Get Away From It All And Relax In This Characterful Period Thatched
A unique opportunity to rent this 3 bedroom 19th century, thatched cottage offering character and charm. The cottage is situated in a tucked away position in a private woodland glen, providing direct pedestrian access to the beautiful beaches at Ringstead Bay. Ideal for walking, sailing, exploring the lovely historical Jurassic coastline or just relaxing with a glass of wine and watching the sun go down over the bay.
Please see reviews. The beauty of this cottage is the charm and rustic nature and modern amenities such as broadband are basic. Please note a car is essential. Parking spaces for two cars is possible although a slight squeeze. Please note that larger vehicles such as a minibus are not recommended.
Property manager
David Arkell
Languages
English
Add dates for prices
Amenities
Kitchen
Washer
Pet-friendly
Outdoor space
Parking available
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Characterful Seaside Family Cottage in Ringstead, Dorset
Characterful Seaside Family Cottage in Ringstead, Dorset
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property
About the area
Dorchester
Dorchester is home to this cottage. Monkey World Ape Rescue Center is a popular attraction and the area's natural beauty can be seen at Durdle Door and Weymouth Beach. Fantasy Island Fun Park and Pirate Adventure Mini Golf are also worth visiting.
Dorchester, England
What's nearby
Osmington Bay Beach - 15 min drive - 6.4 km
Weymouth Beach - 22 min drive - 12.8 km
Lulworth Cove - 27 min drive - 21.6 km
Weymouth Harbour - 29 min drive - 15.1 km
Durdle Door Beach - 31 min drive - 20.2 km
Getting around
Dorchester West Station - 18 min drive
Bournemouth (BOH-Bournemouth Intl.) - 65 min drive
Restaurants
Bowleaze Cove - 16 min drive
The New Inn - 14 min drive
Cafe Oasis - 15 min drive
The Park - 18 min drive
The Lodmoor, Preston Rd, Weymouth - 18 min drive
Frequently asked questions
Is Get Away From It All And Relax In This Characterful Period Thatched pet-friendly?
Yes, pets are allowed at this property.
What time is check-in at Get Away From It All And Relax In This Characterful Period Thatched ?
Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.
What time is check-out at Get Away From It All And Relax In This Characterful Period Thatched ?
Checkout is at 11:00 AM.
Where is Get Away From It All And Relax In This Characterful Period Thatched located?
Situated in Dorchester, this cottage is within a 5-minute walk of Dorset and East Devon Coast, Weymouth Bay and Ringstead Beach. Osmington Bay Beach and Osmington Roman Walk are also within 6 miles (10 km).
Reviews
9.4
Exceptional
Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
This really is well tucked out of the way and remote, although 5 /10 minutes to the beach and the Dorset costal footpath on your doorstep.
The cottage is as expected, functional and all that you need for a walking base, with a well appointed kitchen and everything that you need otherwise to get away from it all.
Cottage was perfect for us four as, we wanted to do a lot of walking, and the beach was so close for a dip in the morning and evening.
Cottage was cosy when we came home after long walk to relax and keep warm, with a g and t, we all enjoyed our stay at this quirky cottage and will be back. Thankyou David for keeping us up to date with information.
This was our second time at Glen Cottage and it was just as charming as our first visit. I would highly recommend. It is perfect for complete relaxation and family time. Will definitely be going back!
Lovely break in an idyllic cottage. The secret walk to the beach is magical, and Ringstead Bay is an absolute gem of a beach, with crystal clear waters. Lovely walk along the coastal path in the evening for supper at the Smugglers Inn. Locations dont get much better than this!
The cottage is clean and comfortable with everything you need provided.
The cottage location is stunning with direct access to coastal paths including its own path down to the beach.
If you love walking, nature and peace and quiet this is the perfect place for you.
Apart from shower not working, dodgy hot water and broken toilet seat we still managed to make the best of things and overall enjoyed our stay in Glen Cottage. We loved the olde world charm and tranquility of the cottage and it’s setting. We enjoyed walks along the SW coast path from our back gate and and muddy trek through the woods down to the beach. Enjoyed all the wildlife outside the cottage but not so keen on the wildlife inside but then that is to be expected really. Overall it was a peaceful and relaxing place to stay
Peaceful, secluded cottage with plenty of 'olde worlde' character yet with enough 'mod cons' for todays world.
