Welcome to our August 2025 Newsletter – Week 2!
Summer is in full, glorious swing here in Dorset – golden afternoons, garden picnics, and long country walks have made this past week yet another one to remember! And with the countryside bursting with colour and charm, we’ve got some wonderful highlights to share with you.
This week’s gallery offers a few fleeting glimpses into recent stays – those magical little moments that make each guest experience so personal and memorable. We’re also offering a rare opportunity to join us this August at 30% off (subscriber special) – just one booking available for this tailor-made escape.
Our latest featured excursion takes you to a garden that changed the face of English gardening forever – and our Week in Dorset takes a fascinating turn with the unearthing of secrets beneath Cerne Abbey. There’s more local magic too, with village hall surprises just down the lane, and a look at Dorset’s rich literary legacy, from Hardy to Austen and beyond.
Away we go..!
Glimpses of the good life
Every stay brings its own special memories – and we love looking back at the little moments that make each visit unique. Our latest gallery captures just a couple of glimpses of the English Cottage Vacation experience.
THIS COULD BE YOU – REACH OUT NOW!
Last minute opportunity: 30% off late summer escape
August 28 – September 1, 2025 – 4 Nights
Enjoy the very best of the English countryside with a tailor-made, all-inclusive getaway in your own private 18th-century thatched cottage. With just one last-minute booking available, this is a rare opportunity to experience English Cottage Vacation at an exclusive 30% discount (for subscribers).
Now from just $2,887 USD / 🇨🇦 $4,130 CAD per person!
(Up to 6 guests welcome)
Your stay includes:
- 24/7 VIP hosted service by resident hosts Nathan & Laura
- Private chef, chauffeur, and fully personalised itinerary
- All meals, drinks, transfers, and activities included
Looking for a vacation that’s completely built around you? We don’t do generic tours – we craft unforgettable countryside escapes, made to match your pace and passions. Whether it’s grand stately homes and secret gardens or spa treatments and seaside strolls, every detail is taken care of.
ENQUIRE NOW BEFORE IT’S GONE – CLICK HERE!
The week in Dorset: Secrets beneath the abbey
Just beneath the chalky soil of Cerne Abbas – at the foot of the hill where the famous Cerne Abbas Giant has stood for centuries – archaeologists are continuing to uncover remarkable secrets from the past. The site of Cerne Abbey, founded in 987 AD, is revealing more of its long-lost story thanks to a major excavation effort led by Dr Hugh Willmott of Sheffield University.
The latest discoveries include the remains of a medieval abbot’s hall, later transformed into a glazing workshop for melting lead used in windows. Previous digs revealed an intact burial, fragments of medieval pottery, and evidence of dormitories where monks once lived – some dating back to before the Norman Conquest.
Adding to the atmosphere, visitors to the site this summer saw blacksmith Will Sherman forging replica medieval knives from centuries-old nails unearthed in the dig – a hands-on glimpse into the craftsmanship of the time. With international students and local volunteers taking part, it’s a fascinating reminder that Dorset’s deep history is always close at hand… often just beneath your feet.
Our Cerne Abbas excursion is a favourite among guests, and for good reason. Just over half an hour from Well Cottage, it combines rich history, village charm, and a touch of cheeky folklore. You’ll visit the towering Cerne Abbas Giant, whose origins remain a mystery (some say Iron Age, others a 17th-century satire) and enjoy sweeping views over Dorset’s hills. Nathan will chauffeur you there in comfort, while Laura will have prepared a beautiful gourmet picnic to enjoy beneath the gaze of Britain’s most famous chalk figure. Local cider, great food, and a few laughs are guaranteed – it’s English countryside storytelling at its best!
EXPLORE ALL OUR EXCURSIONS – CLICK HERE
Featured excursion: A garden that started a movement
Tucked away in the Somerset countryside and just right for a leisurely day trip from Well Cottage, East Lambrook Manor Garden is a true hidden gem – and a must for lovers of English gardens.
Created by pioneering gardening writer Margery Fish between 1938 and 1969, this one-and-a-half-acre space is now world-famous as the birthplace of the English cottage garden style. Fish, with no formal gardening experience, transformed a derelict farmyard into a painterly patchwork of plants – a living legacy now protected as a Grade I listed garden. With winding paths, densely planted borders, and artfully informal areas like the Terraces, Silver Garden and Woodland Garden, the space feels far larger than it is, and endlessly full of inspiration.
Visit in spring or summer and you’ll find the garden at its most spectacular – a riot of colour and scent, home to notable collections of snowdrops, hellebores and geraniums. Partial wheelchair access makes exploring possible for most visitors, and Nathan will of course happily chauffeur you there and back in executive comfort.
