Explore the pretty village of Corfe Castle

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Villages in Dorset

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Highlights

Abbotsbury

A chocolate box village steeped in history and surrounded by spectacular scenery
Corfe Castle

Corfe Castle village is overlooked by the outstanding ruins of its castle perched on a hill in a gap in the Purbeck Ridge
Cerne Abbas

A charming and quaint village that is world renowned for the Cerne Giant, a 180 ft high ancient chalk figure carved out into the steep sloping hillside above the village
Charmouth

A friendly village situated at the heart of the UNESCO World Heritage Jurassic Coast, an ancient coastline of dramatic cliffs, fossils and beautiful scenery
Cranborne

An ancient royal hunting area now populated by small picturesque villages in a large open landscape dissected by clear rivers and streams
East & West Lulworth

Owned by the Weld Family, the villages on this country estate offer stunning scenery and the famous Lulworth Cove, Durdle Door and Lulworth Castle.
Milton Abbas

A picture book English cob and thatch village on the Milton Abbey estate

Dorset is home to some of the prettiest villages in England.

If you’re looking to wander down winding country lanes lined with sweet scented wild flowers, tinkling streams, thatched cobb cottages before chancing upon a quaint little village pub or tea room, you’ve come to the right place.

Picturesque Dorset Villages

One of the most popular villages in Dorset is Abbotsbury, a picture postcard village set in the Dorset AONB countryside.

Whilst here, visit the famous Swannery, or climb to St Catherine’s Chapel for tremendous views along Chesil Beach and the Jurassic Coast.

You’re in for a treat if you visit West Lulworth as the small hamlet is dotted with little trinket shops and ice cream parlours as it meanders down to the stunning Lulworth Cove.

Milton Abbas is also well worth a visit, with its uniformed line of thatched white cottages. Visit in July for the 18^th Century Street Fair and be whisked back in time.

And set in the heart of Cranborne Chase, once a mediaeval hunting estate, are the intimate, rural villages of the Tarrants, Chrichels and the Gussages.

Quirky village names

Dorset villages have their fair share of strange place names and many of these are often cause for much tittering.

Whilst in Dorset you may find yourself in the Piddle Valley and stumble across the villages of Piddlehinton and Piddletrenthide.

Whilst strolling in the beautiful Purbecks, you may see a signpost to Happy Bottom. And, what other English county has such evocative village names as Whitchurch Canonicorum, Rhyme Intrensica or Gussage All Saints?

There is one village name in Dorset which is far too rude to mention here but bound to cause a few laughs, why not come and visit and see if you can find it (we'll give you a clue, it's near Bere Regis).

Villages full of folklore and history

Each Dorset village has its own character, history, individual charm and tale to tell.

Visit Cerne Abbas and see the famous club wielding chalk giant, imagine historic battles as you stand in Corfe Castle with its romantic castle ruins, stand under the Martyrs Tree at Tolpuddle, birthplace of the Trade Union and hear the whispers in the walls at Tyneham – Dorset’s ghost village.

Make a wish at the Upwey Wishing Well, hunt for fossils at Charmouth, visit Thomas Hardy’s Cottage in the forest at Higher Bockhampton or ascend to Ashmore, the highest village in Dorset.

Experience the rural ideal and explore Dorset’s villages

As you can see there are many quirky little villages in Dorset, each with their own history, claim to fame and individual mysteries just waiting to be discovered and unless you spend a night or two, there’s no way you will be able to see them all!

Fortunately, there's lots of great accommodation close to each of these villages so why not take advantage, simply click the links below to get started:

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Number of results: 77

, currently showing 21 to 40.

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Osmington

Dorchester

Osmington is a smart, well preserved village with grey stone cottages, narrow lanes and bright gardens. Carved into the chalk hillside nearby is a figure of George III on horseback, cut to commemorate the Royal visits to Weymouth.

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Lower Bockhampton

South Walks Road, Dorchester

Lower Bockhampton is a small hamlet on the River Frome, home to the school where Thomas Hardy first attended as a young boy.

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Winterborne Came

South Walks Road, Dorchester

Winterborne Came is a small rural parish located 2 miles south of Dorchester and is well known for its connections with the Dorset dialect poet William Barnes, who was rector here for 24 years until his death in 1886.

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Fortuneswell - Isle of Portland

The main road through to the top of the island has a wide variety of properties, some are small Portland stone cottages that were built on steep slopes. Self catering cottages and B&B's are a short stroll from the National Sailing Academy.

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Corscombe

Bridport

Corscombe lies in lovely wooded country north of Beaminster with its main street climbing up the chalk hillside. It commands splendid views over Somerset from the upper road and is one of the most peaceful parts of Dorset.

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Burton Bradstock

Bridport

Burton Bradstock is a pretty village famous for its position along the Jurassic Coast with its iconic sandstone cliffs marking the start of Chesil Beach.

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Plush

Dorchester

Plush is an idyllic Dorset hamlet, perfectly sited amongst the Dorset Downs, with an isolated and remote atmosphere.

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Morecombelake

Lyme Regis

Sitting under Hardown Hill, Morecombelake is the home of Moore’s Biscuit Factory, famous for its Dorset Knob.

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Littlebredy

South Walks Road, Dorchester

Little Bredy stands at the head of the Bride Valley where the River Bride tumbles down a waterfall from its springs and is well worth visiting for its gorgeous setting.

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Kingston, Worth Matravers & Langton Matravers

Kingston, Worth Matravers and Langton Matravers are found south of Corfe Castle. The area is very popular for walking and a number of our walking trails pass through or near these villages.

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Bere Regis

Bere Regis is found between Dorchester and Poole and is a short distance to the villages of Moreton and Bovington. The beautiful Athelhampton House is just a short drive away on the edge of Puddletown village.
The village features St John the…

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Edmondsham

Wimborne

A quaint village with old brick houses and cottages, a big iron village pump dated 1884 and a charming Manor House and church.

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Symondsbury

Bridport

Symondsbury is a large, pretty village of golden sandstone, known for its iconic landmark – Colmers Hill, which is featured extensively on postcards of the area and is the subject of many atmospheric photographs.

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Sturminster Marshall

Wimborne

A large, pretty village with three pubs, village stores and several relics of past village life including the village stocks and maypole, the latter of which is still in use today.

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Cranborne

Wimborne

A charming village of red brick and cob houses on the River Crane. The village has two pubs, a restaurant, village stores selling local produce and a garden centre.

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Evershot

Sherborne

Evershot is the second highest village in Dorset at 625ft above sea level and is well known for its inclusion in much of Thomas Hardy's literature.

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Chideock and Seatown

Bridport

Chideock is a small, hilly village located between Bridport and Lyme Regis. Both Chideock and its neighbouring hamlet, Seatown, have much to offer the visitor.

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Buckland Newton

South Walks Road, Dorchester

Buckland Newton is an average sized village which sits at the head of the Blackmoor Vale and lies amongst lush AONB meadow land and gentle hills.

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Alton Pancras

South Walks House, Dorchester

Running alongside the River Piddle, Alton Pancras is a small village with its church dedicated to St. Pancras.

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Milton Abbas

West Street, Blandford Forum

One of Dorset's most famous villages, its 'street' a picture postcard thatch village with pretty cottages and wide lawns.

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