Group Cottage Locations in Dorset

Fossils, Chalk Hills and Sandy Bays: Group Cottages in Dorset

Dorset packs a lot into a small county. Most of its coast is part of the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site, a 95-mile stretch of cliffs and beaches that records around 185 million years of the Earth's history. Inland are chalk downs, thatched villages, Iron Age hillforts and quiet market towns. Two National Landscapes, Dorset and Cranborne Chase, cover much of the county.

There isn't a single motorway.

That's part of the appeal: once you arrive, the pace slows. The location pages above list our group cottages in Dorset, with the large houses in each place first and others within about 15 miles below. This guide covers each part of the county for a big group of family or friends.

Prefer to search by size? Browse all our large holiday houses, or go straight to cottages sleeping 8 or more, 10 or more or 12 or more. Every card shows how many each house sleeps.

West Dorset and the Fossil Coast

Lyme Regis

Lyme Regis is a harbour town of steep streets and colourful houses, famous for the Cobb, its curving stone harbour wall. Mary Anning, one of the first great fossil hunters, found her ichthyosaur here in the early 1800s, and the town museum stands on the site of her birthplace. Fossil walks led by local experts are a brilliant group activity for all ages. Children are usually the ones who find something first. Bring a bag for your finds.

Charmouth, Bridport and West Bay

Charmouth, just east, is one of the best fossil beaches in Britain, with a heritage centre on the seafront. Bridport is a busy market town with a Saturday market. West Bay's golden cliffs became famous as the backdrop to the TV drama Broadchurch. Further east, Chesil Beach is an 18-mile bank of shingle that shelters the Fleet lagoon.

Purbeck and the Lulworth Coast

The Isle of Purbeck, in the south-east, isn't really an island, but it feels like one. Corfe Castle, a striking National Trust ruin, stands on a hill above the village. The Swanage Railway runs steam trains from Norden, past the castle, to the seaside at Swanage. Studland Bay has miles of sandy beach backed by heath, and Old Harry Rocks, the chalk stacks at the end of the Jurassic Coast, are an easy walk away.

West of Purbeck, Durdle Door and Lulworth Cove are two of the most photographed places in England. The path between them is short but steep. Go early, as the car park fills fast on summer days.

Wet-weather days out

The Tank Museum at Bovington has one of the largest collections of tanks in the world. Monkey World, near Wool, rescues apes and monkeys. Both are good for a big group when the weather turns.

North Dorset and Hardy's Country

Blandford Forum

Blandford Forum was rebuilt after a fire in 1731, and its centre is one of the most complete Georgian town centres in England. It's a central base for exploring north Dorset, Cranborne Chase and the coast, and it's close to Kingston Lacy, a National Trust house with a large art collection and wide parkland.

Dorchester, Sherborne and Shaftesbury

Dorchester, the county town, is Thomas Hardy's Casterbridge. You can visit his birthplace at Higher Bockhampton and Max Gate, the house he designed. Maiden Castle, just outside town, is one of the largest Iron Age hillforts in Europe. Sherborne has a golden-stone abbey and two castles. In Shaftesbury, Gold Hill's cobbled slope, made famous by an old Hovis bread advert, gives views over the Blackmore Vale.

Which Area Suits Your Group?

What Should You Check Before Booking?

Large houses in Dorset include thatched farmhouses, Georgian rectories, manor houses and converted barns. A few practical checks save trouble later:

• Proper bedrooms. "Sleeps 18" can include bunk rooms and sofa beds, so look at the real layout.
• Parking. Lanes are narrow and coastal towns have little parking. Check how many cars the house takes.
• Dogs. Several beaches ban dogs in summer. Use the pet-friendly filter, and check beach rules before you go.
• Hot tubs and games rooms. Use the filters on the cottage pages to find them.
• Celebrations. Tell the owner about any party plans, and check there's a table that seats everyone.

When to Go

Spring and autumn are the best seasons for walking the coast path, with fewer crowds at Durdle Door and Lulworth. Summer is beach season, and large houses near the sea book up months ahead. Winter storms are actually the best time for fossil hunting, as fresh finds wash out of the cliffs. Always check the tide times and keep away from the base of the cliffs.

Getting There

Dorset has no motorway, so most people arrive on the A303, A31, A35 or A338. Trains from London Waterloo run to Bournemouth, Poole, Wareham, Dorchester and Weymouth, and there's a line from Bristol and Bath to Dorchester West. Away from the main towns, you'll need cars, and the lanes are slow, so allow extra time for every journey.