Like many parts of Southern England, Dorset's landscape is brimming with variety and contrast - Dorset holiday cottages allow visitors to truly appreciate the countryside. Sprawling chalk hills dominate the west of the county, while sections of its coastline comprise of long shingle beaches, battered by stormy seas. But it also enjoys the sunniest climate in the UK with an estimated 2000 hours of sunshine each year - a great reason to book Dorset cottages.
Pilsdon Pen, Dorset's highest peak at 908ft offers a spectacular view of the Marshwood Vale The land is fertile, fed by the Rivers Cerne, Frome and Char. One can still trace Dorset's distant past, with remains of ancient track-ways and earthworks cut from the ground - the Cerne Abbas Giant, being a particularly famous example.
Dorset is also a county of small villages tucked away along country lanes. Its charm and beauty was perfectly captured by author and poet Thomas Hardy in works such as 'Tess of the Durbervilles' and 'Return of the Native'. His birthplace, Burton Brandstock, a picturesque little village, has preserved the house he was born in.
Sherborne, Cerne Abbas and a host of villages dotted across the county come steeped in history and intrigue. The fan-vaulted roofs of the imposing Sherborne Abbey and the medieval port town Lyme Regis are major attractions and must-sees when visiting Dorset. A beautiful county - you can book those Dorset holiday cottages and self catering holidays in Dorset, below.
