Bridport is an attractive Georgian town famous for ropemaking, near the mouth of the River Brit. Though small it has all facilities including supermarkets and abundant pubs (Palmers Brewery run tours). There is a museum, restored art deco cinema with brasserie and bar plus a lively street market on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Tourist Information Centre (01308 424901): 32 South Street. Beaminster, 6 miles inland, offers craft galleries, specialist food shops, restaurants and pubs in pretty Ham stone buildings. Cradled in a downland bowl; it is surrounded by wondrous high ground walking.
Almost all of West Dorset is designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Idyllic streams like the Asker, Brit and Bride meander through rolling farmland and traditional villages. On the high ground, ancient footpaths link Iron Age hill-forts. Worth visiting: Eggardon Hill Fort and Powerstock; Abbotsbury with its museum, Swannery and Gardens; the gardens and parks of Mapperton, Minterne and Melbury.
After the spectacular 618 ft Golden Cap above Seatown, the Jurassic Coast Path continues on high cliffs with sea views eastward to Portland and westward all the way to Devon. After Eype, it descends to the charming little harbour at West Bay near Bridport then over cliffs again to Burton Bradstock (beach access). Beyond are marsh areas - habitat for many birds. West Bexington has beach access and a hotel with bar/restaurant after which the Path proceeds virtually on the shore to Abbotsbury. The beach is mainly shingle, occasionally sand and forms a continuous sweep from Chesil Bank to Seatown. The nearest sandy beaches are at Lyme Regis/Charmouth or Weymouth.
Villages with one or more Dorset Coastal Cottage:
Askerswell (cottages: 215, 268, 322, 3420): The former a village with a pub, the latter a rural hamlet. Both set in spectacular hilly countryside with wonderful views and good walking especially to Eggardon Hill-Fort and the lovely Bride Valley.
Beaminster (cottages: 112, 244, 246, 278, 301, 377, 3401, 3403, 3416, 3423, 3443):Larger than a village, yet not large enough to warrant a main road. The shops are an arresting mix of arts, crafts, antiques, old fashioned victuallers, deli, French patisserie, three pubs, restaurants and hotel. The winner of 2009 Masterchef has now opened his new restaurant in Beaminster Square called the Wild Garlic. http://www.thewildgarlic.co.uk
Bothenhampton (cottage: 2307): A Hamlet with a pretty Church, childrens's playground, Nature Reserve and footpaths to the coast; very convenient for Bridport and West Bay. Broadwindsor (cottage: 348): Set in the heart of this Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty this large village has a craft centre, shop, pub plus wonderful walking in a spectacular range of hills topped by Iron Age forts.
Burton Bradstock (cottages: 242, 255, 256, 287, 378, 454, 456, 2303, 3424) A large but exceptionally pretty village on the river Bride where it cuts through Jurassic coastal cliffs to provide access to the sea. It has a shop, two pubs, a recreation ground and a cafe on the nearby beach.
Corscombe (cottage: 299) A maze of footpaths radiate from this lovely rural village with characterful properties and a traditional pub, The Fox, which offers good wines and ales.
Eype (cottages: 253, 288, 3439): A beautiful village, set just inland from the World Heritage Jurassic Coast with a good pub, hotel, views of Golden Cap and beach access.
Litton Cheney (cottages: 340, 423): A long, winding village with a pub tucked under tumuli-strewn downs in the lovely Bride valley. A maze of paths connects the surrounding rural villages.
Loders/Uploders (cottages: 227, 293, 3419) (cottages: 115, 450): Rural villages with good pubs, situated south of Eggardon Hill Fort. Superb walks along the River Asker.
Long Bredy is located in a small valley and was mentioned in the Domesday Book and has a stone circle known as the 'Grey Mare and her colts'. St Peters Church hides amoungst the trees.
Netherbury (cottage: 234): One of Dorset's prettiest villages with a fine church and elegant houses nestling in the tree-filled Brit valley.
Puncknowle (cottage: 265): Pronounced Punnel is a village with a Pub tucked under tumuli-strewn downs in the picturesque Bride Valley. Surrounded by footpaths connecting with the surrounding villages and Coast Path.
Powerstock (cottages: 113, 3422): Nestling at the foot of Eggardon Hill the village has a pub and an ancient church which sits high on a hill and dates from the Norman times.
Salwayash (cottages: 248, 3427): A village with a pub on the Bridport/Broadwindsor Road, overlooking the Brit Valley with footpaths to Waytown (good pub) and Netherbury.
Shipton Gorge (cottages: 237, 356, 365, 367, 457, 3441): Has a fine hilltop church, lovely cottages on narrow lanes, farm shops, a pub and beautiful countryside down to the sea.
Stoke Abbott (cottage: 383): This pretty, rural village, set in hilly countryside, has a pub andHarbour at West Bay church with traditional clock chimes and bells.
Stoke Abbott (cottage: 383): This pretty, rural village, set in hilly countryside, has a pub andHarbour at West Bay church with traditional clock chimes and bells.
Swyre A small village lying between Abbotsbury and Burton Bradstock with Church and Pub. A footpath down through fields leads to the wild Chesil Beach of West Bexington.
Symondsbury (cottage: 3432) A Dorset gem of mainly thatched, yellow sandstone cottages with a 14th Century Church and views of Colmer's Hill: the windswept pine trees at the summit are a distinctive landmark along the dorset coast.
Toller Porcorum . Tucked away in a deep valley, this quiet, rural village has animpressive church. Toller was the name of the nearby river; Porcorum means "of the pigs".
Walditch (cottages: 243, 279, 291, 3418): Deep in hilly countryside yet only a mile from Bridport and West Bay. No pub but it has a Real (Royal) Tennis Court.
West Milton (cottage: 3421): A tranquil hamlet set below Eggardon Hill Fort with two village pubs nearby.
