Shop local, shop Beaminster 9 brilliant independent shops, all just a short stroll from the cottage doorstep. No car required. One of the pleasures of staying at Blackbird Cottage is this: you can leave the car where it is and

Bluebell season in Dorset The best walks from Blackbird Cottage There are few things in the English countryside more quietly spectacular than a bluebell wood in full bloom. That particular shade of violet blue, spread across an ancient woodland floor

Why March might be the best time to visit Beaminster Everyone talks about Dorset in summer. The Jurassic Coast in July. The cottage garden in June. And yes all of that is wonderful. But March? March is the quiet secret.

A guide to Dorset’s best snowdrop spots When the calendar turns to early February, West Dorset becomes an ideal destination for anyone who loves nature’s first blooms. Snowdrops (Galanthus), those pretty white blossoms heralding the first hints of spring and

Winter escape to Beaminster – festive magic in West Dorset As the nights start to draw in, now is the perfect time to plan a winter break and the pretty market town of Beaminster should be near the top of

An autumn escape in Dorset: A perfect 3-day itinerary The summer crowds have drifted away, the sea air is crisp, and the countryside bursts into golden colours. The coast is quieter, the woodland richer in colour, and the promise of