Loose Reins

Mosey on down to the Wessex Ridgeway, where a luxurious pioneer's paradise awaits. Time for a ranch-inspired family escape complete with cedar cabins that chart the history of the Wild West...

When the demands of a stressful daily life start to get you down, there's no better time to pack up the family (including the dog) and head to Loose Reins, where you'll find time has slowed down especially for you to enjoy the finest of natural living.
 
Your setting is the stunning Dorset countryside - Blackmore Vale to be exact, part of an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty with a breath taking and varied panorama. It's simply the perfect place for you to reconnect with your loved ones and indulge in some well-deserved downtime, surrounded by birdsong, forest greenery and wildlife.

The calming Loose Reins atmosphere is ever-present, waiting to embrace you as soon as you arrive and lead you right back to nature. Choose from a comfy cabin - Ranchers, Trappers or Goldpanners - all sleeping up to four people, or a luxury canvas lodge that sleeps up to six. 

The cedar cabins each feature wood-panelled interiors for that authentic Western feel, and you'll find plenty of style and character infused throughout. Enjoy little touches like faux fur and fleece in Trappers, Victorian light shades in Ranchers and golden Navajo wood in Goldpanners. The attention to detail helps make everything about Loose Reins quite unique.

You'll find a well-equipped kitchen with wood burner, gas hob and oven, along with indoor and outdoor dining areas to enjoy your meals in comfort.  A super comfy king-sized bed is the perfect place to snuggle up under an American quilt after a long day of adventuring, with the dining area seats cleverly folding down to provide sleeping space for an extra adult or up to two children.

Fluffy towels and a welcoming hot shower await you in your private bathroom, and the cabin porch is the ideal place to enjoy al fresco coffee and conversation as you light up the fire bowl, toast some marshmallows and watch the golden sun setting over the horizon.

For larger groups, or those who prefer to sample life under luxury canvas, the three Loose Reins lodges, nestled at the edge of the forest, are the perfect resting place. With plank floors and wooden room-dividing walls, this is outdoor-style living at its most opulent! 

A stylish living area, complete with sofa, armchairs and a wood burner, is the ideal place to congregate and swap stories, and on sunny days (or balmy nights!) you can even open up the living area to become part of the outdoor deck...why not crack open a beer or two and keep a watchful eye out for a shooting star?

Enjoy your meals in the spacious, fully-equipped kitchen and dining area, then claim your beautifully made up bed from the king-size four-poster, king-sized cabin bed (with space underneath for a kids' play area including plenty of pens, paper and a desk!) and twin singles.

Your bathroom is built for relaxation, with a deluxe rain shower and plenty of fresh, soft towels to wrap yourself in after a long day of exploration.

Your accommodation is equipped with books and board games for when you don't feel like meandering outside - but when you do, you're in for a treat! Discover all the animals that are ready and waiting to meet you. This is an area with plenty of wildlife, so see if you can spot deer, foxes and squirrels - not to mention the two friendly resident pygmy goats, Butch and Sundance, and the small flock of gentle rare breed sheep. Further afield, why not try learning some rural crafts, maybe explore the North Dorset Trailway by bike, or pack a picnic and head to the Jurassic Coast?  

Enjoy fantastic walking routes available all around...not to mention a choice of country pubs nearby. Back on site, why not start a scavenger hunt, build a leafy den or try lassoing the model bull - all perfect activities for working up an appetite!

The Loose Reins General Store will provide you with plenty of mouthwatering ingredients to whip up your own ranch-style feasts, and you can also choose from a selection of tasty home-style specialities waiting to be heated and served! Breakfast and barbecue hampers will tempt you, and the on-site cellar will ensure you're well-equipped with the finest beverages available, from local brew to fine wine.

So for a truly unique break that all the family can enjoy in luxury, head on down to Loose Reins for a holiday you won't forget in a hurry.

Things to note

Up to two well behaved dogs are permitted upon prior arrangement; dog bowls, towels, beds and treats are provided; £25 per dog per stay. No smoking please, check-in time 4-6pm, groups of 6+ may be possible upon application. A general store is located onsite in a characterful shepherd's hut.

Please click here for information on Loose Reins policy regarding safety during the pandemic, including social distancing and virtual check-in measures.