Leading retirement homes builder McCarthy & Stone is offering a range of one- and two-bedroom flats at Bowes Lyon Court, an assisted living development for over-70s, with prices starting at £255,000. Meander your way to the Urban Reef and chill out with your toes in the sand and cocktail in hand as the sun sets over the bay. New developments, such as Gervis Road flats by Harlequin Homes, offer a fresh opportunity to get on the housing market early on. In the south-west tower there is a bell weighing over 7 tonnes and which is over 7 feet in diameter. This is true Thomas Hardy country with Abbotsbury the inspiration behind many of his books. Dorset's highest village sits 700 feet above sea level and is recognisable due to the circular Ashmore pond surrounded by chocolate box cottages. Four bells were installed in 1366, three of which are still in use in the Minster after having been recast. There are properties to suit all price ranges here, from a 2-bedroom maisonette for £140,000 to a £2,000,000 8-bedroom detached Edwardian country house. A SMALL village in north Dorset has been named among the Top 50 Best Places to Live in the Countryside by a national newspaper. It also offers easy access to the coast and the New Forest. There is evidence of habitation in the area in the days of pre-history but Corfe really came to prominence when the great castle was begun at the time of William the Conqueror. Required fields are marked *. This sandy peninsula is renowned for its millionaire mansions, but you can still get a taste of Sandbanks without breaking the bank. Your email address will not be published. This is a beautiful little seaside spot, famed for the spectacular golden sandstone cliffs running along the coast. Architect James Wyatt, who also had a hand in the building of the mansion, was responsible for building Milton Abbas Parish Church. The quieter town of Gillingham sits in the Blackmore Vale area of Dorset, close to Shatesbury which is one of the oldest and highest towns in England. At the centre of the village there is a pleasant 19th-century inn, this is an excellent place to tarry after enjoying a stroll around Sydling's quiet country lanes. Dating from medieval times and boasting a rich history, the village itself lovely; filled with stone cottages and thatched roofs. Pimperne still has a picturesque and well-kept appearance to support this previous triumph. Situated in north-west Dorset, Sherborne is home to some fantastic locations and incredible architecture. It is an impressive tribute to the sacrifice made by the men of the battle which claimed some 7000 casualties. Weymouth has been a popular seaside resort for over 250 years and many traditional aspects that have appealed to visitors over the decades remain - from donkey rides on the beach to a stroll along the pier. Which are the 15 Best Places to Live in Dorset. Milton Abbas - Image by PicturesOfEngland.com member Jez Taylor (view gallery) Milton Abbas is a superb thatched village which has the distinction of being the first planned village of its kind in England. Some may surprise you! Sherborne has five weekly markets, enough for all your needs ranging from the farmers market to the weekly book fair. Especially because it’s home to Gold Hill, which has been described as “one of the most romantic sights in England”. Previous Slide ︎ Next Slide ︎. He fortified it as part of England's defences against the Spanish Armada. The Swannery is located at the edge of the Lagoon and is home to over 600 flying swans. Ashmore will undoubtedly be the smallest village mentioned throughout this article. Historical gems to explore nearby include Sandsfoot Castle, Portland Museum and Nothe Fort. Annual events include the Fossil Festival and the Food Rocks festival. Uniformed in size and nature, and unique by their colourful front doors, these houses all have large open lawns and are broken up by the occasional blossom tree. Enjoying global focus upon hosting sports at the 2012 Olympic Games, the resort’s impressive transport links and proximity to beautiful coast and countryside are just two of its appealing features. To send a link to this page you must be logged in. Literary Lyme Walking Tours offer guided walks of the area covering themes such as Jane Austen, French Lieutenant's Woman and Mary Anning. The onsite museum brings the Abbey's past to life. If you book or buy something through these links, I earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you). Dorchester is associated with the writer and poet Thomas Hardy, and there is plenty about this novelist at Dorset County Museum. With a population of only 188 people, Ashmore is often one of those places overlooked and mainly visited by those who took a wrong turn down the road. This small village near Dorchester sits on the banks of the River Piddle. Milton Abbas is a superb thatched village which has the distinction of being the first planned village of its kind in England. Woods Removals Favourite Retirement Villages in Dorset – Ashmore – this small village is a bit under the radar, so don’t tell anyone we gave you directions. Set in a site of several acres, farm buildings have been converted into properties alongside new build neighbours, each complemented by a conservatory and balcony. As for King Charles II, it was the night of 23 September 1651 when Charles was sheltering in the village after fleeing Parliamentary troops after the Battle of Worcester. This quaint village differs from most English villages in that it has no church and there is very little here other than fine whitewashed cottages interspersed down narrow leafy lanes that are more used to driven herds than the modern motor vehicles of today. Yetminster Fair (11th July 2020) has been running almost continuously since the 13th Century, making it one of the oldest fairs in the county. Poole is home to plenty of pubs, restaurants and clubs, for those looking for a great start and end to the night. Outside of town, the world is your oyster. 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. Take a look at my privacy policy for more information. Dorset is home to some of the prettiest villages in England. Sir John Bankes was Lord Chief Justice to Charles I. The town centre is blessed with a wonderful range of shops and galleries including the Jerram Gallery and the Melbury Gallery. the setting for the 1973 “Boy on Bike” Hovis advert, 12 of the Best Dog Friendly Cottages in Dorset, won “best small village” in the Dorset Village Awards, Abbotsbury is also filled with tourist attractions, likes to boast that there “is more to Corfe than a great castle”, one of the best places in Dorset for a coast walk. Another story tells of hard hats being made here during the 19th-century that were so strong you could jump on them. One of the jewels in Weymouth's crown is the multi award-winning Pommery Dorset Seafood Festival, which is held every July on the quay at Weymouth Harbour. The village of Charminster is characterised by ivy-coated, pastel-coloured period homes, winding roads through wild flowers and that famous Dorset hatch. There are dozens of pretty villages in Dorset!