The almost uncanny perfection of Lulworth Cove draws thousands of holidaymakers each year, all enticed by this wonderfully round, calm bay and its views of the Dorset coast beyond. Stay at nearby seaside pub hotel Lulworth Cove Inn and you'll get stellar views over this rocky coastline, as well as the chance to escape the crowds with a brisk pre-breakfast stroll round its pebbled edges, or watch the sun set over its waters with an after-dinner pint.
Owned by Dorset-based brewers Hall & Woodhouse, Lulworth Cove Inn's interiors mix old-school pubby charm with plenty of artfully arranged seaside flotsam and jetsam. Upended wooden boats become shelves housing maritime paraphenalia, vintage holiday posters paper the walls, and a cheery aqua and yellow colour scheme extends into the bedrooms upstairs, echoing the hues of the beach that's just a short toddle down the road.
These rooms are all about solid, midcentury-style comfort, with cast iron bedsteads, wicker chairs, and carefully chosen vintage furniture that's a welcome break from other hotels' standard issue MDF. Still, there's enough freshness to stop it feeling fusty, with breezy colour palettes and whimsical touches like Roberts Revival radios lodged on the bedside tables and handmade stuffed toys parked on your pillow.
The hefty cooked breakfasts make good hikers' fuel for anyone planning to set off along the Jurassic Coast come sunrise: if you can't stomach a full English, there are welcome lighter alternatives like granola bowls or baked eggs. Packed with pub classics, the evening dining options are solidly traditional rather than wildly inspiring (fish & chips, steak, and shepherd's pie all feature) but by the time dinner rolls round, you may be too glutted on ice creams, Cornish pasties and summer sun to care.
Neighbourhood
The village of West Lulworth is little more than a long line of idyllic thatched cottages clustered round the road to the sea, but that won't stop you reaching for your camera every few metres. The prettiest bits? Implausibly small sweet shop The Doll's House, with its historic display about the seafaring family who once filled its every nook and cranny. The stream that trickles along the road. And, of course, the sudden vistas that open out over the coast beyond.
Nearby
1. The walk to coastal landmark Durdle Door is a must: after you've admired this arch-shaped rock formation, reward yourself with a scoop or two from Lulworth Ice Cream Parlour, which serves up delicious (if pricy) cones of Dorset-inspired flavours like clotted cream or fudge.
2. Salvage a rainy day by sheltering within the formidable seventeenth century stone walls of Lulworth Castle, and exploring its eccentric collections with the promise of a cream tea afterwards.
3. Don't miss out on sinking a pint at The Weld Arms, a historic coaching inn with an ambitious, seafood-heavy menu.
Time Out tip
Serious swimmers and decadent types alike will want to score one of the rooms with a clawfoot bathtub at the foot of the bed: perfect for soothing aching muscles or rinsing the salt water from your hair.
