There’s something about Dorset in autumn… The light softens. The woodland changes almost by the day. Familiar paths disappear beneath copper leaves, the beaches empty out and suddenly there’s room to stop, look around and take it all in. For anyone who can escape outside the school holidays, this might just be one of the best times of year for a luxury lodge break in Dorset. For Burnbake, autumn arrives right outside the door. Our forest lodges sit quietly amongst the trees, close to the wild landscapes of Purbeck and the Jurassic Coast, with woodland walks, sea air and some rather special wildlife all within easy reach. Bring walking boots, the dog, and a good book, then leave the daily to-do list at home. Dorset at a gentler pace There’s a particular pleasure in exploring Dorset once the summer rush has passed. A midweek autumn break means quieter roads, peaceful footpaths and stretches of coast where the loudest thing around might be the sea. Just down the road, Studland Bay has four miles of sandy beach backed by dunes and heathland. In autumn, it’s made for long walks, especially once October arrives and seasonal dog restrictions ease. Further along the coast, the sea stacks of Old Harry Rocks mark the eastern end of the Jurassic Coast, part of the extraordinary Dorset and East Devon coastline recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Some days call for a proper walk; others call for ten minutes on the beach followed by a pub lunch. We’re equally fond of both and you can find some good local pub recommendations here.
Photo by Emily Endean Photography
Watch the season change Autumn is when Purbeck’s wild side really comes into its own. Woodland floors fill with fungi. Heath and bracken turn rust and gold. Deer becomes more conspicuous as the season changes, and we even have herds roaming across the site sometimes, and overhead, thousands of birds are on the move. The Studland peninsula is an important migration route, and from late September into autumn, thrushes, finches, pipits and wagtails can all be spotted passing through. You don’t need to know one end of a pair of binoculars from the other to enjoy it. Sometimes it’s enough simply to look up. For a closer encounter with Dorset wildlife, RSPB Arne is a beautiful patchwork of heathland, ancient woodland, wetlands and Poole Harbour shoreline. Look out for sika deer, Dartford warblers and spoonbills, or just follow one of the trails and see what turns up.
Five go in search of red squirrels An autumn break also brings the chance to see one of Dorset’s most treasured residents. A boat trip across Poole Harbour takes you to Brownsea Island, one of the remaining strongholds for native red squirrels in the south of England and autumn is an especially good time to find them. Red squirrels become particularly active at this time of year, dropping to the woodland floor to gather nuts and build their winter stores. There’s other wildlife to spot too. Brownsea’s lagoon attracts an extraordinary variety of birds, fungi appear throughout the woodland and the island’s sika deer enter their rutting season. Pack
binoculars, and perhaps a little patience.
Rediscover the seaside There is something rather wonderful about a British seaside town out of season. Swanage swaps summer bustle for windswept walks, independent shops, cafés (The Italian Kitchen and The Salt Pig both favourites of ours). Not forgetting, the reassuring sight of the bay beyond, autumn truly suits it. Walk the seafront with a coffee, browse the town, take the heritage steam railway (dogs are allowed too with their own ‘woof ticket’) through the Purbeck countryside or simply find a bench and watch the world go by. Nearby Corfe Castle feels particularly atmospheric under an autumn sky. Explore its thousand-year-old ruins, wander through the village (we can vouch for the best pasties in the tiny bakery in the centre) and then find somewhere warm for tea before heading back through the trees to Burnbake. You also get fantastic views of the steam railway from a couple of pub gardens in Corfe.
Photo by Emily Endean Photography
Come home to the forest One of the loveliest things about an autumn lodge holiday in Dorset is coming back afterwards. Boots by the door (we have racks). A quick temperature-controlled warm doggy shower on the porch, kettle on. Our luxury forest lodges have everything you need to properly settle in, with cosy interiors, wood-burning stoves, private terraces and your own hot tub amongst the trees. Sink into warm water after a long coastal walk. Listen to the forest quieten around you. Watch the last of the daylight disappear through the branches. Away from the brighter lights of the towns, autumn evenings at Burnbake can bring truly delicious clear skies. On the right night there might be a bright autumn moon overhead; on another, simply more stars than you remembered were there. Some holidays are about fitting everything in – this isn’t one of them. Press pause.
Photos by Emily Endean Photography
Four paws very welcome Autumn is also a rather excellent season for a dog-friendly lodge break in Dorset. Cooler walking weather opens up longer days on the coast and through the woodland, while quieter beaches make for the sort of walks that leave everyone happily tired by the time you get back. Burnbake has a selection of dog-friendly forest lodges too, with thoughtful touches for four-legged guests (they get a welcome hamper) and plenty of places nearby for proper exploring. Your autumn escape to Dorset Maybe it’s three quiet midweek days by the coast. Maybe it’s long walks with the dog, lunch somewhere you’ve never tried before and nowhere you need to be by three o’clock. Or perhaps it’s simply a hot tub, a forest and permission to disappear for a little while… However, you spend it, autumn gives Dorset a different rhythm. Quieter, wilder, and softer around the edges. And from your own little corner of the forest at Burnbake, you’re perfectly placed to enjoy it!
