Wisteria Cottage

Framed by views of the courtyard pond at the front and with French doors opening straight onto the shared gardens at the back, Wisteria Cottage makes the most of its setting on a private estate of holiday cottages in Higher Bockhampton. Graded 4-Star by VisitEngland and spread across two storeys, this dog-friendly cottage sleeps four and offers a homely balance of comfort and practicality, making it a great choice for families or couples travelling together.

The sitting room is designed for relaxed evenings, with a smart TV, comfortable seating and a modern fire for cooler nights. A dining area sits at one end of the room, while French doors lead onto a terrace with seating where you can enjoy a drink or meal overlooking the gardens. The communal lawns are home to two shared hot tubs and are a safe place for children to play while adults unwind. The kitchen has been recently updated with a breakfast bar, large fridge-freezer and dishwasher, alongside a ceramic hob, oven and microwave, offering everything needed for simple, sociable self-catering.

Upstairs, two restful bedrooms are carpeted throughout for comfort. The double room includes a smart TV, while the twin has zip-link beds that can be arranged as singles or joined to form a superking, depending on your needs. A family bathroom with shower over bath completes the accommodation. A cot can be provided on request.

As with all the cottages here, guests at Wisteria Cottage enjoy access to the estate’s wide range of facilities. Outdoors, there are two tennis courts, badminton and croquet lawns, and a boule pitch, while indoors the games room offers pool, table tennis and table football. Younger children are especially well catered for, with a wooden playhouse, willow den, playroom and nature trail across the grounds. Families also enjoy picking fruit and vegetables from the kitchen garden and collecting fresh eggs from the hens each morning. There is direct access to Thorncombe Woods, and landscaped gardens, nature trails and the hot tubs provide peaceful options for unwinding.

The estate sits in Higher Bockhampton, opposite Thomas Hardy’s Cottage, at the edge of Thorncombe Woods. From the gate, walking trails lead directly into woodland and Puddletown Forest, where Roman roads and heathland open up into wide, quiet spaces rich with wildlife. These routes suit everything from short family strolls to full-day hikes.

Three miles away, the county town of Dorchester offers independent shops, weekly markets and cultural highlights including the Dorset Museum and the Keep Military Museum, as well as train links to London and the South West. The UNESCO World Heritage Jurassic Coast is within easy reach, with Weymouth’s sandy beach and lively harbour, fossil-rich Lyme Regis and Charmouth, the iconic cliffs of Durdle Door and Lulworth Cove, and the sweeping arcs of Chesil Beach and Ringstead Bay. Local pubs and inns such as The Blue Vinny in Puddletown and The Wise Man in West Stafford provide hearty food and Dorset ales after a day of exploring.

Balancing traditional charm with modern updates, and with its unique outlook over both courtyard and gardens, Wisteria Cottage is a welcoming base for families, friends and their dogs to enjoy Dorset’s countryside and coast while making the most of the estate’s facilities.