Sea View Cottage, Portland

23/08/2024

Following advice from a marketing expert in the USA, we've been experimenting with photography recently, in particular 'Panorama' shots that are as close to a widescreen image as you an get with an ageing Samsung Galaxy phone. We're not expert at this by any means and some of the results have been. ... well, er, amusing at best, and only fit for the wickerwork filing tray at worst! This one is taken from a corner of the Dining Area and shows the route to or from the Kitchen on the left and, towards the right, the Living Area in the background. A certain amount of distortion inevitably occurs and, although the stairs look as if they represent a serious assault on Mount Everest, we can assure you that they are only 49 degrees from the horizontal (we had to go back to school boy/girl physics to caculate that!). Comments welcome...

08/08/2024

A lovely sketch view from the living room of Sea View Cottage, Portland, made by our current guest who says her family have 'completely fallen in love with it'. Lovely!

05/08/2024

Got a lovely text from this week's guests earlier this evening...

01/08/2024

Our Oline Travel Agent listing strategist has given us advice on updating our photos. Foremost was that these should be shot on a sunny day. And we're so busy that 28th to 30th July were the only dates we could have access to the cottage for the next 40 and possibly 50 nights. And they were really sunny, so in we went! Her's a peek preview of the new photos

17/07/2024

26/06/2024

Near perfect weather and sea conditions on Chesil Beach at the Isle of Portland earlier today. Come on down! - we still have 6 nights availability from 28th July

25/06/2024

Here's confirmation that Portland is a hidden gem.

04/06/2024

The 80th Anniversary of D-Day is nearly upon us and of course the Isle of Portland played a vital role in that as it was the embarkation point for all US Military personnel and vehicles embarking on the largest sea-boarne invasion force in military history.

Although Sea View Cottage is booked for pretty much the whole of this week (4th to 10th June - to guests making their sixth visit to the cottage) some of you may like to know what's going on on the Isle of Portland on Thrsday 6th June 2024. So feast your eyes...

25/05/2024

Here’s the first in a series of posts about trips you can easily make from Sea View Cottage by public transport. Just leave the car parked up and go wander. We’ll begin with the easy short trips then go further afield in subsequent posts. Most bus stops in south Dorset have electronic screens showing the arrival times of the next 2 or 3 services in real time, which is incredibly helpful.

1. North to Weymouth. No 1 bus service (to Weymouth) from Chiswell (walk down Higher Lane, by the side of Sea View Cottage, turn left at the main road and cross it) to the Kings Statue, Weymouth. Service every 16 minutes during the day. Return by the same service, again from the Kings Statue but this time to the Old Police Station, Portland (just above the cottage, opposite the entrance to Victoria Gardens).

2. South around the Isle of Portland. Pick up the No 1 bus service (from Weymouth) from the Old Police Station, Portland (just above Sea View Cottage, opposite the entrance to Victoria Gardens). Service every 16 minutes during the day. Break your journey wherever you want, eventually returning to Chiswell. Then cross the road, turn left then right up Clements Lane then shortly after bear right up Higher Lane back to the cottage). Or maybe stay on the bus and continue North to Weymouth? (see above).

3. Portland Coaster to and from Portland Bill. Open top bus service every 2 hours (approx). Utilises the same bus stops as the No 1 bus South around Portland (see above). It’s not exactly cheap - £25/day for a family of up to 5 - but you can hop on and off and use it as transport between attractions such as Portland Bill, Portland Castle, Portland Museum, and Weymouth.

4. Lodmoor Country Park and Bowleaze Cove. First travel North to Weymouth on the No1 bus (see above). Then board the No 4 bus service to Preston from the Kings Statue (service every 20 minutes during the day) alighting at Lodmoor Country Park (for the Sealife Centre and RSPB Lodmoor Nature Reserve) or Bowleaze Coveway. Return the same way.

19/05/2024

Sea View Cottage now sleeps 5 guests! We've added a third single bed in place of the the old sofa bed in the top floor bedroom (something and nothing in our view). It's identical to the other beds at this level and has the same Dormeo Memory Plus memory foam mattress. We've also done some roof repairs and replaced the ceiling under at this level, done a bit of local decoration - and the room now looks amazing!

Now for the interesting bit - we use Price Labs dynamic pricing which is based on the number of bedrooms, not the number of beds and, because the number of bedrooms hasn't changed (still 2) our prices haven't changed either! We reckon to recoup the cost by virtue of the fact we're now exposed to searches for 2 - 5 guests, not just 2 - 4. Obviously sleeping 3 people in one bedroom (albeit it a big one) won't suit everyone, but it'll work for some folk - and save them a packet too!

