Photo of Beaminster

About Beaminster

Beaminster is a very pretty market town close to the Blacktown Hills, the Dorset Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and the Jurassic Coast. The town is popular with walkers, and artists, and it’s got a charming collection of historic architecture and award-wining gardens. This is also the sort of town with homely pubs and restaurants specialising in local fare, and the best places to stay in Beaminster are an historic lot, with plenty of charm.

If you enjoy a poke around grand historic houses there are plenty of National Trust properties in the area! On the outskirts of town stands Mapperton House, an Elizabethan manor whose gardens, church and stables were once the envy of the region. The centre of Beaminster is mostly Georgian — there are around 200 listed buildings in town, many of them dating back to when the town was a major centre for the manufacture of wool and linens. 

Not only is Beaminster a great destination for a short break, but it also works for families and keen walkers too — we recommend walking the Wessex Ridgeway, visiting Lewiston Hill, and the Pilsdon Pet Iron Age Fort (from here you can see as far as Exmoor, on a clear day). Just don't forget to book the best places to stay in Beaminster well ahead. There's not many to choose from!

The Best Places to Stay in Beaminster

For a Country Escape

  • The Ollerod is a charming, 13 room hotel, converted from an elegant, honey-stone, 13th century country house on the edge of town. Each of the guest rooms is uniquely decorated and laid out, with some excellent family-sized options, as well as romantic picks with four poster beds and finest Frette linens. Pets are welcome in the two ground floor rooms and the restaurant serves delicious casual fare.

Prefer a Private Apartment or Cottage?

  • If you'd prefer the privacy of a self-catering option then browse through the wide variety available online with our partner, Booking.com.

Travel Information

  • Beaminster’s closest airport is Exeter International Airport, which is about 50 minutes away by road or rail. Bournemouth Airport is probably next closest, about an hour away by road. If you’re travelling via London, you can get to Crewkerne in about two and half hours, then it’s a ten minute taxi journey from there.
  • If you want to hire a car we recommend you visit our online partner, Rentalcars.
  • Beaminster is busiest during the spring and summer months, but this part of the world, close to the Jurassic Coast, the Blackdown Hills, and the Dorset Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, is beautiful in the autumn and winter too. Whenever you plan to visit there’s a decent chance you’ll see some rain — with more wet days in autumn and winter, so it’s definitely worth packing your waterproof gear, even if you’re visiting in the height of summer sunshine.

Still not sure where to stay?

Weather

Monthly Weather in Beaminster

Best Hotels in Beaminster

  • The Ollerod Beaminster (Dorset) 13 rooms from €126

    Country Escape  -  Set in an idyllic cottage dating back to the 13th century, this hotel is perfect for a tranquil country escape
    Families  -  Family suites at the hotel are designed to accommodate children, making this hotel popular with parents
    Romantic Break  -  Couples love the heritage detail at this hotel; book a suite for added indulgence
    Great walks  -  Explore the dramatic Dorset coast on a long walk; head to the Golden Cap, a flat-topped hill of deep orange sandstone
    RestaurantGardenPet friendlyParking
    Recommended by  -  Good Hotel Guide, I Escape

    This charming hotel occupies a 13th-century country house in Beaminster. In the unique guestrooms, modern design contrasts with beautifully preserved heritage details like centuries-old inglenooks and stone-mullioned windows; book a luxury suite for a four-poster bed. A stylish country hotel. See More

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