Damers Cottage, Chaldon Herring, Dorchester, Dorset, England - Sleeps 5

About Damers Cottage

Damers is chocolate box pretty with its stone walls beautifully topped with a thatched roof. Traditional and welcoming, this lovely self-catering cottage is popular with families and couples (one or two) searching for a peaceful hideaway to relax and unwind. Perfect for a family holiday, the cottage sleeps up to five guests in three bedrooms and unlike most Dorset cottages is spacious, rather like a tardis, has a safe staircase for children and older visitors and two bathrooms, though you still have to watch your head in some places. It also has the advantage of off-street parking. As well as a large garden, there is a playing field opposite the cottage and a country pub, Sailors Return, a short stroll away with outside seating.

Chaldon Herring boasts some of the loveliest views in the county as well as interesting features like the Five Marys Bronze Age barrows. It sits in a valley with Chaldon hill one of the highest in Dorset and many walkers take the valley route to Durdle Door on the Jurassic coast, a mere four miles away. For those interested in fossils, there are many opportunities all along the coast as far as Kimmeridge and the Etches Collection Museum of Jurassic Marine Life. The church dates from the 1400s, although part of the west tower is even older. Not all Chaldon’s previous residents were pious - at least four families had members arrested for smuggling! In the early 20C, the village became a magnet for artists, many of whom were from the Bloomsbury set.

There is a good village store on Winfrith High Street, around a mile from the cottage, with Dorchester being a 20-minute drive from Damers. This vibrant market town is the county town of Dorset, its market day on Wednesday and of course its County museum showcasing our many poets, authors and sculptors, many who had lived in Chaldon itself. There is also a dedicated dinosaur museum, much entertainment for children.

Dorset’s coastline is as breathtaking as the countryside, and staying at Damers allows you to access it with ease whether your preferred mode of transport is a car, bike or on foot. Visit the popular seaside resort of Weymouth with its sandy beach and family attractions (just 20-25-minutes by car) or continue on to the Isle of Portland or Abbotsbury with its amazing gardens and famous swannery. If you prefer to explore on foot, walk to Durdle Door (around 45 minutes), a fantastic way to discover the beauty of the coastline. The shingle beach can get busy on summer weekends, and the archway is a must-see. Pack a picnic and keep going to Lulworth Cove, which is around another 15 or 20 minutes along the coastal footpath. Looking at the rocky cliffs with caves and tiny coves makes it easy to understand why smugglers gravitated towards the area.

Other attractions in the region include Corfe Castle, Swanage and the Isle of Purbeck. One of the biggest pleasures of a holiday in Dorset is not only seeing these popular sights but also discovering for yourself the unnamed coastal nooks and crannies and the rock pools and beaches revealed by low tide. There’s always something beautiful to look at, whatever the season or the weather.

Make sure you visit Moreton at least once. St Nicholas Church has a set of beautiful stained glass windows, and Lawrence of Arabia rests in the churchyard. There are some lovely paths around Winfrith Heath and Tadnoll Heath, as well as several trails like the Jubilee Trail and Lawrence Cycle Ride. Bovington Tank Museum and Monkey World are also nearby, as is Weymouth.

Welcoming with a cosy country feel, Damers Cottage includes everything you could need for a comfortable stay, including a location that’s quiet yet convenient for Dorset’s major attractions.