Welcome to our November 2025 newsletter!
As the fires crackle and Dorset slips into its wonderful winter cloak, we’re so excited for Christmas (but we’re also already dreaming ahead to long summer days and golden countryside adventures).
This month’s edition brings you inspiration for both seasons: a special opportunity for next summer’s all-new Hidden England itinerary, a beautiful Christmas gift idea from our English cottage kitchen, and Laura’s winter warming recipe combining pears, chocolate and caramel. Yum!
You’ll also find a look inside the gorgeous gardens at Well Cottage, discover the joys of fossil hunting on the Jurassic Coast, and learn of a story that touched every heart in Dorset this month.
So settle in with a lovely hot drink and enjoy the latest news, offers, and stories from your home away from home in the English countryside.
Away we go!
Unique Opportunity or Perfect Christmas Gift!
Hidden England 2026 – your summer escape awaits
The Snug at Well Cottage – the very definition of cosy comfort!
Shared Cottage | 7 nights | August 19 – 26 | Couples and Solos
When the days grow shorter and the chill of winter sets in, there’s no better time to dream ahead to long, golden English summer days. Our all-new 7-night Hidden England Sightseeing Itinerary is now open for August 19–26, 2026 – and just one luxurious room remains.
This exclusive Shared Cottage Experience is designed especially for returning guests and those eager to discover more of Dorset’s quiet beauty. You’ll stay at Well Cottage, our 18th-century thatched haven, while Nathan and Laura guide you through a week of freshly curated adventures and exquisite all-inclusive hospitality.
Highlights include the storybook village of Milton Abbas, the elegant city of Salisbury and its soaring cathedral spire, a visit to The Newt in Somerset with its stunning gardens, Roman Villa and bee sanctuary, and time to explore the wild beauty of the Jurassic Coast.
Between excursions, relax at the cottage with Laura’s gourmet creations and Nathan’s seamless care.
Just one private ensuite bedroom is available for 1–2 guests on this remarkable shared week, now priced at just $6,000 USD / $8,625 CAD per person until December 31st 2025. When it’s gone, it’s gone!
We also have bedrooms available:
April 23rd – 30th
July 21 – 28th
September 25th – October 10th
Tastes from Well Cottage – the perfect gift this Christmas
If you’re searching for the perfect Christmas gift, look no further than Laura’s beloved English cottage kitchen recipe book.
Now available in a beautiful 98-page hardcover edition, this keepsake captures the very essence of life at Well Cottage: cosy kitchens, the scent of something wonderful in the oven, and the joy of gathering around a perfectly laid table.
Inside, you’ll find comforting mains, indulgent puddings, delicate bakes, and festive favourites – each recipe brimming with warmth, flavour, and a little Dorset sparkle. It’s a book to cook from, cherish, and share.
Whether you gift it to a food lover, a fellow Anglophile, or treat yourself to a lovely helping of culinary inspiration this Christmas, it’s a timeless way to bring the heart of Well Cottage into your home.
Or, if you’re elsewhere, simply search “English Cottage Kitchen Recipe Book by Laura Kurton” on Amazon in your country.
Looking for a last-minute gift idea? The digital edition can be downloaded instantly – perfect for sharing a little Dorset magic, even as late as Christmas morning!
Now scroll down for a free festive sample of the kind of delicious recipes you’ll find in Laura’s book!
Made in Dorset: Magical guest memories
SEE MORE PHOTOS ON OUR GUEST GALLERY
“You will not regret spending a week at English Cottage Vacation with Nathan and Laura…”
(and more kind words from our recent guests)
An English Cottage Vacation is all about the ease, the indulgence, and the feeling of being utterly cared for from the moment you arrive. Recent guest Kathy’s wonderful words, shared on TripAdvisor, sum it up beautifully:
“Vacation of a lifetime
“Make your reservation NOW. You will not regret spending a week at English Cottage Vacation with Nathan and Laura.
“From the time Nathan picks you up at the airport until he drops you off again, you are expected to do nothing but relax, sightsee and eat.
“Laura is a true treasure in the kitchen. Each meal or picnic is designed and prepared down to the last detail, including the lovely table scapes. Her menus are well thought out, and the final product delicious.
“Nathan has an abundance of knowledge pertaining specifically to the excursion of the day…lots of tidbits you would not hear from a tour guide. He is very patient and drives with great care.
“There really aren’t enough words to describe the experience of this all inclusive vacation.” – Kathy B, TripAdvisor, August 2025
Have you been a guest of ours? We’d be so grateful if you can share your experiences on TripAdvisor and Google Reviews too! Also be sure to check out the testimonials featured on our website!
Your thoughts help shape the magic
We’d love to hear from you — whether you are planning a vacation or simply in love with Everything England, please take a moment to complete our quick survey so we can make your experience even more wonderful.
Do you know a travel agent or broker who’d love what we do?
Nathan and Laura in front of Well Cottage
We have a little favour to ask you.
