High Quality Self Catering Holiday Accommodation in Chideock, Dorset

The Local Area

The Loft is located in the centre of the village so all your immediate needs are well catered for.

There are two pubs only a stones throw from the apartment and a post office and general store close by.

CHIDEOCK - A brief history........

Chideock, about 3 miles west of Bridport, is an attractive, clean village, with picturesque cottages built in local stone. The old lords of the manor were the de Chideocks, whose castle, built by John de Chideock in 1379, was laid in ruins after the great Rebellion by Colonel Ceeley, Governor of Lyme. Only part of the moat remains, although considerable portions of the castle were standaing as late as 1733.

The site of the castle is at the far end of Ruins Lane, behind The Loft apartment. There is no doubt that the position of the village and its castle, on the main road from Lyme to Bridport, caused it to suffer severly during the Civil War, for the holders of Chideock Castle held the main lines of communication and could head off any troops send to the relief of Lyme. Hard and prolonged as was the fighting round the seaport, it was probably still more severe at Chideock, which constantly changed hands, being held alternately by Parliamentarians and Royalists, the latter losing over two thousand men at Chideock and Lyme.

BRIDPORT - 3 miles East

The market town of Bridport is only five minutes drive or bus ride away with many more types of restaurants, pubs, coffee places. There are street markets on Wednesday and Saturdays and unlike many high streets still has a large variety of independent retailers.

WEST BAY - 4.5 miles East

West Bay nestles between Eype the west and Burton Bradstock to the east. Situated at the western end of Chesil Beach / Chesil Bank, the area forms part of the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site within Lyme Bay. West Bay is a wonderful seaside location for family holidays, countryside and coastal walks, fossil hunting, fishing/angling trips, scuba diving, paragliding, golfing, river boating and so much more.

CHARMOUTH - 4.5 miles West

Charmouth with its sandy beach, is world famous for the fossils formed within Jurassic rocks 200 million years ago, and now being revealed as the cliffs erode in massive landslips.

BURTON BRADSTOCK - 6 miles East

At the westerly end of Chesil Beach, nestling in the beautiful Bride Valley where the river Bride wends its way to the sea, lies Burton Bradstock, a pretty village of some 1,000 residents. Today, the heart of the village is still unspoilt with pretty 16th. and 17th. century thatched cottages clustered around the church of St. Mary the Virgin.

LYME REGIS -- 7.5 miles West

Lyme Regis is an historic unspoiled seaside resort and fishing port on the world famous Cobb harbour. Surrounded by beautiful coastlines and countryside, the area has now been awarded World Heritage Site Status; famous for its geology and fossil finds.

AXMINSTER - 10 miles West

Axminster, is a pleasant, Devon market town that has charm and character. The town has many interesting and attractive streets radiating out from the town square and the Minster church of St Nicholas.

Axminster is linked in history to the carpet that bears its name. The carpet industry was started in 1755, by Thomas Whitty whose factory produced the highest quality, custom made carpets for the country's stately homes and mansion houses.

ABBOTSBURY - 12.5 miles East

Abbotsbury is a beautiful Dorset Village which still retains a great deal of charm. As well as walking around the village and outlying fields there are also the following attractions:

The Swannery - For over 600 years this colony of friendly mute swans has made its home at the Abbotsbury Sanctuary. Sheltered by the famous Chesil Beach, this ancient and special site provides protection for hundreds of nesting swans and their broods.

The Tropical Gardens - Developed into a magnificent 20 acre garden filled with rare and exotic plants from all over the world.

DORCHESTER - 18 miles East

Dorchester is a great place to browse and shop. Most of the shops are centrally located, in pedestrianised areas. You’ll find big names and little boutiques.

History is all around you in Dorchester from Iron Age dwellings at Maiden Castle and Poundbury Camp, to the Roman amphitheatre at Maumbury Rings and mosaic-floored town house and chronicles in the Domesday Book.

Dorchester is deep in the heart of Thomas Hardy’s Wessex. Hardy based many of his novels on Dorset and ‘Casterbridge’ is based on Hardy’s home town of Dorchester.

WEYMOUTH - 22 miles East

Weymouth and Portland have a history stretching back to the 12th century, with the area playing a part in the Black Death, the settlement of the Americas, the Georgian Era, and World War II.

Whilst fishing and trading in the port has declined in importance since its peak in earlier centuries, tourism has had a strong presence in the town since the 18th century. Weymouth continues to be a popular tourist resort, and the town's successful economy depends on its harbour and the beaches of Weymouth Bay. Weymouth is a gateway town situated approximately half-way along the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site