Cool holiday cottages on England’s Jurassic coast

http://www.theguardian.com/travel/2014/aug/02/cool-holiday-cottages-jurassic-coast-dorset

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Portland House, Weymouth

This large National Trust-owned villa looks more hacienda than seaside cottage. Overlooking Portland harbour, it was built in a frenzy of inter-war glamour in 1935. Now Grade II-listed, it has parquet flooring, jewel-coloured bathrooms and art-deco furniture, and makes a dazzling holiday base. Take day-trips along the Jurassic coast and enjoy evening cocktails on the terrace.

• 0344 335 1287, nationaltrustcottages.co.uk. Sleeps 12, from £1,916 a week

The Bolthole, Combpyne

This simple cabin in the garden of the owners’ home has smart but homely decor with 1950s influences (Formica tables, Ercol chairs, vintage posters) and 21st-century frills (kingsize bed, White Company towels, Ren toiletries). The courtyard offers a sunny dining spot, but you’re a 10-minute drive from Hix Oyster & Fish House in Lyme Regis and River Cottage HQ in Axminster.

• 0117 204 7830, sawdays.co.uk. Sleeps 2, from £623 a weekNo kids

The Garden House Studio, Lyme Regis

Ideal for one, more cosy if you bring a friend, this space is so compact that the bed is the fold-down type. What it lacks in size it makes up for in style, however. Furnishings include mid-century pieces by Arne Jacobsen, Robin Day and Gerrit Rietveld, and original artwork. The bathroom is stocked with Ren products and the welcome hamper has homemade granola and eggs from the owner’s chickens.

• 01297 444614, thegardenhousestudio.com. Sleeps 2, from £450 a weekPets allowed

Coastguard Cottage, near Worth Matravers

For panoramic views, Coastguard Cottage is the next best thing to standing on Durdle Door with a pair of binoculars. Part of a clifftop terrace (the approach is a long, rough track unsuitable for low-slung cars), it comes with some quirks (such as harvested rainwater), but comfortable interiors offer a haven after a day walking, cycling, swimming or fossil-hunting.

• 01929 481555, islandcottageholidays.com. Sleeps 6, from £445 a weekPets allowed

Mangerton House, near Burton Bradstock

Perfect for large parties, this early 19th-century house has a traditional exterior that belies its contents. Bespoke wallpaper and lighting, plus vintage and modern pieces, make a show-stopping mix, while a sleek indoor pool adds some tranquillity. Outside there’s a natural swimming pond and 14 acres of gardens with riverbank. The Hive Beach Café is just down the road.

• 01242 235151, bigcottage.com/houses/mangerton-house. Sleeps 20, from £9,950 a weekPets allowed