Cosy up in a home-from-home holiday cottage in the beautiful Isle of Purbeck’s only seaside town – stay in a luxury beach-side apartment for a relaxing and restorative break, a large Victorian property to spend time with the whole family, or keep it cheap with budget accommodation for a seaside staycation with friends.
Whether you’re planning a weekend getaway in the heart of town where everything including cafés, the local theatre & cinema, and of course Swanage Beach are all within walking distance, or if you’re looking for a sprawling country house with a pool just outside town that the extended family can enjoy, there are plenty of options in Swanage and the surrounding environs of Purbeck.
Stay on a farm with small children, where you can meet the animals and wake up to freshly-laid eggs, like at Knaveswell Farm; hire a holiday cottage adjoining a campsite, such as at Norden Farm giving you the flexibility to cater to different family members’ needs; or stay in a more unique property for a truly memorable holiday – there are lighthouses, Tuscan towers, safari glamping tents, and secluded shepherd huts and woodland cabins dotted around Purbeck. You can even stay in an old railway carriage – perfect if you’re here to visit the iconic Swanage attraction of the heritage railway.
Many holiday cottages in the area are family-run, giving you the peace of mind of a home-from-home experience, with knowledgeable owners often on hand to give you the low-down on the area or provide helpful hints on where to explore first. Some holiday lets are part of a larger complex, such as Swanage Bay View Holiday Park, and come with plenty of on-site amenities, like a heated swimming pool, gym and bar. Ulwell Holiday Park also has an indoor pool, and at Swanage Coastal Park, just next door to the Bay View you can book a static caravan with a hot tub on your private decking, so you can soak up the evening sun whilst overlooking the beautiful Purbeck Hills.
Book your seaside escape
Holiday rentals in and around Swanage are hugely popular during peak seasons such as summer and school holidays, as well as during annual local festivals, which see visitors returning year-on-year, so to help you find and book your perfect self-catering break in this special part of the Dorset countryside, we’ve compiled a list of some of the best local and national sites offering fantastic sea-view holiday lets and countryside escapes in Purbeck:
Local, Dorset-based holiday letting agencies
Whether you’re looking for your next seaside escape or are interested in letting your property with ease through a holiday lettings agent these knowledgeable local companies are the best place to start:
Swanage Holiday Properties
This local holiday letting agency, with offices based in Swanage, has a range of properties with sea and bay views, as well as accommodation within town.
Swanage Holiday Properties has been creating memorable experiences for visitors to Swanage since 2001, and has a good choice of holiday bungalows, sea view lodges, holiday houses & flats in town, and apartments overlooking Swanage Bay.
Get in touch
- ℹ️ www.swanagehp.co.uk
- 📥 enquiries@swanagehp.co.uk
- 📞 01929 421525 (lines are generally open between 9am and 2pm Monday – Saturday, with extended Friday & Saturday hours till 5pm during peak season)
Swanage Holiday Cottages
Covering both inland and coastal Purbeck, you’ll find a great range of holiday lets with Swanage Holiday Cottages, with a knowledgeable local team on hand for support.
Search by area, most popular cottages, holiday homes with a garden or close to the beach, and check whether your pet can stay too.
You can also check out their latest special offers for discounted stays.
Check Swanage Holiday Cottages’s Instagram page for swoon-worthy Dorset properties or visit their website to book:
Corfe & Purbeck Holidays
Corfe & Purbeck Holidays have an excellent range of holiday cottages in Corfe, Worth, Langton, Wareham and smaller Purbeck hamlets.
The friendly team can advise you on the best place to stay for your requirements and suggest the ideal holiday home for you and your party.
Contact details
Pop into the office on West Street in Corfe Castle or check their website for last-minute and late availability: www.corfeandpurbeckholidays.com
- 📞 0800 092 3287 / 01929 480050 (Call between 9am – 6pm, Monday to Saturday)
- 📥 info@corfeandpurbeckholidays.com
Dorset Cottage Holidays
Search by area across Purbeck and Dorset to find everything from grand, beachfront houses to romantic, thatched hideaways.
There’s also a 5* filter so you can easily find a place to stay near Swanage with a touch of luxury – expect top-class accommodation and special touches such as a welcome hamper, four-poster bed or hot tub. These exceptional properties have received the quality stamp of approval by Visit Britain.
