Accommodation in Lulworth Cove

Most of the Lulworth Cove accommodation is actually located in West Lulworth which is not even a 5 minute walk away from the actual cove. Because Lulworth is so small there aren’t any big hotels in the village at all. In fact there are only two real hotels. The rest of the accommodation in Lulworth Cove is made up of mainly of bed and breakfasts.

Hotels in Lulwoth Cove

The Beach Hotel is your first option. It received mixed reviews on TripAdvisor.co.uk but at the end of the day it’s a small local hotel and not a majot city hotel. This means you should be expecting a quaint, traditional local hotel. If that is what you are expecting then you won’t be disappointed.

The other hotel in Lulworth is The Cromwell House Hotel. Again, you can expect the same kind of local charm at this small village hotel. Just like many of the hotels in the smaller Dorset villages you can expect quaint and traditional rather than trendy and modern.

Bed and Breakfast in Lulworth

When it comes to bed and breakfasts in Lulworth you have a much wider choice. There are actually so many to choose from that it’s impossible to list them all here. New B&Bs spring up all the time and likewise some disappear! If you want to see what the top rated Lulworth bed and breakfast establishments are you should check on TripAdvisor.co.uk. They will provide you with traveler reviews and current prices.

Lulworth Cove Self Catering Accommodation?

While there are some limited options for self catering accommodation, we cannot recommend any specific rental agencies or specific properties. There is a much bigger selection of holiday cottages within the surrounding area. See holiday cottages in Dorset for more information.

Lulworth Cove Accommodation is a post from: Dorset Tourist Information

East & West Lulworth and the Cove

Lulworth Cove is one of the most picturesque bays that you’ll find anywhere in England, not just Dorset. Lulworth cove is extremely sheltered due to the fact that it’s practically enclosed by the surrounding coastline. Because of it’s extreme beauty, Lulworth cove has featured in several TV programs and films.

Lulworth Village is divided into East Lulworth and West Lulworth. Lulworth cove is located about half a mile from south from West Lulworth, making it the most ideal place to stay. There are numerous options when it comes to Lulworth Accomodation.

West Lulworth has a small population of around 800 people and many of the quaint houses are actually second homes. Despite it’s small size, West Lulworth has it’s own school, a few small hotels, a local store and a pub. The pub which is called the Castle Inn is actually one of the oldest public houses in the whole of Dorset. It was built in the 16th century and still has a classic thatched roof. The pub really is the focal point of West Lulworth.

East Lulworth is only a stones throw away and is much smaller than West Lulworth. It contains numerous 17th century cottages but little else. The Royal Armoured Corps Gunnery School barracks are now located in the village. They use this area of the Purbeck hills continuing all the way to Tyneham for their gunnery range.

Adjacent to East Lulworth is the Weld Estate Castle Park which as you might have guessed is home to Lulworth Castle.

Although the village of East Lulworth doesn’t have many buildings or residents, it does have it’s own pub, The Weld Arms. The Weld Arms dates back to the 17th century when it was formally a row of cottages which were built by the Weld family. It wasn’t until the early 1800′s that it became an Inn. Just like the Castle Inn in West Lulworth, there are many stories of smugglers frequenting the Weld Arms over the years.

Through out history, Lulworth Cove and the surrounding areas were used by smugglers. There are many fascinating tails of smuggling in the Lulworth area, particularly between the 17th and 19th centuries. Such stories bring many tourists to Lulworth Cove and the nearby Durdle Door. It’s a great part of Dorset to visit and you’ll find a lot of accommodation in Lulworth to choose from.

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Dorset Holiday Cottages

The are just so many holiday cottages in Dorset to rent that you really are spoiled for choice. In fact many people who live in the smaller villages in Dorset complain that during the winter the village is empty because over half of the properties are in fact holiday cottages!

If you are a holiday maker though, it really is good news for you! Dorset is a big county but most people will want to visit the famous Jurassic coastline. There are plenty of Dorset holiday cottages by the sea but you can expect to pay for for these prime locations. As a general rule, the closer you get to the sea, the more you will have to pay.

Some of the more popular places near the sea are Swanage, Studland, Weymouth and Lyme Regis. Within these areas you’ll find a whole host of coastal cottages. You will have to book early though as they tend to get booked up quite quickly. We recommend TripAdvisor for booking Dorset holiday cottages as they have such good reputation and customer service.

TripAdvisor have luxury holiday cottages in Dorset as well as other parts of the world. We have found they actually provide the best value whether you are looking for luxury or standard accommodation.

Other Self Catering Accommodation Besides Dorset Coastal Cottages

Although Dorset is famous for it’s coastline, it’s a fact that not everyone wants to stay near the sea. If that sounds like you then you’ll be glad to know that there are many holiday cottages in Dorset that aren’t close to the sea! Corfe Castle, Wareham, Dorchester, Salisbury and Wimborne all have quite a few options when it comes to holiday cottages.

