Langton Herring is a small quaint village nestled in countryside just 5 miles west of Weymouth. This is a fantastic location for a cottage holiday with the benefit of a rural location yet well placed for discovering Dorset’s Jurassic coast and Chesil beach close by.
With its tales of shipwrecks and smuggling, the village was predominately a seafaring and farming community. The area’s most famous seaman was Thomas Masterman Hardy, captain of HMS Victory, who was with Nelson when he died during the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. From Langton Herring the huge monument to Hardy can be seen on Blackdown Hill. Keen walkers will want to visit this monument and Blackdown Hill whilst on a self-catering break where they will be rewarded with fantastic views of the rolling countryside of the Dorset Downs and Chesil Beach.
Many of the tales surrounding Langton Herring help to make this a fascinating place for a cottage break. The local village pub, the Elm Tree Inn, has its share of chequered history. It is thought that a sealed cellar in the pub was used for storing contraband by local smugglers. And a beam in the pub is from where a fisherman, deceiving his colleagues over the size of a catch, was hung in 1780, following a chase through the village. Much of the fishing these days is done from the beach by anglers, who while away the hours in peace and solitude.
Between Chesil beach and the mainland lies the Fleet Lagoon. This is a protected nature reserve, home to many species of wildlife and marine life. The Fleet is the largest saline lagoon in the UK and can be seen close up by taking a trip on the Fleet Observer, glass bottomed boat. The whole beach and lagoon can also be viewed from the South West Coastal Path.
West of Langton Herring is the picture postcard village of Abbotsbury, well worth a visit whilst on a self-catering holiday in this part of the West Country. For over 600 years the village has been home to a swannery that is now considered to be one of the best tourist attractions in Dorset. Established by Benedictine monks in the 11th century, who farmed swans for food, the Abbotsbury swannery is the free-flying base for hundreds of swans, who nest, feed and breed there. It is a wonderful sight as the birds glide in to land on the water, or take off with a swish of their huge wings. It’s also a remarkable sight at feeding times, so aim to be there at 12 noon or 4pm. There are access points to the Chesil beach along its stretch to West Bay and in between you pass through more picturesque villages and take in some stunning views of both sea and countryside.
What Langton Herring offers for Cottage Breaks
For a peaceful self-catering getaway where you can enjoy some fantastic coastal scenery and country landscapes, a holiday in or near Langton Herring is hard to beat. Whether you are interested in romantic cottages, pet-friendly cottages or family cottages, we hope you have a fantastic time in Dorset.
Book a Langton Herring cottage and look forward to discovering some of the best of Dorset on holiday.
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