The delights of Dorset at Toby’s Hut

Upon arriving and parking in the private parking area, Reggie and I immediately disembarked and admired our surroundings. It was a lovely afternoon, and I was struck by the sense of calm. In every direction, open countryside stretched before us as we made our way toward Toby’s Hut. Our belongings were transported via the so-called “Toby’s Hut taxi” - a wheelbarrow that proved highly practical as we crossed the field towards the cluster of trees, in which our hideaway was nestled. Once there, I surveyed glorious natural views across the valley. The air was filled with bird song, and it occurred to me that Spring was truly here.

Once inside, the very first thing I noticed was the cheerful colour scheme. I felt there was a real sense of character, which was welcoming. The hideaway was well-equipped with everything I could need, and Reggie and I soon made ourselves comfortable. I turned on the radio, left the door open and listened to the sounds of nature.

After dinner, Reggie and I travelled the short distance to Chideock, where we popped into The Clock Inn. A lovely family-run pub, where I had a chat with the team, who made a lovely fuss of Reggie before we made our way back. When we arrived, it was dark outside, but we were greeted by small lights which illuminated the way back to our hideaway, which was a lovely touch. There we settled down for the evening, where the heating quickly warmed the space, and I opened the bottle of wine that had been kindly left for my arrival. The double bed was very comfortable, and I soon fell asleep in this wonderful setting.

The morning started early, and the weather was warm, sunny, fresh and bright. It was so soothing not to hear any traffic. Reggie and I enjoyed some fun and games before I prepared breakfast using a selection of fresh goodies. I decided to eat outside to soak up the sun and savour the rest of the morning, before packing the rucksack ready for the day’s adventures.

The first stop of the day was Colmer’s Hill, which is an iconic 417-foot conical landmark which can be found in Symondsbury, Dorset. This hill boasts panoramic views of the Jurassic Coast and is notable from afar by its cluster of pine trees on the summit. The views there are beautiful, and we couldn’t help but linger for a while.  After a lengthy stretch of the legs, we made our way to Weymouth and visited Sandsfoot Castle. Also known historically as Weymouth Castle, this artillery fort was built by Henry VIII to protect Weymouth Bay against potential invasion from France. While we were there, I couldn’t resist a pasty whilst relaxing in the gardens by the castle. At the same time, Reggie tucked into his lunch….and a bit of the steak from my pasty.

Later that afternoon, Reggie and I headed westward along the coast, where we enjoyed a bracing seaside walk between Cogden Beach and Hive Beach. Both beaches offered fantastic scenery. Cogden was wild and remote, while at Hive, you are met with the golden sandstone cliffs. The Hive Beach Café was also a lovely stop-off point for coffee and cake. Once fully refreshed, we made the stomp back to our starting point. 

As soon as we returned to Toby’s Hut, it was time to start preparing our barbecue. I had been looking forward to cooking up some tasty treats all day, and I was bringing the coals up to temperature as the sun was setting. It was a satisfying moment as the sun finally disappeared from the valley, as I’d opened a bottle of wine. Reggie appeared suddenly very interested, as a selection of meats finally went on the grill. We had a delicious feast. 

After the washing up was done, I started to unwind by lowering the lights and loading the log burner. It wasn’t long until a cosy fire was keeping us both toasty, where Reggie chose a spot close by. Feeling at peace, I hunkered down for the evening with my book, my canine friend nearby and of course…more wine. I left the hatch above the front door open for a while, as it was such a still evening, whilst listening to the comforting crackles of the log burner.

As I stirred in the morning, refreshed after another comfortable night’s sleep, I was suddenly struck by the colour of the sky, which filtered through the windows. Luck would have it (largely in part of the clocks going back an hour overnight) that I was about to witness the most incredible sunrise. On went the kettle, and as soon as I had a coffee in hand, I watched the sky turning shaded of pink and orange in all its wonder. Reggie chose to remain snuggled up; he was very comfortable and was not quite ready to emerge.

Before sitting outside for breakfast, I thoroughly enjoyed a long-awaited soak in the hot tub as the morning gently unfolded. I sat back and gazed across the countryside, in total privacy, while reflecting on my time at this heavenly hideaway. After breakfast, I reluctantly packed our belongings as I was not quite ready to leave. I said goodbye to Toby’s Hut and Reggie and I headed off, courtesy of the quirky wheelbarrow taxi. 

Fortunately, there was another treat in store. As Reggie and I made our way to the parking area, we happened to bump into Georgina, a gardener who tends the nearby grounds. She kindly offered to show us around, guiding us through the gardens while sharing the stories and history behind the many sculptures. Following this and promising that I was going to return in the future, we said our final farewells. 

On the journey home, I decided I would make an impromptu visit to Dumpdon Hill Fort, which is located in East Devon. Dumpdon is an Iron Age hillfort which was likely to have been occupied around 2500 years ago. Reggie and I spent some time walking and exploring after reaching the summit, which offered more lovely views. A wonderful option for a final stomp as part of our adventure. Finally, and as a reward for our last-minute stomp, we popped into the nearby Drewe Arms, which is around 5 miles away from Honiton. The Drewe Arms is a lovely historic, family-run 16th-century thatched pub, where I soon got chatting to some of the locals and at the same time, Reggie made some new canine friends. A wonderful way to finish our little journey in this part of the West Country.