Symondsbury is an attractive village that is surrounded by hilly countryside. Tucked away near to the celebrated Colmer’s Hill it is the perfect location for a country cottage holiday, close to the Jurassic coast and the town of Bridport.
Hints and Tips on Cottage Holidays in Symondsbury
This sleepy little village is all country lanes and sandstone buildings and is a charming place for a self-catering break. Set in an area of outstanding natural beauty, Symondsbury has a pub, the Ilchester Arms that dates back to the 15th century. Its oak beams and open fireplace extend a very warm welcome to visitors and comprehensive restaurant or bar meal menus are available to you on those evenings you decide to eat out whilst on holiday.
Steeped in mystery, Symondsbury is also a fascinating place in which to take a self-catering break. The small river Simene runs through the village and in medieval times people would come from all over to bathe their eyes in the water, believed to have healing powers. This activity is now not recommended. The site of Whitchurch Canonicorum was also believed to be a place with special healing powers.
Colmer’s Hill, a significant landmark in the area has a long history, back to the 11th century and still retains a sense of mystery. If you like to keep active on a cottage break why not take a walk up the hill? There is a footpath available to guide you up. At the top you will be rewarded with fantastic views of the surrounding countryside. The hill, that is visible for miles around, takes its name from a resident family during the 17th to 19th centuries. Pine trees on the summit were planted during the First World War. The hill is extremely popular with visiting artists and photographers.
Also adding to the Symondsbury’s country charm are the numerous orchards around here. Excellent apples grow in this part of the West Country and in 1839 there were 100 acres of orchard in the parish of Symondsbury. Today the village still has several orchards and two cider presses.
Just a couple of miles from Symondsbury and you’re on the coast. There are a number of pleasant beaches in Lyme Bay, the nearest of which is West Bay. West Bay has two beaches bisected by the river Brit plus a small harbour. To the west are Eype, Seatown,
Charmouth and the resort of
Lyme Regis. The Jurassic Coast is famous for its fossils and along this stretch fossil hunting is widespread. A centre at Charmouth provides advice and education on the hobby and also organises guided fossil walks. Learning about fossils can be a great activity for families and couples alike.
Just over a mile away from Symondbury is the market town of Bridport. As well as having a wide-ranging shopping area the town holds markets twice a week so you can source all your fresh good quality food there for your cottage break. Bridport is also home to a Tourist Information Centre where you can pick up free leaflets plus talk to helpful staff with a good local knowledge of attractions and activities on offer.
All in all, with a stay in this area of the West Country you can be assured of rest and relaxation but also have plenty of options open to you when it comes to things to see and do. Children and adults alike should find the Jurassic coast fascinating. Those with pets should find plenty of good walks available. Whatever your needs, we feature a great collection of
large cottages,
dog-friendly cottages,
rural cottages in the country and
romantic retreats, we trust that you’ll enjoy browsing through the available choices and hope you have the very best of times on your self-catering break in or near Symondsbury.
Book a Symondsbury cottage and look forward to discovering some of the best of Dorset on holiday.
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