As many of you know, English Cottage Vacation has grown beautifully thanks to your support, kind words, and recommendations. We’re now ready and excited to take the next step in our journey by partnering with travel agents who specialise in unique, high-touch, immersive travel experiences.
If you or someone you know works with a trusted travel agent—or has a favourite agent they always go back to—we’d love to connect with them!
We’re looking to collaborate with agents who:
✨ Value personalised, boutique experiences
✨ Serve clients seeking luxury, relaxation, and cultural immersion
✨ Appreciate curated, intimate holidays with exceptional hospitality
If a travel agent comes to mind, please feel free to share their contact details with us, or pass our details along to them: info@englishcottagevacation.com
Your recommendations truly help us grow in the most authentic and meaningful way. Thank you for being part of our story and for helping us reach even more travellers who would love the English Cottage Vacation experience.
Featured video: Laura’s garden tour – from ancient well to veggie patch
Join Laura for a gentle wander through the beautiful gardens surrounding Well Cottage, an authentic 18th-century thatched home lovingly restored and modernised for total luxury. Just as every room inside tells a story of comfort and craftsmanship, the gardens outside reflect centuries of Dorset charm and seasonal beauty.
Out front, the old stone well – the very feature that gave Well Cottage its name – stands proudly beside the lane and remains one of our most-photographed spots. Beyond it, lawns, flowers, and fruit trees unfurl into the countryside, creating a peaceful haven for morning coffee, afternoon tea, or an evening cocktail in the soft English light.
In this video Laura shows you around her favourite outdoor spaces, from quiet garden nooks to the thriving “Veggie Patch”, a veritable cornucopia of homegrown herbs, fruit, and vegetables that inspire her daily menus. It’s the perfect glimpse into how life at Well Cottage flows naturally from garden to table.
Watch the full video now on our YouTube channel, and don’t forget to follow, like, and share to spread a little Dorset magic wherever you are!
Featured excursion: Lyme Regis fossil hunting on the Jurassic Coast
Where sea and science meet, Lyme Regis is the gateway to deep time. The Blue Lias cliffs here hold extraordinary traces of Jurassic life, from elegant ammonites to belemnites and the marine reptiles that first made the town famous. This is Mary Anning country. As a child in the early nineteenth century she found England’s first complete ichthyosaur, and her careful work helped shape modern geology.
Your day is effortless from the moment you leave Well Cottage. Nathan will drive you in comfort along one of Dorset’s most scenic routes and take you straight to the best stretch for the day’s conditions. He knows where finds regularly wash out and where it is safest to search. A guided fossil walk with experts or a visit to Lyme Regis Museum, built on the site of Mary Anning’s former home, can also be arranged.
When you’re ready to pause, Nathan will set an elegant picnic on or overlooking the beach, complete with table, chairs and Laura’s luxury hamper. Expect fresh, seasonal favourites, a few gourmet cottage treats, and your choice of drinks – the sort of lunch that tastes even better with sea air and gulls wheeling overhead.
Highlights often include a walk to the Ammonite Pavement at low tide on Monmouth Beach, where hundreds of fossils lie set in stone. With Nathan keeping an eye on tide times and the Collecting Code, all you need to do is look, learn and pocket memories. Whether you return with a small ammonite or simply a camera full of Dorset light, you will have stepped neatly into two hundred million years of history without a single worry about logistics.
Fossils on a beach at Lyme Regis on the Jurassic Coast
EXPLORE ALL OF OUR EXTRAORDINARY EXCURSIONS
News corner: Cascade of woollen poppies honoured Remembrance
5,000 knitted Remembrance poppies hung from Holy Rood Church in Wool, Dorset (Image: Guerrilla Gardeners)
Each November, the United Kingdom pauses for Remembrance, a national tradition of reflection and gratitude for those who served and sacrificed in war. Red poppies, inspired by the battlefields of the First World War, have long been its most recognisable symbol.
Earlier this month, the south Dorset village of Wool created a particularly moving tribute. Local residents crafted more than 5,000 knitted and crocheted poppies, which together formed a spectacular cascade flowing from the bell tower of Holy Rood Church.
The project was led by the Guerrilla Gardeners, a volunteer group best known for their floral displays around the village. This time they turned their creativity toward commemoration, inviting neighbours of all ages to contribute handmade poppies. Coffee mornings became craft sessions, with newcomers learning to crochet and experienced knitters guiding the way.
The finished poppies were attached to an 18-metre cargo net, donated by the Army and carefully restored before being secured to the church’s 13-metre-high tower. With help from a local mountaineer, the team raised the immense display safely into place, where it became a striking centrepiece for Wool’s Remembrance services.
Organiser Sue Burroughs described the project as “a true labour of love” made possible by the whole community. “From those who climbed the tower to those who made just one poppy, everyone played a part,” she said.
Though the installation has now been taken down, its impact endures – a vivid reminder of Dorset’s community spirit and of the power of simple, shared acts of remembrance.