Love English gardens? You’ll want to take a look at our recently added 7-night English Gardens Tour – a beautifully curated set itinerary for guests who want to explore the very best estate gardens in the region, with every detail taken care of!
EXPLORE OUR GARDENS OF ENGLAND ITINERARY – CLICK HERE
Local area focus: Just down the lane…
Just a stone’s throw from Well Cottage, Fontmell Magna Village Hall offers a surprising range of activities – from Dru Yoga and Pilates to Stott Pilates Matwork with props, and even Taekwondo for adults and children aged six and up.
It’s a half‑hour stroll through peaceful countryside lanes, a breezy six‑minute cycle (bikes provided, of course), or – easiest of all – Nathan will gladly chauffeur you there and back!
The village also boasts its own all-weather tennis courts, and we’ll supply everything you need, from racquets and balls to refreshments!
Need to nip to the shops? Unlikely – this is a truly all-inclusive escape – but just in case, Fontmell Magna’s Village Shop & Post Office is well stocked and nearby. And should you wish to send a postcard home, we’ll happily post it for you. Everything is taken care of – but it’s always nice to know what’s close at hand!
BEGIN YOUR COTTAGE JOURNEY – CLICK HERE!
Did you know? Dorset’s literary legacy
Illustration of Thomas Hardy at his writing desk
Dorset’s timeless landscapes – with their rolling hills, lush lanes, and dramatic coastline – have long inspired generations of writers. Several literary greats found creative fuel in this remarkable corner of England.
Enid Blyton drew a great deal of inspiration from Dorset, particularly for her beloved Famous Five series. Many of the fictional locations in those stories were directly based on real Dorset places (next week, we’ll go into more detail on these!).
Jane Austen set important scenes of Persuasion in Lyme Regis, with the seaside town playing a central role in her final novel. T. E. Lawrence – better known as Lawrence of Arabia – made Dorset his home, with his peaceful retreat at Clouds Hill still open to visitors. John Fowles, author of The French Lieutenant’s Woman, lived in Lyme Regis and used its rugged atmosphere as a backdrop for the novel. William Barnes, Dorset’s own dialect poet, celebrated local life and language through verse. And John Cowper Powys, though raised elsewhere, made Dorset the setting and inspiration for many of his Wessex novels.
Closer to home, Thomas Hardy’s Cottage, nestled in the Dorset countryside near Higher Bockhampton, is just 30 minutes from Well Cottage. Hardy was born there in 1840, in the thatched cottage built by his great-grandfather. Still preserved in its original condition and now cared for by the National Trust, the house offers a rare glimpse into the early life of one of England’s most iconic writers.
Well Cottage itself sits in the heart of Hardy country, overlooking the same lush green hills that inspired his fictional Wessex.
On your return from our Jurassic Coast excursion, we can stop off at Thomas Hardy’s Cottage to wind back in time and imagine him sitting here, pen in hand, shaping stories such as Far from the Madding Crowd that would go on to become enduring classics.
Laura’s letting you in on her cottage kitchen secrets!
From leisurely breakfasts to celebratory feasts, Laura’s most-loved dishes have long been the heart of every stay. Now, her complete recipe collection is available to download and enjoy in your own home!
With over 80 beautifully curated recipes – each one steeped in Dorset charm – this delightful cookbook invites you to recreate the flavours, warmth, and stories of English Cottage Vacation wherever you are.
Whether you’re a seasoned cook or a weekend dabbler, you’ll find simple pleasures, showstopping favourites, and lashings of delicious surprises tucked inside.
Just £30 – and perfect as a gift or treat for yourself!
P.S. Keep an eye out for next week’s newsletter… Laura will be sharing a scrumptious recipe that’s one of her personal favourites!
DOWNLOAD LAURA’S RECIPE BOOK – CLICK HERE!
Simply stay subscribed and you could
be our next picnic basket winner!
Picnic setup at Kingston Lacy – 0ne of our many idyllic excursion locations
This month, yet another newsletter subscriber will be treated to a classic English picnic basket! This gorgeous prize is handwoven from steamed willow, trimmed with leather, and thoughtfully stocked with all the essentials – from fine china and wine glasses to a cosy tartan blanket.
It’s everything you need for a romantic ramble or a sun-dappled lunch beneath the trees.
Want to spread the joy? Share this free sign-up link with friends and family – anyone who subscribes will be entered too. CLICK HERE!
Essential information: Where peace of mind begins
Durdle Door on the Jurassic Coast – another one of our fabulous excursion destinations
Planning your stay with English Cottage Vacation is never something you have to figure out on your own. We’re here to make every step feel as effortless as your time at Well Cottage.
These quick links offer instant answers to common questions – but remember, we’re always just a message or call away if you’d prefer to talk things through:
