“Why wouldn’t you come to Dorset..” is a phrase once uttered by one of Dorset’s most famous literary sons, John Fowles. And like his literary predecessor, Thomas Hardy, Fowles had a strong bond with the county where he spent nearly 40 years of his life. It’s not difficult to see why so many famous (and not so famous) people fall in love with Dorset as it is a place with so much elegance and beauty both conventional and idiosyncratic. The world renowned Jurassic Coast path (see picture opposite) draws in many a visitor wishing to take in some breathtaking walks and views across the coastline from Weymouth and Portland and stretching all the way into Devon at its end point. Contrast the natural beauty of the coast with the stunning 2 mile golden sand beach and Georgian esplanade which makes up a grand stretch of the seaside town of Weymouth with its family friendly cafes, gift shops and fairground attractions and you can see in the blink of an eye how Dorset’s appeal stretches across all ages and classes.
Self catering holiday cottages in Dorset
Buena Vista
The best way to visit Dorset is to spend time taking in the contrasting colours, sights and sounds that surround you and prove such an allure for the thousands of visitors to the county each year. With a self catering holiday cottage in Dorset, you will have the opportunity to experience Dorset in this way. Dream Cottages 300+ holiday properties offer something for everyone and allow you to tailor your Dorset experience to your own individual tastes. For instance, if you would prefer to take in the expansive views over Weymouth and Portland bay where the 2012 Olympic Sailing events took place then we have a number of properties that take full advantage of this. Our Beach View apartments, set in the Greenhill area of Weymouth, are very popular for this reason and we also have smaller properties such as Beach Bay Apartment and Beach Retreat that would be suitable (illustrated in the screenshots below): self catering holiday apartments in Weymouth


Rural Retreat
If your preference is for a quieter and more rural holiday cottage in Dorset, then we have a number of suitable options to fit in with your requirements. The range of dream cottages holiday properties stretches as far west as Devon and Cornwall, although the majority of our property portfolio resides in the Dorset area. Our rural properties can vary from newly built and / or traditionally maintained thatched cottages through to contemporary properties in a countryside location. We also have a select number of properties that make up an annexe of a much larger property and, often, the owner will live on site (in the larger property) in these instances. An example of a property we have recently acquired that fits this description is The Bakehouse based in Weymouth.
Quite often for our customers the attraction of a rural holiday cottage in dorset is the quiet, secluded location combined with beautiful natural surroundings and the opportunity to take in some invigorating country walks. Some examples of these types of property include the following:
3 Church Street, Kenton, Devon
This property is set in the peaceful east Devon village of Kenton which has a pretty square, village shop as well as a post office, pubs, restaurants and a takeaway. Nearby is the popular resort of Dawlish Warren which has a green where you may see ducks and also the famous black swans on the water. If you are fortunate and happen to be visiting on a summers day then you may even catch a musical rendition in the bandstand whilst enjoying an ice cream on the lawn.
Laira
Laira is a delightful terraced cottage dating back to 1855 and is located on the road through the picturesque village of Martinstown near Dorchester. The cottage enjoys spectacular views over impressive Dorset countryside and not far from the property is the popular Hardy’s monument – celebrating the author and his Dorset residence. Right in the heart of the village is a traditional country pub where you can enjoy a drink and a home cooked meal. Steven’s Farm shop is also close by and stocks a wide selection of goods from local producers.
Pet friendly holiday cottages
Increasingly, pet friendly holiday cottages are becoming popular as well. We do encourage those owners who have rural based properties to cater for dogs as this is a market that will continue to grow, especially as more and more people opt to stay in the UK. Take a look at our dedicated web site for customers seeking dog friendly holiday cottages in dorset.