It’s probably best to compare locations and prices and see which area of Dorset would suit you best. There really are so many great places to stay that it can be a difficult choice if you haven’t already got some where in mind. Wherever you choose to stay though, Dorset Tourist Information hopes that you have a wonderful time here in Dorset!

Find the best holiday cottages in Dorset, compare prices, and read what other travelers have to say at TripAdvisor

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Wareham Hotels and Other Accommodation

There are quite a few hotels in Wareham that offer excellent accomodation. None of them are very big establishments so it goes without saying that you should book online well in advance. Another thing that all of Wareham’s accomodation has in common is the olde’ worlde’ rustic feel. No matter where you stay it will feel like stepping back in time!

The very best place to stay in Wareham is on or near the river Piddle. The Priory Hotel which actually overlooks the river is the height of luxury. There are few places in anywhere in Dorset that offer such timeless and serene accommodation. This is undoubtedly the number one place to stay in Wareham. If you are lucky enough to be able to book a room you’re not going to regret it!

Other hotels in Wareham include Anglebury House which is still a very nice place to stay even if it doesn’t quite match the luxury of the Priory. It’s located on the high street and offers a very central location. Not too far away The Black Bear offers a similar style of rustic accommodation.

If the town is full, there are a couple of hotels near Wareham. The most popular and also nearest to the town is The Worget Manor Hotel. It’s located roughly one mile outside of Wareham on the road to Dorchester. Although it’s not in the town it still offers the same rustic appeal and is set within some wonderful countryside.

As with most places in Dorset, there are many B&Bs located in and around Wareham. It’s difficult to recommend any because they come and go so often. As with the all Bed and Breakfast accommodation in Dorset it’s best to check traveler reviews online. TripAdvisor.co.uk provides reviews of all the best B&B accommodation in Wareham.

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Wareham

Wareham is a walled Saxon town situated on the river Piddle. Located about 16 miles from Dorchester and 11 miles from Swanage, Wareham is a popular tourist destination with many attractions.

The focal point of Wareham is Wareham Quay. The view of the river here is wonderful and there are often many boats in during the summer. During the tourist season there are scheduled boat rides down the river Piddle to Poole harbour.

Besides the wonderful view of the river you can enjoy a drink at the Quay Inn or get some food at The Priory or The Old Granary both of which overlook the river. They both get very busy in the summer so try and book first if you can. On Saturday mornings, the Quay is home to Wareham market which is usually a very busy and bustling market.

There are several other very good restaurants in Wareham though so you’ll always be able to get something to eat. Most of the restaurants are located along North street and West street. West street is also home to the REX Cinema which dates back to 1889.

The Wareham walls are still intact and you can walk on them all around the old town. They are actually tall grassy banks and protected the town during Saxon times. It’s a nice walk and you can get some really nice views of the town.

There are many old buildings in the town and just wandering around is a really pleasurable experience. For more historical information about Wareham and the surrounding area you should visit the Wareham museum which is located on East street near the center of the town.

For information on accomodation in Wareham see our Wareham hotels page.

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Hotels in Corfe Castle

Although Corfe is only a small village there are two main hotels in Corfe that can provide you with some great accommodation. Corfe hotels tend to be quite popular because of the location of the village. Because it’s halfway between Wareham and Swanage it’s ideal for exploring the surrounding countryside.

Mortons House Hotel was built in 1590. Because it’s so old Mortons House Hotel has a wonderfully warm, lived-in feel and a romantic and atmospheric. It’s very popular with tourists and is often fully booked throughout the year. If you want to stay here try and book well in advance.

The Bankes Arms Hotel is located on the main road through Corfe, in the main square. It’s location is ideal to explore the rest of the village and of course, Corfe Castle itself. Plus the Swanage steam railway is only a two minute walk away from the hotel. Originally built in 1549, the Bankes Arms hotel offers truly rustic accommodation.

If you are planning on staying at either of these corfe hotels then try and book in plenty of time. You can get the best prices online. There are many companies that provide online hotel bookings and price comparison for the Corfe area.

Other Accommodation in Corfe

If you can’t get a room in any of the hotels in Corfe then you could always stay at a Corfe Bed & Breakfast. There are a lot of places that offer bed and breakfast in Corfe. In fact there are far too many to mention or recommend here. Again, it’s best if you use a third party website to find your Corfe Bed and Breakfast Accommodation.

All of the popular and recommended B an B’s in Corfe can be booked online at TripAdvisor.co.uk. They offer the best deals and you can also read traveler reviews of all the Corfe accommodation.