Dorset Cottage Holidays also has a great range of dog-friendly places to stay in the area, such as Below Decks – prominently situated on Swanage’s seafront Parade, which sleeps six people: dhcottages.co.uk/swanage_parade_holiday_home/, or for a romantic break for two, try Angel Cottage.
(Above pictures courtesy of Dorset Cottage Holidays)
Contact Dorset Cottage Holidays
You can find the Dorset Cottage Holidays team on Corfe Castle village’s East Street or at their Weymouth office.
Explore holiday homes online or give them a call:
- ℹ️ dhcottages.co.uk/holiday_cottages_swanage-studland/
- 📞 01929 481547
- 📥 enq@dhcottages.co.uk
Dorset Coastal Cottages
Dorset Coastal Cottages prides itself on providing visitors with quality holiday lets and apartments by the sea across the county, from Studland Bay and Swanage to Weymouth and Lyme Regis.
Discover and book a holiday cottage by the sea on their website: www.dorsetcoastalcottages.com/swanage-cottages
Dream Cottages
Covering Dorset and parts of Somerset, Dream Cottages has a range of over 300 properties in popular holiday locations, with an office based in the centre of Swanage.
If you scroll to the bottom of the results page you can easily click a filter to narrow your search for that extra special stay, such as holiday homes with a swimming pool or hot tub, a chocolate-box thatched cottage, or find a new festive favourite for winter with a cosy log fire.
Stop by Dream Cottages’ base in the heart of Swanage town, or visit their website and follow their active social media for holiday inspiration and new properties:
Island Cottage Holidays
Specialising in holiday cottages on the Isle of Purbeck and the Isle of Wight, Island Cottage Holidays has a good selection of holiday homes in the Swanage area.
Based just across the water on the Isle of Wight, the team can book your coastal retreat over the phone or simply visit their website:
- 📞 01983 215677
- ℹ️ www.islandcottageholidays.com/purbeck-cottages
National websites hosting Swanage & Purbeck holiday accommodation
-
- Holiday Cottages – Holiday Cottages has a number of local self-catering rentals in and around Swanage, and gives each home a grading out of five, so you can see at a glance what’s right for you. You can also search by style of property and type of stay, such as ‘romantic’, ‘working’, or ‘family friendly’. Explore current available holiday lets on Holiday Cottages’ website: www.holidaycottages.co.uk/holidays/swanage
- Sykes -Regularly awarded the British Tourism Award for Best UK Holiday Cottage/Self Catering Booking Company, Sykes is a national holiday homes and self-catering accommodation site that allows you to search within a certain radius of any area you’re interested in staying in on the Isle of Purbeck www.sykescottages.co.uk/cottages-near-swanage.html
- Airbnb & vrbo – Find unusual places to stay, along with whole houses or simply a room for the night on Airbnb Swanage and vrbo (previously Owners’ Direct): www.vrbo.com
Here’s a snapshot of some of the holiday rentals in and around Swanage – from the modest to the grand, and the family-friendly to the truly unique:
Dog-friendly holiday cottages
Dorset’s very much a log-loving county of England and you’ll not only find accommodation that will make your pup feel as welcome as you, but also many of the local shops, pubs, cafés and galleries.
Search for dog-friendly holiday lets and treat your four-legged friend to his first beach-holiday on the south coast, where many of the coves and bays are dog-friendly and safe for a puppy-paddle.
Most of the above local websites have filters to help you easily find either pet-free or dog-friendly properties in Purbeck, but it’s worth checking these useful national websites too, which specialise in putting your pup first and making sure they’re catered for just as well as their humans:
- 🐾 Pets Pyjamas – One of the most popular UK-based websites for a ‘hound-picked’ holiday, Pets Pyjamas also has a VIP ‘Priority Paws’ loyalty programme, giving you and your pet special perks and discounts. Visit their website to find out more (or just to see hundreds of cute pics of pooches on holiday): www.petspyjamas.com/s/travel/dog-friendly-dorset-swanage
- 🐾 Dog Friendly Cottages – Rated Excellent on Trustpilot, Dog Friendly Cottages does what it says on the tin – simply search by area, number of guests and dates and you’ll be directed to an Airbnb-style listings-plus-map to peruse local holiday homes that are pet-friendly. Explore availability online: www.dogfriendlycottages.co.uk
Holiday park self-catering accommodation
A holiday park can be a happy medium between the rustic adventure of a caravan holiday and the comfort of a high-end holiday let.
