The perfect seasonal setting

This traditional thatched cottage - which used to be Cong Cinema, showing films on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and the first place to show The Quiet Man even before it was shown in Hollywood - today provides a relaxed dining experience. With a casual dress code, enjoy international and local dishes inspired by our owner Beatrice Tollman, including our delicious signature dish 'Chicken Peri Peri'. It is slow cooked in our rotisserie oven in the main dining area, so mouth-watering aromas greet you as soon as you enter the restaurant.

At the front of the building you will now discover a beautifully manicured garden and extended patio area, proving a spectacular area to enjoy lunch, sip a cocktail and take in the magnificent views of Ashford Castle in the distance... The perfect place to watch the world go by after a walk through the gardens or a round of golf. Open seasonally, from March through to October, Cullen’s is just a short stroll over the bridge from the castle.

Booking in advance is advisable to avoid disappointment. This restaurant is open to guests and residents staying at the castle but it has limited capacity.

Sherborne

Sherborne is, without doubt, one of the most beautiful towns in England. With its abundance of medieval buildings, Sherborne has much to offer visitors, including a superb 1300-year-old Abbey - an important early example of perpendicular architecture and burial place of two Saxon kings. Sherborne Abbey is one of only 18 churches awarded five stars in Simon Jenkins' England's Thousand Best Churches. The area also features a picturesque Almshouse, two castles and Cheap Street, lined with boutique shops, art galleries, delicatessens and coffee shops. Enjoy lunch at The Pear Tree, a lovely delicatessen and café.

Distance: 11.8 miles
Journey time: 27 minutes

Charmouth

The entire village of Charmouth is a World Heritage Site, and probably the best place to find the fossils constantly being exposed by the mudslides from the cliffs. Hammers are available for hire (alongside the buckets and spades) from the smart heritage centre. Return to Bridport where you could lunch at The Bull Hotel. En route, visit the Golden Cap, the highest point on the south coast. The view from here is, of course, spectacular. Charmouth is also where some scenes from the TV drama ‘Broadchurch’ were filmed.

Distance: 19.5 miles
Journey time: 40 minutes

Abbotsbury

When Henry VIII dissolved the larger monasteries of England, he sold the lands forfeited from the Benedictine monks at Abbotsbury to the predecessors of the Ilchester family for whom Summer Lodge was built as a dower house. Abbotsbury, still owned nearly half a millennium later by the Ilchesters, is well worth a visit. Famous for its swannery, Abbey ruins, St Catherine’s hilltop chapel, tithe barn (now home to a children’s farm) and beautiful town crammed with pubs, coffee shops, antique stores and galleries, one should also visit the sub-tropical gardens and the 18-mile pebble barrier known as Chesil beach.

Distance: 16.1 miles
Journey time: 32 minutes

Forde Abbey mansion from its ornamental pond and formal gardens. Chard, Somerset The Forde Abbey mansion from beside its ornamental pond and formal gardens

Beaminster, Forde Abbey & Lyme Regis

Travelling west from the hotel, head towards Beaminster, a town with a square of over 200 listed buildings. Continue to Forde Abbey, formerly a Cistercian monastery founded in 1141, renowned for its award-winning gardens and still privately owned. From there, travel to the quaint seaside town of Lyme Regis, former home of Jane Austen and the town where ‘The French Lieutenant’s Woman’ was filmed. There you can visit the Harbour Inn, Town Mill (cheesemonger, micro-brewery, art galleries, pottery, knitwear studio and ancient working flour mill) and Dinosaurland. Lunch at the Mill Tea and Dining Room, or Lyme’s Fish Bar for the best fish and chips. Afternoon Tea at the Alexandra Hotel offers spectacular views over Lyme Bay.

Distance: 22.4 miles
Journey time: 46 minutes

Tyneham village evacuated during the war in Dorset,UK

Lawrence of Arabia, Lulworth Cove & Tyneham

T. E. Lawrence’s Cottage, Clouds Hill, was chosen by him because of its proximity to Bovington Camp where he was stationed. Bovington remains an army camp today and is home to the world’s largest Tank Museum. Lulworth is a short drive away, famous for its mock Jacobean Castle (where Emma Thompson’s ‘Nanny McPhee’ was filmed), horseshoe-shaped harbour created about 10 000 years ago and of course, Durdle Door. A motorboat service will take you to Durdle Door by sea from where you can best enjoy this beautiful coastline. Tyneham is also nearby – a deserted and perfectly preserved village in a hidden valley.

Distance: 23 miles
Journey time: 37 minutes

Local cities

Poole

A coastal town in Dorset, Poole's attractions are its award-winning sandy beaches and having the second-largest natural harbour in the world after Sydney, Australia. There is plenty to do and see in Poole, and the harbour's shallow waters make it perfect for water-based activities, including sailing, or fishing. On land, you can visit Brownsea Island, a wildlife sanctuary home to the red squirrel and a large variety of birds. The town centre is also a walkable distance away, perfect for shopping at independent stores and grabbing a bite to eat.

Distance: 36.4 miles
Journey time: 50 minutes

Bath

The largest city in Somerset, Bath is most famous for its Roman-built baths, making it the perfect location for leisurely pursuits and wellness. For this reason alone, it is one of the most popular cities visited by tourists every year. Bath also has other popular attractions including the Royal Victoria Park which hosts seasonal events and open-air concerts, as well as many museums and galleries to explore. The Royal Crescent, one of Bath's most iconic landmarks, is 500-foot-long and is an impressive example of Georgian architecture.

Distance: 49.5 miles
Journey time: 1 hour 30 minutes

Salisbury

Located in Wiltshire, Salisbury is a city most famous for its Cathedral Church of Blessed Virgin Mary. The church has the tallest spire as well as the world's oldest working clock! It also has the original copies of the Magna Carta. Salisbury is home to an International Arts Festival which attracts some of the biggest names in literature. As well as independent shops and restaurants, the city has over 80 pubs despite its small size, boasting its own local brewery called the Hop Back. Stonehenge, one of the best-known prehistoric monuments in Europe is located just 9 miles from Salisbury and is easily accessible by car or public transport.

Distance: 54 miles
Journey time: 1 hour 20 minutes

Bournemouth

The largest coastal town in Dorset, Bournemouth is a popular holiday destination, and it has been voted one of the best coastal resorts in England. A family-friendly destination, its seven miles of golden beaches are perfect for activities or simply just relaxation. A major tourist spot, Bournemouth is home to the Russell-Cotes Art Gallery and Museum, just a couple of minutes from the beach. It’s a popular foodie destination too - enjoy award-winning fish and chips from Harry Ramsden as you watch the many surfers riding the waves.

Distance: 41.1 miles
Journey time: 1 hour

Exeter

Known as Devon's cathedral city, Exeter has over 2,000 years of history. Exeter Cathedral, which lies at the heart of the city, is one of the finest examples of Gothic architecture in England. A compact size, Exeter is a great shopping destination with both high street and independent stores to browse. Underneath the city's streets lies exciting underground passages, which you can explore on a tour - these passages date back to medieval times.

Distance: 57.1 miles
Journey time: 1 hour 20 minutes

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Landscape image of beautiful landscaped Gardens in Dorset

Local gardens

From abbeys to courts, and manor houses to castles, there's no better selection of historic houses and beautiful gardens.

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