Featured recipe: Laura’s Chocolate & Pear Tarte Tatin
Serves: 6
The story goes that this upside-down tart emerged from a culinary mishap in 1889 at a French inn. When a pan of buttered apples began to burn, a quick-thinking chef salvaged the situation by covering them with pastry and finishing them in the oven. The result? An instant classic.
Here, we’ve reimagined that happy accident by substituting apples for pears, enriching the caramel with dark chocolate, and the outcome is nothing short of magnificent.
Ingredients
- 100g caster sugar
- 50g unsalted butter, cut into cubes
- 25g dark chocolate (around 70% cocoa content), finely chopped
- 3 large ripe pears (approximately 700g combined weight), peeled, halved, cored and left to soak in acidulated water to prevent discoloration
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 250g ready-made all-butter puff pastry
- Crème fraîche, for serving
Equipment:
- 23cm ovenproof frying pan with handle, or 23cm round cake tin with solid base
Directions
- Set your oven to 190°C/Gas mark 5. To create the caramel base, sprinkle the sugar evenly into a saucepan and pour in 1 tablespoon of water. Place over medium-low heat and cook for 3–4 minutes without stirring, allowing the sugar to melt completely and develop a rich golden-brown hue.
- Take the pan off the heat and incorporate the butter pieces, whisking them in thoroughly. Add the chopped chocolate along with a splash of water and stir vigorously. Return to a gentle heat briefly to ensure everything melts together smoothly. Position the pear halves in the pan cut-side facing upward, arranging them in a circular pattern around the edge. (If you’re working with a cake tin instead, transfer the caramel mixture to the tin first, then arrange the pears on top, maintaining the cut-side up orientation.)
- On a lightly floured counter, roll the pastry to approximately 5cm wider than your pan or tin dimensions. Drape the pastry sheet over the arranged pears, carefully tucking the excess edges down along the inside perimeter of your vessel. Place in the preheated oven for 20–25 minutes until the pastry turns crisp and develops a beautiful golden colour. Allow to rest for 5 minutes after removing from the oven, then confidently flip onto a serving plate so the fruit faces upward. Serve this beloved dessert while still warm, accompanied by generous dollops of crème fraîche.
Tips:
- For added texture and flavor, garnish the completed tart with caramelized nuts (recipe on page 37), finely diced candied ginger, or fold a touch of ground cinnamon into whipped cream as an alternative to crème fraîche.
- This recipe adapts beautifully to individual portions—simply use small tart tins, or create bite-sized treats in mini muffin pans for an elegant nibble.
Love this recipe? It’s just a taste of what’s waiting in Laura’s Recipe Book now available in both hardcover print and digital editions! Packed with lots of scrumptious recipes, from breakfasts and afternoon teas to indulgent desserts and classic cocktails, it’s the perfect way to bring the magic of Well Cottage to your kitchen! Tap below for instant access:
Or search for “English Cottage Kitchen Recipe Book by Laura Kurton” on Amazon – the stunning hardcover edition is now available worldwide!
Local area focus:
A Gothic revival in the making
Victorian church renovation project
Just a mile from Well Cottage, one Dorset couple is breathing new life into an extraordinary 1860s Gothic Victorian church. They’re documenting their efforts to turn this historic building into a modern home and it’s fast becoming a favourite project for renovation enthusiasts to witness in real time.
We’re cheering on the Wedge family as they take on this ambitious restoration, blending history, heart, and a great deal of determination.
Follow their journey and see the transformation unfold on Instagram.
Celebrating our luxury picnic basket winner!
It’s that time again! We’re thrilled to announce this month’s luxury countryside picnic basket! A beautifully handcrafted willow hamper filled with all the essentials for a dreamy alfresco outing is on its way to one lucky subscriber…
SUHASINI SHARMA
Please reach out to us by email so that we ca arrange delivery!
info@englishcottagevacation.com
Congratulations – your prize is packed and ready to bring a generous helping of English countryside charm to your next outdoor adventure!
Your basket includes:
- Fine china plates and real glassware
- Stainless steel cutlery and linen napkins
- A tartan picnic blanket
Didn’t win this time? Don’t despair – we’re giving away another one next month! Simply stay subscribed to our weekly newsletter and you’re automatically in the draw.
And if you know someone who would love a touch of English charm in their inbox, feel free to forward this email or share the sign-up link – click here! They could also be in to win!
*Disclaimer: The basket we deliver is subject to availability but we will always strive to ensure comparable quality!
Essential info: Everything you need to know, all in one place
St Oswalds Bay on the world heritage coastline of Dorset
From your first enquiry to your farewell at Heathrow, we’ve designed every step of your English Cottage Vacation to be smooth, simple and beautifully stress-free.
Whether you’re curious about availability, wondering how payments work, or ready to shape your tailor-made itinerary, the links below will guide you through it all – clearly, quickly, and with complete confidence.
Your Tailor-Made Itinerary, Discovery Process
Step inside the cottage community!
Join our Facebook group for a peek behind the scenes, seasonal updates from Well Cottage, and a friendly space to connect with fellow Anglophiles. We’d love to welcome you in!