With three holiday parks in Swanage to choose from, there’s a good range of options, from budget-friendly to luxurious static caravans with fantastic views.
Ulwell Holiday Park – For a fun-filled holiday by the beach with loads of facilities for the kids, Ulwell Holiday Park is hard to beat, with its indoor heated swimming pool, large playing field and playground equipment, and on-site restaurant and shop (which sells delicious freshly-baked goodies for brunch). Ulwell is a short stroll from the quieter end of Swanage Beach.
Swanage Bay View Holiday Park is popular with families looking for great views, an indoor pool and a handy base for accessing Swanage’s town, cliff walks and beach. The Away Resorts complex’s swimming pool has views down over Swanage Bay, and there’s a well-equipped gym and thriving bar & lounge area.
Swanage Coastal Park– Swanage Coastal Park is right next door to Swanage Bay View and, whilst it doesn’t have all the big facilities of its neighbour, guests are able to use the pool and bar at the Bay View, which are also open to the public. Swanage Coastal Park has breathtaking views across the Purbeck Ridgeway and Swanage Bay and is a short walk or drive into town and down to the beach.
Whilst just outside Purbeck, Sandford Holiday Park is a popular place for families to stay with its great on-site all-inclusive facilities and for its proximity to Purbeck and the Jurassic Coast. It’s just under a half-an-hour drive from Sandford Holiday Park to Swanage, or an easy bus-ride on the No.40 Purbeck Breezer.
Nearby Durdle Door Holiday Parkis a coastal holiday park close to the renowned Durdle Door limestone arch and beach. A summertime bus service (from the end of May) will take you into Swanage from here, or it’s a pretty drive through the Purbeck countryside to explore the rest of the Isle.
Self-catering lodges, glamping and camping pods
If you’re looking for something different for your holiday this year or like to be close to nature, but don’t want to pitch a tent!) there are many unique holiday lodges, shepherd huts and glamping options dotted throughout Purbeck.
Award-winning Burnbake’s forest lodges are nestled within pretty woodland between Corfe Castle and Swanage. They’re fully-equipped and stylishly-decorated, with luxury options coming with a private hot tub.
If you love camping but don’t love lugging all the gear, why not stay at a ready-pitched yurt, bell tent, cosy timber camping pod, or even a fully-equipped safari tent? Try East Creech Farm, Knaveswell, Woodyhyde and Swanage Bijou Camping for a range of rustic self-catering accommodation.
And, while the Lookout Holiday Park in Stoborough (near Wareham) now mainly caters for those with seasonal pitches, they do also offer camping pods for hire from October through to the end of August. Find out more on the Lookout’s website: www.thelookoutholidaypark.co.uk/camping_pods
Before you arrive…
If you’ve booked a holiday cottage in Swanage, be sure to check out all the important local information you might need such as the local supermarkets, pubs & restaurants, local medical information and – perhaps most importantly! – where to grab your buckets & spades and other beach supplies.
There are many pretty villages dotted around Purbeck, as well as spectacular and diverse outdoor spaces to explore on this part of the Jurassic Coast. Activities, festivals and events abound throughout the year, so plan your itinerary to make the most of your trip to Swanage, or check out the local news outlets while you’re here to find out what’s on.
Alternative accommodation
If your chosen location is fully-booked or you want to try a new area or type of holiday in Purbeck this year there are plenty of options for a great holiday to suit all budgets.
Hotels in Swanage & Purbeck
Renting a holiday home can be a more budget-friendly alternative to staying in a hotel, but if you want to treat yourself to a little more luxury and a pamper, or if you have a special occasion to attend, be sure to check out Swanage’s hotels in their prime cliff-top and town locations.
Caravan sites & camping
You might also be interested in the many campsites and caravan sites in Purbeck. There’s a huge range – from simple, ‘wild camping’ sites, such as at Combe Farm in Swanage, to those with fully-serviced luxury pitches and all the on-site facilities you could ask for, like at Wareham Forest Tourist Park, which has a fantastic outdoor swimming pool set in immaculately-maintained grounds.
If you don’t have your own tent or camper van there are some campsites that have glamping pods and pre-pitched bell tents, so all you need to do is pack the car with bedding and holiday supplies and you’re good to go. For a ready-made camping experience try the Swanage Bijou Campsite or Blue Pool Camping.
