorset, just as Thomas Hardy described it a century ago, with a stay at Benville Cottage, a historic child-friendly cottage with three bedrooms, a large garden with three terraced lawn areas, an Inglenook fireplace, and 17th-century stone wall carving.

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Exterior and front garden of a stone-built Dorset holiday cottage with outdoor dining furniture on its terrace.
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

Chideock Cottage is a well-equipped holiday cottage which is available all-year-round. Situated in the village of Chideock with stunning views of the hills and just a 20 minute walk to the beach at Seatown. There is a lovely foodie pub just over the road, too!

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Sleeps
8
Bedrooms
3

The Old Barn is a charming stone-built cottage near Swanage offering stylish accommodation. Set on the Isle of Purbeck, Dorset's large and pet-friendly holiday home promises tranquillity, lovely views, spacious grounds, fresh air, open-plan living and a cosy log fire.

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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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Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

Situated on a beautiful farm overlooking the Jurassic Coast in West Dorset, The Swallows is one of seven-holiday cottages at Character Farm Cottages near Weymouth. 4-star rated by Visit England, it comfortably sleeps four. It is exceptionally well-appointed and open throughout the year. Pets welcome.

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Sleeps
2
Bedrooms
1

Escape to the idyllic Duck Street Cottage, a charming hideaway nestled in the heart of Dorset. Perfect for couples or friends, this cosy cottage boasts a traditional inglenook fireplace, providing the perfect setting to unwind after an exciting day of exploration. Nestled in Symondsbury Village, you'll be perfectly placed to explore the village's delightful artisan shops, café and pub, all within a short walk from your doorstep. Don't miss out on the opportunity to experience the quintessential British countryside charm of Duck Street Cottage.

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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!