Dominey's Yard

Think Dorset, think the chocolate-box villages in the swathe between Sherborne and Dorchester, as handy for country walks as for the nearby Jurassic Coast. Buckland Newton is typical – a pretty thatched village with a well-stocked shop and a cutely named pub, the Gaggle of Geese – and it's the location of four lovely adjoining cottages that make a brilliant base for couples and small families. Owners Nigel and Adele certainly saw the potential in what were formerly rundown farm workers' cottages at Dominey's Yard, and they followed through with an inventive conversion that has grafted a chic, rustic style onto the cosy interiors.

Poacher's, Gamekeeper's and Woodcutter's cottages all sleep four in two bedrooms (one double, one twin), sharing one house bathroom and a downstairs loo; Gardener's Cottage has an extra bedroom that can be configured as either, and the master bedroom is en-suite. Brick fireplaces downstairs, low beams and winding staircases all tip a wink to the original layouts, but the poor old farm workers never got to enjoy quite so much comfort, from handsome fitted kitchens and Nespresso machines to smart bathrooms and soft, coordinated furnishings. There's nothing cottagey and cluttered about the rooms and decor – light and airy are the watchwords here. A woodburner keeps things toasty (though there's central heating too), while each cottage comes with private patio and barbecue. Outside in the landscaped grounds, the feel is almost rural France, with a beautifully tended country garden, a heated outdoor pool (in use from May to September), children's play area and garden games. And if you want homegrown fruit and veg from the kitchen garden, or homemade cakes cooked to order, you only have to ask.

As for the surroundings, this really is the heart of Dorset, with the abbey town of Sherborne to the north and the historic county town, Dorchester, to the south. Closer is the Cerne Abbas giant, Britain's largest chalk hill-figure, or any number of gorgeous villages from Bockhampton (Thomas Hardy's birthplace) to cottage-and-cobblestone Shaftesbury (where they filmed the old Hovis bread advert). The dramatic coastline is only 20 miles away too – a great day out for families and coastal path walkers alike.