Two bedrooms in external huts: 1 x double, 1 x twin. Separate open-plan hut with kitchen, dining and sitting area with TV and bathroom with bath, walk-in shower, basin and WC.
The Orchard is a characterful shepherds hut holiday retreat in Ringstead Bay, Dorset, The property offers three individual shepherds huts. One shepherd hut is an open‑plan living space with kitchen, dining and sitting area, log burner and logs and underfloor electric heating in all huts. Kitchen amenities include an electric oven and hob, fridge with ice box, washing machine, kettle and toaster additionally within the living hut there is a bathroom with bath, walk‑in shower, basin and WC. The sleeping accommodation is arranged across two external huts, comprising of one hut with a double bed and a further hut with twin beds. Fuel and power, bed linen and towels are included in the rent. Outside there is a private garden with furniture and off‑road parking for two cars. Two well‑behaved pets welcome, dogs are not allowed in the bedrooms or on the furniture. Sorry, no smoking. The Orchard offers a distinctive base for exploring Dorset.
Please Note: This property can only accept a Friday changeover. In some circumstances it may be possible to arrange another day but only by prior agreement with Dream Cottages. If booking is a non standard changeover the check in time will be 6pm.
Please note re dogs: Up to 2 dogs welcome but please remember that these are relatively small spaces therefore no dogs are allowed in the sleeping huts and if your dog gets wet or muddy, we ask please that you to wash them and then allow them to dry in the outside kennel provided before they come into the main hut. Please do not allow them on the furniture. If you are unhappy with these house rules then the Orchard may not be suitable for you. Please note: The entrance from the parking area is on a bridge over a small stream. Please note: The property is handily situated near to the popular Reef Cafe.
Please Note: This property can only accept a Friday changeover. In some circumstances it may be possible to arrange another day but only by prior agreement with Dream Cottages. If booking is a non standard changeover the check in time will be 6pm.
Please note re dogs: Up to 2 dogs welcome but please remember that these are relatively small
spaces therefore no dogs are allowed in the sleeping huts and if your dog gets wet or muddy, we ask please that you to wash them and then allow them to dry in the outside kennel provided before they come into the main hut. Please do not allow them on the furniture. If you are unhappy with these house rules then the Orchard may not be suitable for you.
Please note: The entrance from the parking area is on a bridge over a small stream.
Please note: The property is handily situated near to the popular Reef Cafe.
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.
