Holiday Blog

Broardchurch – Stay in the great locations shown on the hit TV show

Broadchurch has been a great success and with the great shots of the Jurassic coast line a number of guests would like to visit the locations shown on the series.

View our properties in West Bay

View our properties in in Eype and

View our properties in Burton Bradstock

http://www.visit-dorset.com/about-the-area/broadchurch

 

Winners of our Valentine Hamper Competition

We are pleased to announce a lovely couple staying in Upside Down House, Weymouth, Miss Jenkins and Mr Morgan have won our Valentine’s Hamper. Miss Jenkins said `This has made our holiday’.

The lovely hamper, provided in conjunction with The Rural Farm Shop had a value of £75 and was made up of Dorset locally produced food goodies with a Valentine’s theme, including Rose sparkling wine and chocolates.

Winners of Dream Cottage Valentines Competition

A guide to self catering holiday cottages in Dorset

The Jurassic Coast“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

The view over Weymouth and Portland sailing waters - Beach View 2Beach Retreat - view from the balcony

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

3 Church Street, Kenton, DevonThis 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 - holiday cottage in Martinstown, DorsetLaira 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.

Planning a self catering holiday in Dorset

If you are looking for a unique family holiday opportunity, you will likely be weighing up a number of different options. However, if you are trying to arrange a break with a large number of family or friends, you may be hard-pressed to find a more appealing option than simply renting a holiday cottage in a picturesque rural location. Staying with loved ones in a self-catering cottage in a county such as Dorset, Devon or Cornwall can be a beautifully peaceful holiday, and offers you, your family and friends the best chance to simply enjoy each other’s company away from the stresses and obligations of your home life.

Despite the ease and convenience of a cottage retreat, it is still important to do a small amount of preparation for your holiday, so as to make sure that you and your family have everything you need while away. Many of our holiday cottages in Dorset, Devon and Cornwall come well-equipped for large groups, but there are certain factors and details that you will need to bear in mind to make sure that your trip runs smoothly. Here are a few specific items for your pre-holiday checklist.

Read About The Property

It is fairly obvious that when looking at different rental properties you will check on things like how many bedrooms and baths are available, etc. However, for your specific holiday requirements, you will want to read into the finer details relating to the property you are considering. For example, things like whether the property allows pets, children, or smoking may be worth looking into. Additionally, although all our properties have a standard list of equipment which is included, you are welcome to double check what is included in the property you are staying at so that you know what to pack and what to expect upon arrival.

Prepare Your Travel Vehicle

Before driving out to your holiday cottage in Dorset, you should make absolutely certain that the vehicle you will be using is prepared for the journey ahead. This can be a bit tedious, but there is nothing worse than planning a break only to be delayed or interrupted by problems with transportation. Have your car inspected, make sure it has no operational problems, and make sure that your Aviva insurance policy is updated, and you will be that much more at ease about taking off for a driving holiday.

Research The Area

Finally, remember not to get too distracted by the rental property – research the surrounding area as well! A picturesque and comfortable country cottage in Dorset can be absolutely lovely for you and your family, but you will also want to be sure that there are sights and attractions in the region for you to enjoy. Regions like Dorset and Devon, mentioned above, have a variety of gorgeous sights and attractions, all of which are well worth looking in on during your holiday. Having a thorough understanding of your surroundings, and a plan for your trip, can help you to relax and enjoy yourself once the holiday begins.

Christmas opening times for Dream Cottages

If you have a holiday booked with us over the christmas and new year in dorset then you might want to take note of our office opening times over the festive period. They are as follows:

Friday 21st Dec 9am – 7pm
Saturday 22nd Dec 9am – 6pm
Sunday 23rd Dec 10am – 4pm
Monday 24th Dec 9am – 3pm
Tuesday 25th Dec Closed
Wednesday 26th Dec Closed
Thursday 27th Dec 9am – 7pm
Friday 28th Dec 9am – 7pm
Saturday 29th Dec 9am – 6pm
Sunday 30th Dec 10am – 4pm
Monday 31st Dec 9am – 4pm
Tuesday 1st Jan Closed
Wednesday 2nd Jan 9am – 7pm

Although staff can be contacted outside of the office opening hours listed above, we ask that you only do this in the event of an emergency. If an emergency does occur, please initially call our main office number on 01305 789000.

In the meantime we wish you a very pleasant christmas and/or new year stay with Dream Cottages and trust you will have an enjoyable tholiday.