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Welcome to the Itinerary Planner. Use this tool to build your own journey or choose from an exciting range of specially selected tours.

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  1. Explore the pretty village of Corfe Castle
    Explore the pretty village of Corfe Castle

You are here: Explore > Villages

Villages in Dorset

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Highlights

  1. St Catherine's Chapel near Abbotsbury
    Abbotsbury
    A chocolate box village steeped in history and surrounded by spectacular scenery
  2. Historic ruins of Corfe Castle in Dorset
    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
  3. Cerne Abbas
    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
  4. Charmouth
    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
  5. Cranborne Visitor Information
    Cranborne
    An ancient royal hunting area now populated by small picturesque villages in a large open landscape dissected by clear rivers and streams
  6. Lulworth Castle surrounded by the green countryside parkland
    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.
  7. Thatched cottages in Milton Abbas
    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 18th 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

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  1. Mark Simons credit

    Add Osmington to your Itinerary

    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.

    More info for Osmington
  2. Lower Bockhampton

    Add Lower Bockhampton to your Itinerary

    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.

    More info for Lower Bockhampton
  3. Winterborne Came, Visit Dorset

    Add Winterborne Came to your Itinerary

    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.

    More info for Winterborne Came
  4. Fortuneswell - Isle of Portland

    Add Fortuneswell - Isle of Portland to your Itinerary

    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.

    More info for Fortuneswell - Isle of Portland
  5. Corscombe, Visit Dorset

    Add Corscombe to your Itinerary

    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.

    More info for Corscombe
  6. Hive Beach, Burton Bradstock

    Add Burton Bradstock to your Itinerary

    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.

    More info for Burton Bradstock
  7. Plush

    Add Plush to your Itinerary

    Plush

    Dorchester

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

    More info for Plush
  8. Morecombelake

    Add Morecombelake to your Itinerary

    Morecombelake

    Lyme Regis

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

    More info for Morecombelake
  9. Littlebredy, Visit Dorset

    Add Littlebredy to your Itinerary

    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.

    More info for Littlebredy
  10. Views from Kingston towards Corfe Castle

    Add Kingston, Worth Matravers & Langton Matravers to your Itinerary

    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.

    More info for Kingston, Worth Matravers & Langton Matravers
  11. View to Woodbury Hill along West Street, Bere Regis

    Add Bere Regis to your Itinerary

    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…

    More info for Bere Regis
  12. Church of St Nicholas, Edmondsham

    Add Edmondsham to your Itinerary

    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.

    More info for Edmondsham
  13. Colmers Hill - Copyright James Loveridge

    Add Symondsbury to your Itinerary

    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.

    More info for Symondsbury
  14. Sturminster Marshall

    Add Sturminster Marshall to your Itinerary

    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.

    More info for Sturminster Marshall
  15. Cranborne

    Add Cranborne to your Itinerary

    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.

    More info for Cranborne
  16. Evershot, Visit Dorset

    Add Evershot to your Itinerary

    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.

    More info for Evershot
  17. Chideock and Seatown

    Add Chideock and Seatown to your Itinerary

    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.

    More info for Chideock and Seatown
  18. Buckland Newton, Visit Dorset

    Add Buckland Newton to your Itinerary

    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.

    More info for Buckland Newton
  19. Bookham Court

    Add Alton Pancras to your Itinerary

    Alton Pancras

    South Walks House, Dorchester

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

    More info for Alton Pancras
  20. Milton Abbas

    Add Milton Abbas to your Itinerary

    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.

    More info for Milton Abbas
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