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Corfe & Corfe Castle

The village of Corfe lies roughly half way between Wareham and Swanage. It attracts thousands of visitors each year due the quaint limestone buildings that make up the majority of the village. Corfe castle sits on the hill looking over the village and offers some spectacular views of Corfe and the surrounding countryside. Likewise, from the main square in Corfe you can get some truly stunning photos of the village with Corfe castle in the background.

Corfe Castle is not the only attraction in Corfe though. The Swanage steam railway has a station in Corfe with steam trains running on most days all through the summer. Just like with the castle there really are some wonderful photo opportunities to be had here providing the weather is good.

Within the village itself there are quite a few tourist attractions all within walking distance of the castle. In the main square is the Ginger Pop shop. This is home to lots of Enid Blyton memorabilia including the famous wishing chair which is usually located outside the shop entrance. In case you don’t know, Enid Byton’s classic Famous Five books were inspired by Corfe castle and the surrounding area.

The miniture village and gardens which are also located near the square, contains contains a complete miniture replica of Corfe including Corfe castle how it used to look in its heyday.

Opposite the square is the village shop, Clealls. you can find lots of local produce here. If the name sounds familiar you might recognize it from the television. It featured on the BBC’s Mary Queen of Shops, when Mary Portas came and turned the failing shop into the pride of the village. It is now a tourist attraction in it’s own right and features in nearly all Corfe castle tourist information.

The tuth is you can pretty much wander anywhere around Corfe and just enjoy the ancient buildings and unique atmosphere that the village offers. If you are thinking about staying in Corfe then you should see our oage on Corfe hotels.

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Tyneham House – One of Purbeck’s Finest Country Houses

Tyneham House, or ‘The Great House’ as it was known was the home of the Bonds. The Bonds owned Tyneham and much of the village life revolved around the House. In it’s heyday Tyneham House was one of the most beautiful country houses in Dorset. Built in 1523, the three story Elizabethan mansion was set in beautiful grounds with immaculate lawns, lime trees, palms and other tropical plants that were able to survive in the humid micro-climate of the valley.

After the forced evacuation of Tyneham, Tyneham house was used to house members of the WAAF that were billeted there during the war. After the war it was boarded up and remained more or less intact up until the late 1960s with some missing roof tiles the only real sign of neglect.

However, soon after, it was reduced to rubble by the army after it had been assessed and decided that it couldn’t be restored, thus leaving demolition as the only option. Photographic evidence shows that this was clearly not the case and could have easily been restored and preserved like the church and school in the village.

The difference with Tyneham House was that few people had ever seen it, let alone knew the whereabouts of it. Unlike the church and school which were well and truly in the public eye, Tyneham House was hidden away in Tyneham Great Wood, roughly half a mile from the village itself.

Before the destruction of Tyneham House, most of the interior and anything else that was salvageable were taken away to other parts of the country and even as far away as America.

The Army have since realised that this was a huge mistake and would rather keep whatever is left of Tyneham House out of the public’s eye.. Thus it is left hidden away in Tyneham Great Wood.

Although the army have made it impossible to actually get to Tyneham House, it can still be seen from a couple of easily accesbile vantage points in the surrounding countryside. See the visitors guide for the exact locations.

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Tyneham Church – A trip back in time…

St Mary’s Church is a rather small compared to other churches in the county of Dorset, but it served the villagers of Tyneham quite adequately. Built of limestone rubble and dating from the 13th Century, the South tracept was rebuilt in the mid 19th century by the Reverand William Bond. Tyneham church contains memorials to the Bond family of Tyneham House. After the military took over Tyneham, the church was neglected and some fittings were moved out. The bells and organ were moved to Steeple church and the Jacobean pulpit was moved to Lulworth Camp.

Today, Tyneham’s church serves two separate purposes. First and foremost it’s a museum of the village. It contains many charts and displays, recording both the broad history and the minutiae of village life – there are documents, artifacts, timelines, old photographs and everything else you’d expect to find in a small town museum.

The second function of the church is to act as a sort of memorial shrine to the ‘idyllic life’ that the inhabitants had so unfairly taken away from them. The names of the villagers now line the inside walls and also grace a restored bible.

When the villagers left the for the last time, a note was pinned to the church door..

“Please treat the church and houses with care; we have given up our homes where many of us lived for generations to help win the war to keep men free. We shall return one day and thank you for treating the village kindly.“

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Video Footage of Tyneham

Thanks to the Internet and in particular, YouTube you can view several videos of Tyneham. We’ve included a slection of Tyneham videos right here. If you have uploaded your own Tyneham video to YouTube and would like to include it on this page please contact us. For the feature length Tyneham DVD see Tyneham Remembered.

Tyneham Videos is a post from: Dorset Tourist Information