Criss-crossed with sunken lanes, dotted with gentle hills and unspoilt villages, Dorset has so far escaped the brutality of a motorway. So the landscape of Thomas Hardy's novels has retained much of its lush, pastoral look. Then there’s Dorset’s incredible coastline, with its bevy of beaches which will be irresistible to walkers, runners and families alike. Dorset’s towns and villages have plenty to recommend them too: the historic market town of Dorchester, Poole and its fabulous harbour, sandy Weymouth with its Georgian architecture, and hilltop Shaftesbury, much loved by Thomas Hardy for its views. Our recommendations for the best places to stay in Dorset are scattered around this pretty county, and include welcoming pubs-with-rooms, country house hotels, chic seaside B&Bs, boutique hotels and properties that are ideal for family holidays.
Some of our Dorset Collections:
Three quarters of Dorset’s coastline is a World Heritage Site; some areas for their fossil bounty, and some stretches because they’re spectacularly beautiful. In fact over half the county is designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. But if you're interested in archaeology you need to base yourself on the Jurassic Coast: in Lulworth Cove, Charmouth, Burton Bradstock or Lyme Regis. The Jurassic Coast Information Centre is in Lulworth Cove, which is also just around the headland from the Durdle Door, an incredible arch of Portland stone which has been eaten away by waves over the past 150 million years or so.
If you’re interested in enjoying some of the nicest beaches in the UK, our recommendations for the best places to stay in Dorset include the area around the Studland Peninsula, Mudeford beach on Christchurch Harbour, the beach at Durdle Door, Poole for Sandbanks Beach, and Chesil Beach. Dorset’s interior deserves attention too, and our recommendations include plenty of options if you're looking for a rural hideaway.