Dorset House

About Dorset House

Dorset House is a small boutique bed and breakfast a short walk up from the centre of Lyme Regis, run at a level of care that has brought it a shelf of awards - four wins as best B&B in the Dorset Tourism Awards, a national best breakfast title from the AA, and recognition from the Good Hotel Guide. It is a handsome house, decorated with restraint: pale walls, good linen, contemporary art and none of the clutter that often comes with the format.

There are only a handful of bedrooms, which is deliberate. Each is individually designed, with proper beds, well-fitted bathrooms, and views towards the sea or the hills behind the town. Details are thought through - decent toiletries, real milk, sensible lighting, space to unpack - and the whole house is quiet in the evenings.

Breakfast is the reason many people book. It is cooked to order from a written menu and might include hand-roasted coffee, slow-reared local bacon and sausages, homemade granola, honey-baked figs or a tofu scramble, finished with flapjacks or freshly baked sourdough. Vegetarians and vegans are catered for as thoroughly as anyone else. Hosts are helpful with restaurant bookings and walking advice without hovering.

The position works well for exploring the Jurassic Coast. The Cobb, the beach and the fossil shops are downhill and close, Charmouth's fossil beaches are ten minutes by car, and the coast path runs east towards Golden Cap and west into Devon. This suits couples and solo travellers who would rather have a very well-run small house than a large hotel, and who care about what turns up on the breakfast table. Rooms are limited, so book early for summer and half term.