16/04/2024

Today is 5 years to the day since Sea View Cottage, Portland, opened its doors to travellers. 16th April 2019 was the date Laney Parker and her friend Sally checked in as our very first paying guests. Since then we've learnt on the job, improved our offer to guests, and (believe it or not) lowered our prices! (I know, it's insane, but we're pretty in touch with what the current market will bear). Nearly 400 bookings later, well over 1000 people have spent two or more nights here and said some lovely things about us. So here's a big thanks to them and a very happy birthday to Sea View Cottage, Portland https://seaviewcottageportland.letsgouk.com 🥂🍾🍹

01/04/2024

Quiddles Cafe Bar has now re-opened after its winter break - just in time for Easter! Only a 7 minute walk from the cottage, it's right on the seafront and is the place to go for fish, prawns and calamari/squid (known locally as quiddles, hence the cafe's name). Great breakfasts and leisurely lunches, but they close mid to late afternoon depending on the weather. Not much room inside so best visited on a glorious sunny day when you can sit outside. Booking essential. https://www.facebook.com/Quiddlesbeachcafe16/?locale=en_GB

Outdoor Beach Cafe situated on the world famous Chesil Beach serving great food until 3pm daily

26/02/2024

Sea View Cottage has always been into Tech (no, that’s Tech, not Tat!). And as of today, our online Touch Stay ‘Cottage Guide Book’, which we provide all guests a link to once they’ve booked, has been viewed 4,935 times! A while back we figured out how to provide a preview of it under the ‘Portland’ tab on our website. And now that little bit of tech has been adopted by Touch Stay and featured in a Touch Stay blog. We’re quite touched! 🙂

05/02/2024

Here's a heartwarming mystery story for you. We've been operating Sea View Cottage, Portland, for nearly 5 years now. When we set it up I remember distinctly that the curtains we selected for the main bedroom were not lined - it was a nice striped pattern that went well with the decor though. Over the years I got more and more conscious that these curtain wern't lined and were just feeble bits of (albeit nice) striped material. Last year a seamstress set herself up in a small shop a few hundred yards from the cottage and I'd meant to pop in to get a price from her for lining the curtains but as yet hadn't got round to it. So imagine my surprise when I arrived at the cottage earlier today to spend a few days gardening and freshening the place up for the season, to find that since I last visited a month ago, SOMEONE HAS LINED MY CURTAINS! I immediately suspected my cleaner, but she assures me it's not her and that she doesn't know one end of a sewing needle from the other. So I then rang Andy, our best guest who together with his wife Judith has visited five times in the last few years, including a 5 night stay at the end of January, but he assures me it wasn't them. So I'm flummoxed. But if you're reading this knowing you're the phantom curtain liner, all I can say is, THANKYOU - you've saved me a job! :)

29/01/2024

Andy & Judith have now visited Sea View Cottage five times, most recently for a winter break in January 2024. They’ve sent us a few photos, and the following is an extract from their description of this visit:

“Portland is a great place to visit any time of the year as the scenery is always interesting regardless of the weather. We were on Portland during the recent 2 named storms and the views on Chesil are always intriguing with the sound of the pebbles being thrown around by the surf.

It is always nice to get back to the cottage and light the wood burning stove to warm up and maybe have a glass of something !" 🥂🍾

23/01/2024

Bryony Fenton's great painting of Higher Lane, Portland, immediately adjacent to Sea View Cottage, is now framed and hanging on the cottage's living room wall. And if you turn your head 90 degrees right and look out of the window, you see a very similar view. How cool is that? Bryony is selling prints of this painting for £20 - if you're interested, please contact her direct on

18/01/2024

Have you wondered what there is to do on Portland? Once guests book, we give guests full access to our brilliant Touch Stay Cottage Guide Book. But we've also given all our website visitors to one section of it - our 'Entertainment & Activities - on Portland' section. Here's a link to it - just click on 'Get Started' and follow your nose. https://seaviewcottageportland.letsgouk.com/things-to-do-on-the-isle-of-portland/ You'll have to admit, for a small tied island, there's an awful lot going on!

Searching for things to do, near holiday cottages by the sea, cottages to let, cottages by the beach, or good self catering accommodation?

18/01/2024

Here's a shot of artist Bryony Fenton https://www.facebook.com/BryonyFentonArt with the wonderful townscape she painted for us of the view down Higher Lane, right next door to Sea View Cottage, Portland, and which is now hanging in the living area at the cottage.

