There are plenty of reasons to book a self-catering cottage at Greenwood Grange any time of year. But with demand at its highest in the main summer school holidays, we’ve looked at some great reasons to book one of our award winning holiday cottages in the quieter months.
Short breaks are available, meaning you’re not tied into a full week’s holiday unless that’s what you want to do.
As well as being able to enjoy a weekend break or short break, you can take advantage of more flexible arrival days than in peak season, when your options are more limited to set change-over days.
Roads both within this lovely county and leading into and out of it are quieter, meaning you can explore Dorset attractions at your leisure without worrying about traffic or having to factor in extra time for journeys.
Local resorts are quieter, meaning you’ll find it easier to park and more tranquil when it comes to eating out, shopping and generally having a wander around and seeing the sights. Seaside resorts handy for Greenwood Grange include Weymouth less than 20 minutes’ drive away and Bournemouth about 45 minutes away.
Chesil Beach – famous from the Ian McEwan novel and subsequent 2017 film – is also only about half an hour away by road, while other sights of interest within easy reach of our luxury cottages include the Studland Bay Nature Reserve, Corfe Castle, Lulworth Castle, Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens and Charmouth. The latter is home to the Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre, where you can learn all about the fossils of this stretch of the UNESCO-listed Jurassic Coast and even take a guided beach walk in search of some examples to take home with you.
Or right on the doorstep of our Dorset country cottages in Higher Bockhampton, you can tour Thomas Hardy’s Cottage, a National Trust administered cob and thatch dwelling where the famous novelist was born in 1840 and lived until he was 34, writing his iconic works Under the Greenwood Tree and Far from the Madding Crowd here. There’s also the nearby Hardy’s Birthplace Visitor Centre with interpretation displays and a café.
Those travelling with pre-school kids will find prices at our family-friendly cottages in Dorset better in May, June, early July, September and October than in high summer and will also have a greater choice of dates. Yet there are still plenty of things to do in Dorset with kids outside high season. Our local favourites include the peaceful Kingston Maurward Gardens & Animal Park, where young kids love feeding the sheep, alpacas and goats and meeting the piglets, Shetland ponies, chickens, rabbits, and more, and the Dorset Teddy Bear Museum in Dorchester.
You can bring your pet pooch on a dog-friendly short break in Dorset and enjoy much quieter beaches. Indeed, with restrictions on dogs on certain beaches in South-west England between May and September, those staying in our dog-friendly Dorset cottages will find their options for dog walks considerably greater outside high season. We also have a dedicated dog-exercise area at the cottages and sometimes run Dogs Stay Free offers outside of high season.
Dorchester is particularly splendid in autumn, especially for those who love walking. Wonderful places to stretch your legs and appreciate the vibrant seasonal foliage include Brownsea Island, Kingston Lacy House and Hod Hill. Alternatively, come to Dorset in spring and witness the awakening of the natural world from its winter slumber with the emergence of bluebells, blossoms and butterflies.
Whether you come in high summer or at another time of year, there’ll always be the vagaries of the British weather to take into account. And among the things to do in Dorset in the rain is take a splash in our indoor swimming pool, followed by a steam in our sauna. Also onsite are a games room and a play yurt, and when the rain goes away you can enjoy the use of two tennis courts, football nets, a nature trail, a willow den and even an organic kitchen garden where you can pick your own fruit.
Find out about current deals and offers on ouraward winning holiday cottages.
