Dorset, a location of enduring popularity is a small rural gem of a county encompassing all of the best parts of rural England: rolling green hills, woodland and hedgerows abundant with flora and fauna running down to the sea yet situated just 3 hours from London and the South East.
The whole coastline from Exmouth to Poole has been declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO. Known as the Jurassic Coast, it is the only natural phenomenon in England to achieve this status and offers unspoilt views with dramatic cliff-top walks alongside beautiful, safe, sandy beaches which often welcome your four-legged friends too. From the dramatic natural rock arch at Durdle Door to the endless sandy expanses of Studland; Dorset has it all.
This South West county is also a treasure trove of secrets waiting to be discovered. Having grown out of the landscape out of the centuries, many of Dorset’s small rural towns expose history at every turn to inform and delight guests, whilst for the more energetic, footpaths and cycle-ways open up to reveal Dorset’s hidden secrets and the coast is always close at hand for those who love the water.
Why not head to Lyme Regis – classified as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, much like most of West Dorset to uncover an old-world ambience and excellent fossil hunting or discover the drama of Lulworth with the iconic Durdle Door and Lulworth Cove.
Dorset’s towns and villages ooze quintessential charm and are graced by fine buildings which have often been immortalised in Thomas Hardy’s books, including Dorchester – his birthplace. Wherever you choose to stay, you are never far from the fascinating Jurassic Coast and World Heritage Coastal Path.