FAQs
About Rushay
Rushay is a large Edwardian Arts & Crafts house (built 1906) on the Dorset coast, a mile from Charmouth’s beaches and three miles from Lyme Regis — about a 20-minute walk to the sea. It’s designed for big gatherings: multi-generational family holidays, reunions, and groups of friends who want plenty of space together and plenty of space apart.
Up to 20 guests across 9 bedrooms, including a self-contained cottage on the grounds.
Two well-equipped kitchens (Aga, induction hob, electric ovens), multiple reception rooms with open fires, a long dining table for group meals, a hard tennis court, an indoor table football table, an Argentinian asado barbecue, a west-facing terrace, superfast WiFi throughout, and board games and jigsaws for rainy days.
Yes — dogs are welcome for £30 per pet. Guests should bring beds and bowls for their pet, and they are not allowed upstairs in bedrooms, or on any furniture!
There is one double bedroom, with en suite shower room, on the ground floor of the cottage. Access to the cottage is via two steps; access to the house and its principal rooms is step-free.
With its huge garden, Rushay is a child’s paradise. We provide two high chairs, and a variety of toys and building bricks. NB There are no stair gates, nor cots.
Yes. Rushay’s gardens, orchard and reception rooms lend themselves beautifully to a small, intimate wedding, and we’re delighted to welcome couples who’d like to marry or celebrate here.
The house itself sleeps up to 20 guests across its nine bedrooms and the stable cottage, and we’re happy to accommodate wedding parties of up to around 35 in total, with additional day guests joining for the ceremony, reception or celebration.
Because a wedding brings more people, more activity and a little more wear to the house and grounds than a typical stay, we ask for an additional event fee of £1,000 on top of the nightly rate for the day of the celebration itself, along with a refundable damage deposit of £750. This covers the extra cleaning, ground preparation and additional insurance cover that a private event requires.
We’re always glad to talk through your plans in advance — marquees, caterers, music and timings — so please get in touch and we can make sure the day runs smoothly for you and for the house.
Booking and pricing
Weekends start at £3000, and weekday nights start at £850, depending on the season. There’s a £350 returnable deposit against any damage, and no hidden cleaning fees or extra charges beyond the £30-per-pet fee if you’re bringing a dog.
Weekends are 3 nights Friday-Monday. Weekly rates depend on the season, from £4000 in low season to £6500 in Summer and £8000 over the Christmas holidays.
Three nights minimum.
Booking directly saves you 10% or more compared with the price on third-party platforms, with no booking fees added on top.
Email us at [email protected] with your preferred dates and group size, and we usually respond within hours.
A non-refundable 25% deposit of the holiday cost is payable at the time of booking. Bookings made less than six weeks before your arrival date must be paid in full, plus the £350 refundable damage deposit
The balance must be paid no later than six weeks before the commencement of your holiday.
All cancellations must be notified in writing. If you cancel your holiday more than 6 weeks before it is due to start, then your deposit will be forfeit. If you cancel less than 6 weeks before the holiday, then the full balance remains due and is not refundable.
We strongly advise that you take out comprehensive travel insurance to cover cancellations. If you choose not to, then you accept responsibility for any loss that you may incur due to your cancellation.
10am and 4pm.
There is plenty of parking, for up to 8 cars.
Writing courses
A Guided Writing ‘Week’ (four days, tutored by novelist Jason Goodwin and travel writer Jeremy Seal) combining morning tuition with afternoon free time to write, a further evening session, and full board throughout.
The Writing Week runs Sunday 22–Thursday 26 November 2026: en suite double from £1,250–£1,500, a double with an adjacent bathroom at £1,250, or a shared attic dorm (single beds, up to four people) at £950.
Yes. Participants have sole use of the whole house and cottage.
Our November course is fully booked. The next course will be in March 2027: please email [email protected] to find out more.
Location & Things to Do
Rushay sits close to Chesil Beach, Charmouth’s fossil-hunting beaches and Heritage Coast Centre, Lyme Regis (including its museum and Mary Anning history), Golden Cap (the highest point on the south coast, at nearly 700 feet), and Bronze Age hillforts including Maiden Castle. There’s also a Tunnel Treetops zipline course, Bridport’s antiques quarter and twice-weekly market, and a full guide to local restaurants, farm shops, and pubs on our “Around Rushay” page.
Not essential. A taxi from the nearest railway station (Axminster) costs about £15. Axminster is on the Waterloo-Exeter mainline.