Excellence Luxury Villas · Dorset
Luxury Holiday Rentals in Dorset
Coastal houses and country cottages along the Jurassic Coast, from Lyme Regis and Bridport to Weymouth and Purbeck
As featured in
Fossils, shingle and the rolling country of Thomas Hardy
There is not a single mile of motorway in Dorset, and the county is better for it. You arrive by lane and market town, and then the land simply stops at the Jurassic Coast, England's first natural World Heritage Site, where the cliffs hold around 185 million years of the earth's history. Inland lies the chalk downland Thomas Hardy called Wessex, with thatched villages, chalk figures on the hillsides and old abbey towns.
Our Dorset collection runs to 220+ properties: sea-view cottages and apartments in Lyme Regis and Weymouth, contemporary houses with spas near Burton Bradstock, farmhouses and mills in the countryside, and a few grand country houses for big family gatherings.
Here is where to stay, what to see and when to come.
Dorset at a glance
- Properties
- 220+ houses, cottages and villas, with up to 12 bedrooms
- Guide prices
- Typically £1,800 to £4,400 a week, from around £1,000
- Best areas
- Lyme Regis and Bridport in the west, Weymouth and Portland, Purbeck, Poole and Bournemouth
- Highlights
- The Jurassic Coast, Durdle Door and Lulworth Cove, Chesil Beach and Corfe Castle
- Getting there
- Trains from London Waterloo to Bournemouth, Poole, Dorchester and Weymouth; Bournemouth airport
Browse all 220+ properties in Dorset
Villa numbers and guide prices are updated daily from our live collection.
House Ashmore Cranborne: Luxury 8-Bedroom House with Countryside Views – Cranborne Chase8 bedrooms
House Canford Cliffs: Luxury 4-Bedroom Beachfront Villa – Dorset4 bedrooms
House Lysias Hengistbury Bournemouth: Luxury 12-Bedroom House with Hot Tub & Sea Views – Bournemouth12 bedrooms
Apartment Helm Heather Branksome: Luxury 7-Bedroom Apartment with Private Pool & Sea Views – Bournemouth7 bedroomsWhere to stay in Dorset
Lyme Regis and Bridport for fossils and the western cliffs, Weymouth and Portland for sailing and sandy beaches, Purbeck for Lulworth and Corfe, Poole and Bournemouth for the harbour and long sands, and Cranborne Chase for quiet chalk country.
The Cobb, Golden Cap and a market on Saturday
Lyme Regis is where the coast is at its most literary. Jane Austen sent Louisa Musgrove tumbling from the Cobb in Persuasion, John Fowles set The French Lieutenant's Woman on the same harbour wall, and Mary Anning dug her first ichthyosaur out of the cliffs nearby. Charmouth, just east, is the place to hunt for ammonites on a falling tide.
Beyond, Golden Cap rises to 191 metres, the highest point on England's south coast, and Bridport keeps its busy street markets on Wednesdays and Saturdays. West Bay and the golden cliffs at Burton Bradstock are a short drive away.
Browse houses in Lyme Regis
Sailing water, shingle and a ruined castle
Weymouth has a Georgian seafront, a sheltered sandy bay and a working harbour, and its waters held the sailing events of the 2012 Olympics. Chesil Beach runs west from Portland for around 18 miles of shingle, with the Fleet lagoon and the swannery at Abbotsbury behind it.
To the east, the Isle of Purbeck, which is not really an island, holds the coast most people picture: the limestone arch of Durdle Door, the almost circular Lulworth Cove and the chalk stacks of Old Harry Rocks. The Swanage Railway steams inland to the ruins of Corfe Castle, and Poole Harbour, with Brownsea Island and its red squirrels, is close by.
Browse houses in Weymouth
Chalk downs, thatch and abbey towns
Inland Dorset is quieter and, for many regulars, the real pleasure of the county. Dorchester is Hardy's Casterbridge, and the National Trust looks after both the cottage at Higher Bockhampton where he was born and Max Gate, the house he designed for himself. The Cerne Abbas Giant is cut into the chalk a few miles north.
Sherborne has a fine abbey and two castles, Shaftesbury has the steep cobbles of Gold Hill, and Cranborne Chase in the north east is open, unhurried country for walking and cycling. Farmhouses and converted mills here suit those who prefer birdsong to beach crowds.
Browse houses in Cranborne Chase
Portland crab, Blue Vinny and a long shoulder season
Dorset eats well and without fuss. Look for Portland crab, Lyme Bay scallops, Dorset Blue Vinny cheese crumbled over a salad, and a slab of Dorset apple cake with tea. The farm shops and harbourside fish stalls are half the fun.