16/01/2024

(see 'Comments' below for contact details)
SEA VIEW COTTAGE, Portland, is the larger half of a 200+ year old former Portland stone merchant's house just a few minutes’ walk from the a dog-friendly beach (and a dog-friendly pub on the beach), with sea views from the living room and all bedrooms and (best of all) the sea facing sun deck which gets the sun most of the day. The property sleeps 5 (plus up to 2 dogs) and has a ground floor lounge with woodstove, dining area with adjacent workspace, well equipped kitchen, and bathroom with large electric shower, first floor bedroom (double bed), and second floor bedroom (three single beds). Guests should note that there are cottage style stairs (steeper than normal) between all floors, plus external steps down to a front courtyard.
Sea View Cottage is the perfect place to explore the Jurassic Coast from. The property has front and rear gardens with BBQ provided. On road parking immediately outside plus three free 72 hour car parks nearby. Books, games, plus wide screen Freesat smart TV with Netflix and Prime Video. Chromecast to stream video from your phone or tablet. Amazon Echo Dot with Alexa.
An amazing sea facing, railed, timber sun deck and viewing platform, size approximately 5m x 3m, has recently been provided (in 2022) immediately to the rear of the cottage. This also provides child and dog security to this area.
Once you’ve booked, guests get immediate access to our online cottage guide book which, in addition to information on the cottage itself, has loads of information about Portland itself – for a small island, there’s a lot going on!

11/01/2024

Blue Monday, the third Monday in January, is thought to be the most depressing day of the year. It's also the day on which, historically, the most holidays are booked. This year it's next Monday, 15th January 2024.

So where's it going to be this year - beautiful blighty (Sea View Cottage maybe?) or somewhere more exotic, with the attendant risk of French air traffic control strikes, unbearable heat et etc? Before you book a cheap flight to Tenerife or wherever, check out this video.

DVD Available Now from - www.fascinatingaida.co.ukCertified (15)PAL - Region Free - (Will work world wide on PAL compatable DVD players)DVD extras include in...

11/01/2024

Last year, we commissioned artist Bryony Fenton to paint the view down Higher Lane, Portland, immediately adjacent to Sea View Cottage. We think she's done a really good job and produced a classic image of what must be one of the most iconic townscape views in Dorset, possibly even rivaling Gold Hill, Shaftesbury. What do you think? Marks out of 10 anyone?

02/07/2023

It;s Wimbledon fortnight and Sea View Cottage, Portland has FREE tennis courts a 2 minute walk away! It's a quirky 2 bedroom property sleeping 4 people (1 double & 2 singles). We still have a bit of availability summer 2023, but it's going fast...

4 nights from Mon 10th July - £516 (reduced from £630)
OR 2 nights frm Mon 10th July - £288 (reduced from £345)
OR 2 nights from Wed 12th July - £288 (reduced from £345)
2 nights from Sat 12th August - £402

Sea views from living room, all bedrooms, and our sunny, sea facing, semi-suspended decking/observation platform

3 minute walk from the beach (and the pub on the beach)

1 minute walk from a public park with kiddies playground and FREE tennis courts

Up to 2 dogs welcome (no extra charge )

Downloadable app with details of all local attractions, restaurants, pubs etc

For full details (including loads of great reviews) and to book online at the prices shown above, visit https://seaviewcottageportland.letsgouk.com

24/03/2023

NOTE: The following 'for one day only' offer has now expired.

to one and all! Today, 24th March, is Independent Accommodations Day and, as a member of , we're offering an amazing 50% discount on any stay booked today! You'll need the promo code to book it though, which is - you guessed it - 'happyIADay'. Full information at https://seaviewcottageportland.letsgouk.com/happyiaday/
This is a 'for one day only' deal and, like Cinderella, it'll disappear at midnight tonight. So grab it while you can! !!

Independant Accommodations Day Celebration - 50% discount on all bookings place on Friday 24th March 2023

07/05/2021

Sea View Cottage, Isle of Portland, is half of a 200+ year old former stone merchants house and sleeps 4 people in 1 double and 2 singles overall 2 bedrooms. Stunning views and great location just 4 minutes walk from the beach (and the Cove House Inn on the beach!). Once booked, guests get access to our amazing online cottage guide book app (you put it on your phone) packed with shedloads of information, not just about the cottage, but also about the many activities and entertainment to be found on the island, so you can hit the ground running and get the most out of your stay. Currently we have just 13 days availability between now and the end of August. Dates as follows:-

16 & 17th June
22, 23, 24th June
28, 29, 30th June
14, 15 &16th July
20th & 21st July

More information, prices, and book direct at

Searching for self catering accommodation, cottages to let, seaside cottages, a cottage by the beach, or good self catering holiday cottages?

09/03/2021

Want to get in the mood for summer? Check out our recent blog post entitled 'Microclimate'. Photos taken mid-May last year - a great time of year to visit us! https://seaviewcottageportland.letsgouk.com/cottages-by-the-coast-microclimate/

09/03/2021