Two bedrooms: 1 x king-size, 1 x small single. Bathroom with bath, shower over, basin and WC. Kitchen. Dining room. Sitting room with woodburning stove
Lavender Cottage rests in the village of Bourton, offering a charming holiday retreat ideal for up to three guests seeking a peaceful stay in the Dorset countryside. With its warm, homely feel and traditional touches, this inviting cottage provides a comfortable base for couples, small families or friends looking to explore the surrounding area. Step inside to the sitting room, where a woodburning stove creates a cosy focal point, perfect for settling in after a day spent out and about. From here, move through to the dining room, an ideal space for enjoying relaxed meals together, before heading into the well-equipped kitchen where an electric oven, hob and essential appliances make self-catering simple. There is a utility room with washing machine, separate dryer and ironing board, along with some extra supplies. Upstairs, two bedrooms offer comfortable sleeping arrangements, including a king-size room and a single bedroom suited to smaller groups. The bathroom features a bath with a shower over, basin and WC, giving guests the option of a refreshing rinse or a leisurely soak. Outside, the front enclosed garden provides pleasant places to enjoy the fresh country air, with lawns and outdoor furniture offering space to sit back and unwind. Off-road parking for two car adds to the ease of your stay, while a village shop and friendly pub can be found nearby for everyday essentials and relaxed dining. From Lavender Cottage, the surrounding countryside of Dorset and neighbouring Somerset is yours to explore. The nearby market town of Gillingham offers independent shops and eateries, while Wincanton is also close at hand with further amenities and countryside walks. For a day rich in history and striking architecture, the cathedral city of Salisbury lies within driving distance, famed for its magnificent cathedral and charming medieval streets. With rolling countryside and characterful towns all around, Lavender Cottage makes a welcoming base for discovering this lovely part of Dorset.
With nearly 90 miles of stunning coastline, vast areas of open heathlands, ancient woodlands, and chalk and limestone grassland, Dorset’s diverse habitats support a rich variety of birds and wildlife.
A visit to the RSPB’s Arne nature reserve situated on the banks of Poole Harbour and in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is a must. Mainly lowland heath, it’s home to breeding Dartford warblers, while in winter, large flocks of wading birds come to the mudflats including avocets, black-tailed godwits, and spoonbills. There’s also a herd of sika deer and seals can often be spotted along the shoreline. At the visitor centre you can hire binoculars and find out more about the wildlife you might spot.
Nearby, the lesser-known and quieter RSPB Lytchett Fields has been transformed from arable land into a wetland haven where you can see green sandpipers, wigeons, and teal. Peregrine falcons, and marsh and hen harriers can also be spotted in the skies above as they hunt for prey. You might also be lucky enough to see an osprey which have recently been reintroduced to the area.
In the heart of Poole Harbour is Brownsea Island manged by the Dorset Wildlife Trust in partnership with The National Trust where bird hides give excellent views of the wildlife on the lagoon and surrounding reedbeds. Look out for common terns, sandwich terns, and water rails, and it’s one of the few places in England where you can see find red squirrels.
With country lanes, unspoilt meadows, and winding rivers, Kingcombe Nature Reserve hidden away in the Dorset countryside is the perfect place to escape into nature. Resident woodland birds include nuthatches, great spotted woodpeckers, and chiffchaffs, while dippers and kingfishers can be spotted along the water’s edge. There are bird hides, an orchard, and wildlife-friendly gardens, all set on a working farm, as well as a café serving locally sourced food.
The open farmland and copses of Durlston Country Park near Swanage are important not only for breeding birds but also migrants passing through in spring and autumn. Breeding birds include yellowhammers, linnets, and skylarks, while the exposed sea cliffs provide nesting sites for shags, fulmars, and guillemots. The park also attracts some rarities blown off course during migration, and in autumn, huge flocks of swallows and sand martins fill the air.
Portland Bill is another great place for migrating birds including dunnocks, chaffinches, and thrushes, as well as a variety of seabirds including Manx shearwaters, Arctic skuas, and kittiwakes. It has an impressive rarity list and is one of the best places to spot hoopoes in early summer. The Bird Observatory is a good place to visit too, with bird feeders, and volunteers can sometimes be seen ringing birds.
Head to Christchurch Harbour where the muddy creeks, mudflats, and marshland are home to a huge range of birdlife including wheatears, little egrets, and gulls. It’s also a another good place to look out for rarities such as golden orioles, wrynecks, and tawny pipits.
For a truly unique experience take a trip to Abbotsbury Swannery located on the stunning Jurassic coast, and the only place in the world where you can get close to a colony of nesting mute swans. During breeding season, you can watch cygnets as they hatch and don’t miss the twice-daily feeds where you’ll have the chance to hand-feed over 600 swans.
