Benville Cottage

Near Corscombe, Dorset

Benville Cottage, an historic Grade II Listed 17th Century detached property with a charming thatched roof and a wealth of period features, restored to a very high standard. Benville remains the small unspoilt hamlet that Thomas Hardy described in the 1800's. You will still find the pub described by Hardy and the cottage where Tess was to have stayed in nearby Evershot. The cottage itself is on Benville Lane, the very lane that Tess of the D'Urbeville walked along on her journey from Beaminster to Evershot.

The characterful sitting room features exposed beams and a unique stone wall carving of a King discovered during the cottage renovation, along with an inglenook fireplace with wood burning stove. A beautiful hand-made kitchen features an Aga, flagstone floors and a vaulted beamed ceiling. Outside, guests can enjoy 3Ú4 of an acre of enclosed garden with views on to open countryside.

Comprising a dozen or so houses and cottages, the hamlet of Benville is an ideal base for touring West Dorset and Thomas Hardy country. Two miles to the east lies Evershot, with its award winning pub, The Acorn and an outstanding restaurant, The Summer Lodge. In nearby Beaminster, you'll find a traditional market town selling excellent local produce alongside tea rooms, pubs and restaurants. 10 miles to the south is the market town of Bridport and the fishing port of West Bay. This stretch of Jurassic - World Heritage - coastline boasts the stunning beaches of Burton Bradstock, Lyme Bay and Chesil Beach, as well as the Abbotsbury Swannery and Tropical Garden. The area is popular with walkers, cyclists and horse riders and if youÕve had your fill of prehistoric sites, the county town of Dorchester is 10 miles to the South East where the Dorset County Museum has a good collection of locally found artefacts.

• Pets Allowed
• Baby Friendly
• Pub Nearby