Over three floors. Three bedrooms: 1 x king-size and 1 x double, 1 x second-floor single. Bathroom with bath, walk-in shower, wash basin, heated towel rail and WC. Kitchen with adjoining utility room. Living/dining room with gas fire. Cloakroom
Saybrook Cottage is a stylish, three-storey period terrace in the heart of Charmouth, offering well-presented accommodation, an enclosed garden and easy access to the beach, village amenities and the Jurassic Coast. Set over three storeys. Three bedrooms: 1 x king-size, 1 x double, and 1 x second-floor single. Bathroom with spacious walk-in shower, freestanding bath, wash basin, heated towel rail and WC. Open-plan living area with dining and sitting areas. Kitchen with adjoining utility room. Cloakroom. Gas central heating with electric flame-effect woodburning stove. Electric oven, induction hob, microwave, fridge/freezer, washing machine, dishwasher. TV, WiFi. Fuel and power inc. in rent. Bed linen and towels inc. in rent. On-street parking (not allocated). Enclosed garden with patio, picnic bench and base for BBQ (not supplied), with steps leading up to a lawned area enjoying additional seating and countryside views. One well-behaved dog welcome. Sorry, no smoking. Shop 0.2 miles, pub 0.1 miles, beach within walking distance. Note: The second-floor bedroom enjoys far-reaching countryside views; however, the staircase is narrow and may not be suitable for the elderly or those with limited mobility. Note: Unrestricted on-street parking available opposite and in Higher Sea Lane (not allocated). There is a 300GBP Good Housekeeping Bond on this property.
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.
