Barn Owls Cottage
30153.6 miles E of Bridport / Sleeps 6 + cot*
7 Nights from £595
The location of attractions is intended only as a guide. Distances are 'as the crow flies'.
Nearest pub
The Spyway Inn (¼ mile)
A traditional English country pub with amazing views of the Dorset countryside. Locals, walkers and cyclists are made very welcome and it's the perfect place for refreshments after a climb up nearby Eggardon Hill. Bring your dog, they are welcome too.
August 2021
Friendly local pub with great garden
Went here three times on holiday. Very friendly free house with good range of beers, simple but great menu and lovely garden with little pods. Worth booking ahead
Mrs Hammersley August 2017
Wonderful food and a very friendly welcome.
Ms Neufeld July 2017
Spyway Inn
Pretty Garden, good food and drinks! The owners are very friendly!
Mrs Walker September 2011
Good pub food with good service.
Mrs Alexander June 2011
Excellent food - idyllic setting.
If you feel like a something to eat in an idyllic setting away from everything, then this is the place to go. The food is excellent, not expensive and the menu caters for practically everyone - I say 'practically' everyone because there is always that one person for whom it won't! For us though, this is certainly an Inn that we shall be returning to.
Mrs Scammell July 2009
A freehouse with excellent pub food. The pub garden has won the Best Small Pub Garden and has lovely views. Family run over a number of years, it's well worth a visit.
Nearest beach
Hive Beach (3 ½ miles)
Take in the views and let the salty sea air whip your worries away. Found near Burton Bradstock, Hive Beach is a sweeping sandy strip backed by regal golden cliffs. With parking nearby and a celebrated café, Hive Beach is a lovely destination for a day's wandering and relaxing. Eagle-eyed visitors may even be so lucky to spot some fossils hidden along the beach.
March 2020
Fantastic waves,
This beach, even on a windy march day was spectacular and blew away the cobwebs and was very invigorating. Food in the Hive Cafe was great too.
Helen August 2010
Hive Beach Cafe serves superb food suitable for all the family from an informal premises right on the beach. Get there early as it's very popular, but even when busy the service is usually reasonably quick.
Mrs Evans July 2009
Brilliant place; so popular you may have to wait! Food is more top-class restaurant quality than cafe.
Nearest walk
Eggardon Hill (1 ½ miles)
Crowned with the ramparts of an Iron Age hill fort, Eggardon affords king-of-the-castle-views across the Dorset countryside. There are two Bronze Age burial mounds here too.
See the skies above Eggardon Hill alive with colour at the annual Eggerdon Kite Festival, held here in September.
Ms Raffle-Edwards September 2020
Beautiful at sunset!
We like ancient history, so perhaps if you don't you might not find this place as fascinating, but it is beautiful at sunset and the views across Dorset out to see are absolutely stunning!
Helen March 2011
This hillfort is easily accessible from the road and provides fantastic panoramic views of the coastline of Lyme Bay, and inland over the Marshwood Vale.
Nearest town
Bridport (3 ½ miles)
A busy and thriving market town, Bridport is one of the most popular gateways to the Jurassic Coast. The town still has three weekly markets, including a farmer’s market. Shopping in Bridport reveals its strong arts and crafts heritage. Bridport lies just inland from West Bay, with a gorgeous sweep of sandy beach and a pretty harbour that perfectly complement Bridport’s charms.
October 2021
Bridport
Great market town with lots of coffee shops and bakeries.In town parking a bonus .
Particularly liked the green yard cafe and Leakers bakery .
Also nearby
Hive Beach Cafe (3 ¼ miles)
This beach café right by the sea on Chesil Bank bagged the Coast magazine award for Best Coastal Café, Pub or Restaurant 2009. Local fish and shellfish are specialities.
Mrs Scott October 2021
Hive
Went for lunch ,the team manager was excellent at keeping everyone informed of the wait time and we were quickly seated .Food was quickly served and tasty .
The view of the beach is the wonderful.
May 2013
Car park free if you are with NT.
Cafe packed so just had coffee and cake. Beautiful beach
Mr Ayres June 2012
The service was good and friendly - the system works extremely well. The food was delicious. An enjoyable experience even on a rather damp day.
Mrs Walker September 2011
Excellent seafood and cakes. Only open for dinner on Friday and Saturday evenings from early September.
Marie
Mrs Evans August 2009
More restaurant quality than cafe - terrific place.