The picture of the sitting doesn't do it justice as the soft furnishing have been updated since the photos were taken. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay which was enhanced by the good weather.
We had an enjoyable week - this is a characterful old cottage in a remote feeling country spot (a few minutes walk along a lane from the place to park a car) in a great area on the Jurassic coast - a good base for swimming and beach and cliff walks, and when the rain came - cosy enough for reading and games, and not too ‘done up’ but atmospheric - with a sheltered garden- everything we needed.
Traditional thatched cottage in a beautiful location near actually in the SW coastal path. Everything you need is there but, during our stay a couple of things weren’t working properly. The owner was open about this in advance and our stay wasn’t adversely affected. It isn’t suitable for anyone with mobility problems, particularly out of season when the coastal path was very muddy and it was impossible to get the car right up to the cottage. But it was exactly what we needed to get away from it all.
We found that the peace and tranquility of Glenn cottage was all we needed,just parked the car and relaxed for the week, in the immediate vicinity of the cottage.easy access to the beach(very quiet)great swimming and snorkeling. Beautiful walks along the coastal path which is just outside the gate.would definitely recommend if you enjoy nature, away from the busy tourist centres.
Ps two deer in the garden on the first evening.
What a fabulous place to escape to. Set in its own wooded glen. The location is amazing. The cottage is charming. It was just like stepping back in time and we immediately felt at home. A previous reviewer hit the nail on the head saying it was like visiting your old Nan’s house. The mattresses are very comfortable and it was a joy to go to bed listening to the waves crashing on the beach and the owls hooting. Superbly positioned with fantastic walks literally on your doorstep. There is even access to the beach via a “secret path” from the garden. This place is a little gem and we’d love to return.
This is a lovely old cottage in a really amazing location tucked into the woodland just above the quiet beach. Our boy loved the fact he could explore the woods and walk down to the beach in his pyjamas and wellies each morning. A magical place for children.
We had a couple of small issues, but despite him
being away, communication with our host was excellent and things easily resolved.
We loved the rustic authentic nature of the house. The kitchen is well equipped. The house was comfortable and warm.
A beautiful part of the world and a picturesque holiday cottage.
The Glen Cottage is a lovely place to stay. We were looking for an isolated setting and it fit the bill perfectly. The scramble down to the beach is a lot of fun and, as the main access was closed, we had the whole bay to ourselves. The only problem we had was with the path to access the cottage. There had been a lot of rain and so it was a bit muddy and uneven, so we ended up leaving our car at the bottom of the hill a couple of times rather than risk getting stuck or damaging the bottom of the vehicle on the exposed rock. This wouldn't be a problem most of the year or in an SUV but we were driving a Prius.
I would love to go back in spring or summer. We really enjoyed walking straight out of the property onto the South Coast path and all the way to Durdle Door and Lullworth Cove. Such a magical part of the world.
This June week was our second stay. It was as lovely as the first. We are Ringstead regulars, and the quiet, secluded position of this cottage works well for us, holidaying with our adult son with LD/autism. But we would love it anyway. We appreciated the new thatch, the new curtains, and the improved WiFi, and found the cottage to be as comfortable and well equipped as we remembered. We had a wonderful week of walking, swimming, running (one of us), and generally unwinding.
Tips:
We arranged a Sainsburys delivery, meeting at the shop in the beach carpark. On our last night we had tasty fish & chips from Stracey's (in Preston).
This cottage will be happily remembered as it is unique and a great antidote to modern east-access living. Getting to the cottage up the track was an adventure in an overloaded car. Deep muddy ruts and potholes- caution advised if you have a low vehicle. But once that was out of the way we had a great stay. The cottage was really clean and warm. The extra heaters were great. Lots of equipment in kitchen. Washing machine was handy as the beach path was more of a muddy river due to wet weather. The cottage itself is lovely and old - cosy small rooms and not a straight wall or floor in sight. Moonlit nonsense on the beach was my highlight as well as a hike to Durdle Door straight from the path outside. A very refreshing, value for money stay. Loved by teenage boys too.
