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Holidaymakers searching for holiday rentals in Dorchester also enquired about apartments in Bridport, cottages in Chichester and cottages in Swanage

Make a Dorchester holiday cottage your home away from home

The enchanting town of Dorchester in Dorset, is an historic rural gem on the banks of the sparkling Frome River. Famous for being the home of Thomas Hardy, whose novel ‘’The Mayor of Casterbridge’’ was set here, the scenery literally does seem to jump out of his pages and there is an abundance of beautiful historic buildings and sites that captivate every visitor who come here. HomeAway has a wide range of holiday cottages in Dorchester to suit every need. Charming holiday accommodation in Dorchester might be a romantic cottage for two, or a gracious home for large travelling parties and families. Thatched roof tops, sea views of Chesil Beach and lush rolling hillsides, make holiday cottages in Dorchester ideal for a traditional British break. Being just a few miles away from Weymouth and the Jurassic Coast, there’s no lacking in holiday activities here.

Things to do

Dorchester has an exciting past, evidence of which can be seen all over the town. Despite many fires occurring between 1613 and 1725, much of the breathtaking medieval, Roman and other historic sites have remained, beautifully preserved for prosperity.

-Dorchester Museums: are a diverse and eclectic mix and full of interest for many tastes and ages. Their exhibitions also run the gamut of the ages from prehistory to the present day. The museums include the Dorset County Museum (mainly ethnographical and environmental), The Roman Town House, the Dinosaur Museum, the Dorset Teddy Bear Museum, the Tutankhamun Exhibition, the Terracotta Warriors Museum, and the Keep Military Museum.

-The Borough Gardens: are located right in the centre of town and are a favourite with visitors in Dorchester holiday homes. A site for festivals and outdoor concerts during the summer months, there is a lovely play area for the kids, a sweeping bowling green, two tennis courts, a small café and don’t miss the clock tower and band stand while you are there.

-The Maiden Castle is a stunning hill fort and the largest in all of England. It was originally occupied way back in 3000 BC and sweeps out over a whopping 45 acres. A complicated network of ditches and fortifications can be found within and the massive walls are some 6 m high. Definitely not to be missed.

-The Thomas Hardy Walk: takes visitors through many of the sights and buildings associated with the famous writer. The aforementioned Dorset Country Museum has a great many artefacts of his and you can also visit his cottage, where he wrote his books and spent a great deal of his later life. The Hardy Walk is just one of four guided walks in the town.

-The Maumbury Rings: are a fascinating tiered monument with wide open spaces and open earth works, each with a different levels of shaft from 3 completely different eras. Careful excavation brought up a number of interesting artefacts which can be viewed at the Dorset Country Museum.

The Weather in Dorchester

The Dorset climate is mild but can be damp in the winter months. The summer weather is perfect for holiday cottages in Dorchester when temperatures can reach the balmy 20°C range.

Getting to Dorchester

Dorchester is just over 26 miles away from Bournemouth International Airport and there are direct bus, coach and rail connections. You can reach Dorchester holiday homes by rail as one of its two stations is on the main London to Weymouth line, or by road with the M3 being the main route and about two and half hour’s drive from London.

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                                                                                                      Dorchester Holiday Cottages & Homes (300+)

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                                                                                                      Recent Reviews

                                                                                                      View property

                                                                                                      Excellent property

                                                                                                      5 of 5
                                                                                                      Property gave us everything we needed, it offered home comforts as well as security for buddy our dog. Great location, central for touring the Jurrassic coast. Quiet village with lots of good walking. Highly recommended for a quiet getaway.
                                                                                                      ... continue reading
                                                                                                      • Review Submitted: May 24, 2017
                                                                                                      • Date of Stay: May 2017
                                                                                                      View property

                                                                                                      Superb cottage in ideal location

                                                                                                      5 of 5
                                                                                                      Tanners provided everything we could have asked for in a holiday cottage - and some much appreciated local produce in the fridge when we arrived. Owner Kathy Jones was very helpful. The location, within walking distance of the shops, markets and riverside facilities at Wareham, was ideal for walks along the River Frome, trips to the stunning Purbeck coast (Lulworth, Kimmeridge, Swanage), Corfe Castle, RSPB reserve at Arne, Brownsea Island, steam trains on the Swanage Railway, ... - too much to do in one week!
                                                                                                      ... continue reading
                                                                                                      • Review Submitted: May 23, 2017
                                                                                                      • Date of Stay: May 2017