The Marquis of Lorne (1 ¾ miles)
This 16th Century country inn serves excellent food and real ales. There is a children’s play area and walkers will find The Marquis also makes a good starting point for walks up the famous Eggardon Hill, where there are the remains of an Iron Age fort and Bronze Age burial mounds, as well as great views across the Dorset countryside and coast.
Helen August 2010
A warm welcome
We eat there whenever we are too tired to cook at home! Always a warm welcome and a tasty meal.
The George Inn (6 miles)
Enjoy a (not so) swift pint by the cosy log fire in winter or out in the patio garden in summer at this 17th Century thatched country inn. Lunch and dinner menus include locally sourced seafood and meats. You can enjoy a locally brewed pint of Palmers ale while the kids play on the giant Jenga. Booking is advisable in summer.
Mr Selby October 2021
Good food and excellent service.
Well maintained pub with excellent food and service. The decor is attractive and spacious.
Mr Marsland September 2019
Great food
Great food and friendly staff
Mrs Butler September 2017
The George
Welcoming pub, tasty food. dogs are accommodated in bar areas. Advised to book for Sun lunch.
Mr Grainger August 2016
Superb!
The first thing that strikes you about the George is the friendly welcome from the staff nothing is too much trouble, they welcome dogs with open arms.
The food is excellent and good value for money and the Palmers' ales are a delight, be brave and try the "georgeous" ploughman's it is huge and gorgeous!
Mrs Walker September 2011
Excellent pub food. Thursday night is pizza night and its advisable to book.
Mrs Penney January 2009
welcoming with excellent food
Often in the area and find the George welcoming and reliable for a good meal, be it a bar snack or something more substantial, highly recemmended.
January 2009
Sunday Roast at The George
After a breathtaking walk along the spectacular Jurassic Coast on a Sunday afternoon there is nothing more needed than a fabulous Sunday roast. We were a little late in arriving at The George however and when everywhere else had turned us away The George were very friendly and provided a well needed refuel stop before continuing our walk. Traditional and cosy atmosphere, in a pretty thatched pub, good food, beer and service.
November 2008
Great all-rounder
Great food served here, with a huge choice to choose from and a good selection of Palmers ales. The staff and proprietor are very friendly and make you feel very welcome. As well as the bar/drinking area and restaurant there is a lovely snug with an open fire for cooler days/nights. Would definitely recommend.
Ant Hill Trail (2 ¾ miles)
Venture through meadows and pastures, across streams and up sunken lakes along the 6km trail from South Poorton Nature Reserve to Loscombe Nature Reserve in the countryside near Bridport. Keep an eye out for foxes, deer and buzzards, as well as the ant hills that gave the trail its name.
Visit The Dorset Wildlife Trust website for more Nature Reserve walks in the area.
Helen January 2010
Ant Hill Trail
This fascinating nature trail runs through the grounds of Marlpitts Farmhouse so is easily accessed from the property
Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens (5 ½ miles)
Planted as a kitchen garden in 1765 by the first Countess of Ilchester, today Abbotsbury Gardens bring together rare and exotic plants from all over the world. Scintillate your senses with a visit to the world famous camellia groves and magnolias, enjoy a sedate stroll in the walled gardens or go wild for the stunning woodland valley views. The BBC's Alan Titchmarsh declared them to be 'one of the finest gardens I have ever visited'. See for yourself. If it leaves your green fingers itching for some action, you can choose from a superb range of quality plants at the Specialist Plant Nursery.
Mrs Hayes October 2021
Abbotsbury subtropical gardens
Beautiful gardens even in autumn, foliage variations amazing, well worth a visit and looking forward to a return visit at a different time of year
Mrs Rees August 2012
Abbotsbury Sub-Tropical Gardens
20 acres of beautiful gardens with many exotic and tropical plants. Viewing point to Chesil Beach. Cafe. Beautiful gardens to wander round, full of colour and wonderful plants. Had a lovely lunch in the cafe. Near the village of Abbotsbury which is worth a stop to.
March 2009
The gardens are lovely and include bridges, ponds and a sculpture trail. A very colourful day out with lots of pretty plants and flowers to look at.
February 2009
The Swannery and the Children's Farm are also worth a visit. At the farm, there is goat racing, pony riding and a soft play area for children.
September 2008
Brighten up Your Day
Even on a dull day, these subtropical gardens were a riot of colour -guaranteed to brighten up your day. If you are in the area for a few days, and especially if you have children, it's worth getting a Passport Ticket. This allows you to visit all three attractions at Abbotsbury - the gardens, swannery and children's farm - for a very reasonable price.
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