Dorset Coastal Escape

Far-reaching coastal views make Worth Matravers one of Purbeck's most sought-after villages. A footpath outside this Grade II-listed cottage takes you straight to Windspit Cove and less than a mile away you can join the South West Coast Path. Swanage and historic Corfe Castle are less than 4 miles away, the beautiful sands of Studland Bay are 6 miles away and the iconic landmarks Durdle Door and Lulworth Cove are 16 miles west. The cottage itself sits in the heart of the village amongst pretty Purbeck stone cottages. It is metres away from the famous Square and Compass pub which hosts weekly live music, has been in every edition of CAMRA’s Good Beer Guide since 1974, and is home to a miniature fossil museum. The village green has a large duck pond and a tea room selling homemade cakes, pastries, hot soups and quiches, plus bread, eggs and tomatoes.

Built with Purbeck Stone and less than 20 metres from the village green, this chocolate-box cottage has kerb appeal aplenty. Step through the front door and you're straight into the first of two social spaces, an open-plan living/dining room that stretches across the full width of the property. To one side, the carpeted lounge area has a stone fireplace, original inglenook beam and a wood burner; curl up on your choice of sofa to watch TV or choose a book from the shelves close by. A rustic dining suite sits on the other side of the room, conveniently close to the doorway and a couple of steps that lead up and into the kitchen. An island unit with bar-style seating is central to the contemporary styling of this setting, which is full of light thanks to large windows and a door onto the lower garden terrace. Another door from here leads into the family bathroom, where there's both a bath and a shower for convenience. A second door from the dining area reveals the original 17th-century box staircase; ascend to the first floor and you'll find two bedrooms – a king-size with its own washbasin, and a twin – plus a separate WC. Nearby, the sunroom – your second social space – has a choice of soft seating and a door onto the upper garden terrace.

The windows in the lounge and dining room overlook a lovely green open space at the front of the cottage. Open up the top of the stable door for a waft of fresh air and watch the world go by. To the rear of the property, the terraced garden is mostly paved, surrounded by stone walls and has outdoor furniture plus seasonal planting. A gate leads onto the lane at the side of the cottage, just a few metres away there's a garage where you can park one car, with space for another next to it.