Elderwood Retreat enjoys a fabulous location, just inland from some of the famous Jurassic Coast beaches. It is an area where you can devour Dorset seafood, washed down with some of the best views in England looking out to The Cobb and Jurassic Coast at Hix Oyster and Fish House. Chesil Beach boasts the fantastic Hive Beach Cafe with its yummy fish dishes and fine wines. Otherwise, you can head to River Cottage headquarters for Hugh Fernley-Whittingstall’s cookery school and ambitious menus.
Bridport, as well as being the gateway to the magical Jurassic coastline and the stunning West Beach, is a thriving cultural market town. It has a fascinating antiques quarter, twice-weekly markets on Wednesdays and Saturdays, regular farmer’s and antiques markets and a wonderful range of evening entertainment. It is a popular filming location. Bridport has a rope-making heritage and boasts a good reputation for arts, culture, events and food. The Bridport and West Dorset Golf Club boasts an outstanding 18 hole course that enjoys sea views stretching across Lyme Bay and along Chesil Beach. The club enjoys a restaurant, lounge and spikes bar as well as a driving range and putting green.
You can visit Durdle Door and Lulworth Cove, stroll along the Cobb, take a boat trip with City Cruises to Swanage from Poole or take a tour of Town Mill, a six hundred year old working watermill milling flour. Mapperton House and Gardens are only ten minutes’ drive from Elderwood Retreat and come with a beautiful valley garden surrounding an Elizabethan manor house with a church, stable block, coach house, dovecote and courtyard. The vineyard at the Furleigh Estate offers Friday and Saturday wine tastings that also offer delicious cheeses. You can also tour and sip the finest craft ciders at Dorset Nectar Cider. Portland offers beautiful sunset walks around the Portland Bill lighthouse. The Tout Quarry Nature Reserve and Sculpture Park is an abandoned stone quarry which has been turned into a wonderful stone sculpture park, a haven for wild flowers and butterflies.
Charmouth is a delightful unspoilt seaside village with a stunning beach renowned for its fossils. It retains old world charm and offers many pubs, cafes and shops. The Charmouth Heritage Centre offers guided fossil hunting on the beach. It is two miles from Lyme Regis. There is something going on in Lyme Regis thoughout the year. Even In January you can enjoy the annual Lyme Lunge where a costumed crowd runs into the water. In April the Fossil Festival showcases the Jurassic Coast’s most famous rocks. May sees the Jazz and Blues Festival and August sees the annual Regatta. There is a carnival to close the summer and autumn opens with Guitars on the Beach, a mass singalong. In November fireworks dazzle the crowd and then come the spectacular Christmas lights
There are many circular countryside walks surrounding Bridport and West Bay offering spectacular panoramic views. You will see diverse wildlife. You may also want to explore the National Cycle Network.
Dorchester is Dorset’s vibrant county town and the birthplace of the famous author and poet Thomas Hardy. You can visit interesting museums, shop until you drop, enjoy riverside walks, quaint cafes and some of the country’s best preserved Roman ruins. The Dorset County Show takes place in Dorchester every September. It is a celebration of the area’s agricultural history with many displays.
The Region
Pack your bags and fasten your seatbelts, as Oliver's Travels is thrilled to present a dazzling array of luxury holiday properties in the enchanting land of Dorset! A captivating county where time seems to stand still, Mother Nature has outdone herself. Dorset, with the rolling hills of the Dorset Downs and the jaw-dropping Jurassic Coast, is a real-life tapestry of postcard-perfect landscapes, historic landmarks and villages oozing charm in lavish abundance.
The Jurassic Coast is not just a coastline, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Dorset's showstopping features. Stretching an impressive 95 miles from Orcombe Point in East Devon to Old Harry Rocks near Swanage, this coastline presents endless coastal wonders. Dramatic cliffs, hidden coves and beaches boasting ancient fossils, Charmouth and Lyme Regis are the treasure chests for fossil hunters and curious minds alike.
Dorset is also a playground for history buffs, with landmarks like Corfe Castle standing tall and proud. Perched on a hill, this fortress offers far-reaching, breathtaking views. The Cerne Abbas Giant is a colossal chalk figure etched into a hillside near the village of Cerne Abbas, Dorset's own friendly giant, captivating visitors for centuries.
Dorchester, the county town, is a delightful mishmash of Georgian architecture and markets that buzz with life. Thomas Hardy's Cottage, near Dorchester, gives you a peek into the life of the literary legend himself. Bridport, with its bohemian vibes and eclectic street markets, is like the cool kid in the market town crew. Meanwhile, Weymouth's golden sandy beach and bustling harbour are perfect for leisurely strolls and exploring historic Nothe Fort. For a touch of seaside nostalgia, Swanage brings the Victorian pier and a heritage steam railway into the mix.
The Isle of Purbeck is a haven of beauty, featuring Lulworth Cove's sheltered bay and crystal-clear waters. Just around the corner, Durdle Door, a natural limestone arch, sets the stage for coastal walks and views so stunning, they might bring a tear to your eye. For the adventurers among us, the Dorset Downs, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, are calling. Hiking trails such as the South West Coast Path and the Wessex Ridgeway offer a rollercoaster ride through diverse scenery, from cliffs to heathlands.
Dorset's culinary scene is a delightful fusion of tradition and modernity. You will savour local produce at farmers' markets, indulge in fresh seafood along the coast and let the county's pubs and tearooms be your warm and welcoming retreat for traditional cream teas or a sip of local ales.
Dorset is an experience that seamlessly blends history, natural beauty and that quintessential British charm. It promises an adventure that captures the very essence of England's southwest.