Wayside Cottage Dorset

Eype is a hidden gem on the stunning west Dorset coastline. So close to the beach, so far from the madding crowd. Stroll to the beach down the footpath behind the village and you are soon face-to-face with the incredible scenery of the Jurassic Coast, with its towering cliffs and roller-coaster paths that form part of the great South West Coast Path, stretching from Minehead to Swanage.

In summer you can take advantage of the great swimming or kayaking. In winter, walk this awesome coastline and then head back to Wayside Cottage and relax by a cosy fire. In any season there is a choice of so many country walks or picturesque cycles.

One of our favourite local walks is the path up from Eype Beach to the Thorncombe Beacon, then down the other side to Seatown for a meal and a pint at the Anchor Inn. The walk has spectacular views, and is rich in history.

The scenery around Eype should be familiar to fans of the ITV series Broadchurch. Eype, and next-door West Bay, are the primary filming locations for Broadchurch. The historic cream-coloured wooden coastal hut overlooking Eype's Mouth Beach is a central location in the first season of the murder mystery. Eype's Mouth Beach and the coastal hut are just a few minutes' walk down the hill from Wayside Cottage.

The musician PJ Harvey recorded her album Let England Shake in St Peter's Church in Eype, also known as the Eype Center for the Arts. The award-winning album was inspired by traditional folk music, infused with PJ Harvey's rock style. The musician and her band regularly lunched at the New Inn during the recording sessions in 2010. St Peter's Church is just a few hundred yards up the hill from Wayside Cottage, and the New Inn is right next door.

Eype - not well known, but well-loved by those who are lucky enough to discover it!