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Self-catering holiday accommodation in Dorset - England

Planning a seside or rural holiday in Dorset this year? Take a look at some of our fabulous holiday cottages in Dorset for a good quality and comfortable place to stay on England's temperate south coast.

Dorset is a largely rural county with scenic countryside and a wonderful wild coastline of beautiful views and teeming with fossils. Holidaymakers come to enjoy a pleasant family holiday doing the things that children love such as playing in the sand, eating ice creams, a few rides at a funfair. Most people are surprised at what they discover during their Dorset break: a stunning coastline with coastal paths, cliffs that occasionally reveal fossils, fascinating geological rock formations and a really good time.

Holiday cottages in Dorset - click for a list of tempting places to stay

When on holiday in Dorset why not pay a visit to to the award-winning Swanage Railway?

Take a trip on the Swanage Railway for an experience of an award-winning standard gauge preserved steam railway, operated over the six miles of track between the south coast seaside resort of Swanage and the station at Norden, in the beautiful Isle of Purbeck, passing the magnificent ruins of Corfe Castle. There are Santa Specials for the children in the weeks before Christmas or as a special treat find out about driving a train in the Driving Experience courses.

There are so many holiday activities for all ages in Dorset, coupled with fabulous scenery, that you will be back time and again.

Everyone loves the area around Poole Harbour. Take a boat tour of the enormous harbour, perhaps visit Brownsea Island or take the chain ferry over to Studland which is amazingly beautiful. Take a peek at holiday homes around Poole Harbour.

Some of the more popular towns to stay in Dorset:

What types of amenities would you like near your holiday home?

It is possible to find Dorset holiday homes that are a short walk away from a pub, or perhaps a cottage that has a sea view?

Holidaymakers want all kinds of facilities: holiday homes in Dorset that have a bath and shower, a freezer, washing machine, tumble dryer, dishwasher, coffee machine, WiFi Internet and more...  For leisure and relaxation, people often like to book a holiday cottage in Dorset that has its own swimming pool, hot tub or sauna.  Families with young children may want to book a holiday cottage that has a fully enclosed garden. All of these features can potentially influence the success of your Dorset break.

Dorset is super for dogs welcome breaks

Find self-catering holiday lets in Dorset that not only allow people to bring dogs but specifically have facilities for them. These could be exercise fields, dog bins, the supply of dog bowls, blankets, leads and items that people might forget to bring.  There are various styles of pets welcome holiday homes dotted about Dorset including dog-friendly pine lodges, country cottages, thatched cottages, chalets and holiday lettings where two or more dogs are welcome.  And if you would like to stay near the coast, read about dogs welcome cottages on the Dorset coast.

Quite a few Dorset beaches are dog friendly all year round which attracts numerous holidaymakers with their dogs. Try booking a holiday home near one of the popular dogs allowed beaches:

• Holiday lets near Bowleaze Cove
• Dogs welcome cottages near Chesil Beach
• Dog friendly holiday cottages near Durdle Door