cottages4you blog: inspiration for your cottage or villa holiday in UK, Ireland and Europe

Those who stay in Dorset holiday cottages who enjoy heading out on two wheels during their time in the county may soon find they have more paths to explore.

Dorset County Council is currently seeking the opinions of local residents, asking them where they want new cycle routes built, the BBC reports.

The feedback scheme is open until February 26th, after which the council will collect all the views and take them into consideration when designing the network.

A spokesperson was quoted by the news source as saying that the aim of the initiative is to encourage more people to get around Dorset by bike.

“Bournemouth and Poole have already defined a cycle network, but Dorset”s routes have yet to be joined up,” the representative remarked.

Dorset is an ideal destination for active types, as Bournemouth is home to Europe”s first artificial surf reef, which opened in November after a number of delays.

Posted by Ben Webster

Poole is an ideal destination for those wanting a seaside break that does not involve traditional holiday activities.

This is the suggestion of British Resorts & Destinations Association director Peter Hampson, who explained that although the area "has many resort attributes", it is "more like [a] historic port".

"It also has a more rural feel to the beaches that surround the largest natural harbour area in the UK," he remarked, something that might seal the deal for people that are considering Dorset holiday cottages in a number of locations.

Like neighbouring Bournemouth, Poole has the advantage of being very easy to get to, Mr Hamspon observed, as it is accessible from much of central-southern England and also benefits from "very good" transport links to and from London.

He was commenting following the launch of Coast with the Most, a new campaign aimed at attracting tourists to Dorset

It says that the shallow waters of Poole harbour make it ideal for windsurfing or sailing beginners.

Posted by Ben Webster

Dorset holiday cottages may be set to fill up after a restaurant in Dorchester was awarded a Michelin Star for haute cuisine.

The Sienna Restaurant is sure to have visitors to the south of England flocking to its tables, becoming the first eatery in the county to have achieved the accolade in the past 20 years, the Dorset Echo reports.

Considered the most prestigious honour in the cooking world, the Michelin Star is awarded only to the top restaurants in the UK based on secret visits by the country”s best-respected critics.

Russell Brown, owner of the Sienna, told the newspaper: "There”s only something like 140 restaurants in the UK that have been recognised by Michelin with a star this year so it”s kind of like a chef”s Holy Grail."

The restaurant also holds three AA Rosettes and is listed in the Good Food Guide for 2010.

Situated on High West Street, those renting a holiday cottage in Dorset will be able to enjoy a roast breast and confit leg of pigeon with broad beans or John Dory fish and scallops with herb butter sauce, two meals singled out by the AA.

Posted by Matt Smith

There are a number of attractions that make a stay in a Bournemouth holiday cottage attractive to people of all ages.

This is according to director of the British Resorts & Destinations Association Peter Hampton, who has described the town as "very well established" and a "good traditional seaside resort".

Noting that Bournemouth has a "fantastic" seven miles of beaches and the new artificial surf reef to attract extreme sports lovers, he added that the area is more upmarket than some of the country”s other seaside destinations.

"It doesn”t, for example, have sways of arcades and white knuckle funfair type activities," Mr Hampton remarked, stating that this helps it appeal to families and the more mature holidaymaker alike.

Recent research from travelsupermarket.com showed that 21 per cent of Britons intend to take at least three holidays during 2010, with 16 per cent opting to spend their main break in the UK.

Posted by David Sollberger