We had a wonderful three nights at Glen Cottage. The property was a perfect size for me, my partner, our baby and a pooch. The private path to the beach was a bonus and the garden was a delight, we even managed to enjoy some late afternoon sunshine in it despite the time of year. We saw some deer just beyond the garden everyday which was a lovely sight!
It came with all the required amenities which enabled us to cook at the property easily and the TV with Netflix was a bonus to keep our little one entertained for the time we were at the cottage and not out exploring.
The only issue we encountered was not being able to fully reach the property in our car to unpack and pack which resulted in my partner making many trips back and forth in the rain from where you need to leave the car. This was due to the ground being so wet and muddy that only a 4x4 would have sufficed in reaching the property gate! However we were pre-warned that the track was extremely wet so we were prepared for this being a possibility.
Overall a fabulous stay with stunning walks on your doorstep. Would happily return.
Jurassic Getaway - learning to appreciate the beauty of Dorset
We arrived late on a Saturday afternoon in the second week of March the weather had been recently very wet this was to prove our first challenge!!
The instructions that we had been given by the owner of the cottage proved not to be as accurate as we first thought . the track that becomes the coastal path is extremely narrow & deeply rutted the car we were in had real problems trying to keep its traction - so you had best drive slowly!!! Concerning the final 50 metre approach to the cottage!! you definitely CANNOT take a car anywhere near the cottage you should expect to carry all your luggage the last 50 metres from the car spaces so it would be advisable to travel light !!!
Once at the garden gate the cottage looks idyllic, with a beautifully natural garden full of daffodils and primroses and surrounded by woodland. It would be advisable to provide a handrail at the side of the steps that take you to outside the back door, in order to maintain one’s own safety, particularly when the weather is wet.
On arrival we found that the cottage was in need of a deep clean generally - both the kitchen & bathroom needed to be re cleaned, by ourselves. In doing this we found a plug of human hair that was significantly large it stopped the water from draining away easily!!
As previous reviews have stated, the property really needs some TLC & both time & money spent on it. The curtains in almost every room were of very poor quality & worn with holes in the material & the were hung with wire & rings. This seems so sad as good quality curtains & rails do not cost that much money - none of the curtains closed properly (unacceptable even in an isolated property such as this).
We were warned by the owner that they had had problems with an infestation of mice & was that going to be a problem for us? As a result we took 2 electronic rodent/pest repellents that can be plugged into the electrical plug sockets & that then emit a variety of ultrasonic pulses.This proved to be mostly successful with only two occasions where we could hear the mice actively running up the inside cavity of the outside wall and between the ceiling joists,!!! You can buy these easily from suppliers such as on Amazon & perhaps to place these in every room would help the existing problem.
Beds were comfortable & all the linen & towels provided were of a good quality .
Unfortunately because of the recent heavy rains the woodland path to the beach was impassible as was too slippery.
I took my family there for a pist Christmas stay. A thatched stone cottage by the sea, what more could you want?Just book it and enjoy one of the most beautiful parts of the country.
This was our third stay but things seemed a little more overgrown, unkempt, and mousey than on previous years. The cleaner and gardener were not on their best game. Nonetheless it is a lovely spot. We enjoyed the garden wildlife, and found the resident wood mice (living in the chimney) entertaining company in the evenings.
Enjoyed a 3 night break in Glen Cottage. Very quiet location (apart from the fog horns) and some lovely walks all around.
Quite muddy around the cottage as it'd been very wet recently, but warm and dry inside.
The sofa could do with replacing but apart from that quite clean and homely.
The communication with the owner was great, thank you.
Our family (2 adults, 4 children and 1 small dog) enjoyed a long weekend at the cottage. My children loved the “smugglers” path down to the water and we had the beach to ourselves in mid-February. The cottage was great, 3 bedrooms to sleep all 6 of us. The coastal path to get to the cottage is narrow and can be very muddy and we had a late start to our drive and arrived in the dark which made finding the cottage tricky, but that was on us. The cottage is also a nice central location for exploring the area. We all greatly enjoy our time there.