July and August bring warm seas and full beaches. May, June and September are the sweet spot: long light, quieter car parks at Lulworth and good walking on the South West Coast Path. Winter suits fossil hunting after the storms and a fire in a country cottage. Our concierge can book fossil walks, boat trips, restaurant tables and a private chef.
Ask our conciergeFeatured properties in Dorset
Greys Castle United Kingdom9 bedrooms · sleeps 18From £12,780 a week
Penn Castle | 9-Bedroom Chateau with Private Pool in Portland Dorset9 bedrooms · sleeps 20From £12,753 a week
Manor Tarrant Blandford: 8-Bedroom Manor with Tennis Court & Hot Tub – Dorset8 bedrooms · sleeps 16From £11,844 a week
House Purbeck Wareham: Luxury 8-Bedroom House with Heated Pool & Hot Tub – Dorset8 bedrooms · sleeps 18From £10,353 a week
Manor Hengistbury Bournemouth: Luxury 5-Bedroom Apartment with Seaview & Pool – Bournemouth5 bedrooms · sleeps 10From £10,129 a week
Highbury Mansion | 12-Bedroom Manor with Hot Tub in Bournemouth12 bedrooms · sleeps 24From £9,406 a week
Manor Stour Blandford: Charming 2-Bedroom Apartment Near Countryside – Blandford Forum2 bedrooms · sleeps 7From £8,876 a week
House Bratton Somerset: Luxury 8-Bedroom House with Hot Tub – Somerset8 bedrooms · sleeps 16From £8,764 a weekWhy book your house in Dorset with Excellence Luxury Villas
The right house, not the nearest one
Dorset's properties run from harbourside apartments to remote farmhouses down single-track lanes, and we know which are an easy walk from a beach, a pub or a fossil-hunting shore. With 220+ properties in Dorset, we can usually find the house that suits you rather than the one that happens to be free. Search by size, pool, location and price, or tell us what you have in mind and we will put together a shortlist.
Book direct
You book with us directly, with no booking fees. Questions about access, parking, pool heating or how far it really is to the nearest beach go to people who can find out the answer.
A concierge who knows the territory
Our concierge can arrange guided fossil walks, boat trips along the Jurassic Coast, sailing on Portland Harbour, a private chef, restaurant bookings, grocery deliveries and transfers. Our concierge team arranges all of it, leaving you free to decide which terrace to sit on.
A house for every kind of party
Couples, families with small children, three generations together or a crowd of friends celebrating a birthday: we match the house to the group, down to the number of bathrooms and whether the pool is fenced.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the best place to stay in Dorset?
Lyme Regis and Bridport suit those who want fossils, cliffs and small-town markets. Weymouth is best for sandy beaches and sailing, Purbeck for Lulworth Cove and Corfe Castle, and Poole and Bournemouth for the harbour and long sandy beaches. Inland, Dorchester, Sherborne and Cranborne Chase are quieter and more rural.
When is the best time to visit Dorset?
July and August are warmest and busiest. May, June and September offer long days, quieter beaches and ideal coast path walking, while winter is good for fossil hunting and cosy cottage stays.
Can you find fossils on the Jurassic Coast?
Yes. The beaches at Charmouth and Lyme Regis are among the best places in Britain to find ammonites and belemnites, usually lying loose on the shore after storms. Go on a falling tide, keep away from the foot of the cliffs and follow the local fossil collecting code. Guided fossil walks are a good start for children.
Can you arrange a private chef at a house in Dorset?
Yes. Our concierge can arrange a private chef for a single dinner or your whole stay, along with cookery lessons, guided visits, transfers and restaurant reservations.
How much does a luxury propertie in Dorset cost?
Across our 220+ properties in Dorset, weekly rates typically range from £1,800 to £4,400, with the most affordable from around £1,000 a week and the largest estates well above. Prices depend on the size of the property, its location and the season, with July and August the most expensive. These are guide prices based on current listings; each property page shows its own rates for your dates.
How do I get to Dorset?
Direct trains run from London Waterloo to Bournemouth, Poole, Dorchester and Weymouth. Bournemouth airport is the closest airport, and Exeter, Southampton and Bristol airports are all within reach by car. Our concierge can arrange transfers.
Are there houses in Dorset for large groups?
Yes. Our Dorset collection includes properties with up to 12 bedrooms. Tell us the size of your party and the occasion, and we will send a shortlist that suits it.
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Find your house in Dorset
220+ houses and cottages in Dorset, from the Jurassic Coast to Hardy country, booked direct with our concierge on hand