After a day on the South West Coast Path, there’s something special about returning to a comfortable cottage, warming up beside a wood-burning stove, and knowing a welcoming pub is just a few steps away.
At The Sunray in Osmington, near Weymouth, we’ve spent four years creating somewhere to enjoy exactly that.
As a local Weymouth family, restoring this site has been a personal project. Our aim was to create beautiful holiday accommodation while protecting the character of a place that belongs to our community.
Four years of thoughtful restoration
First opened in 1933, The Sunray has seen several changes of name and ownership. Our restoration began in 2022, returning its original name and bringing new life to the pub, cottages, and surrounding grounds.
We’ve worked carefully to ensure the buildings feel at home in Osmington, combining traditional character with modern comfort. Accommodation, landscaping, and outdoor spaces have been considered together, creating somewhere to settle in and enjoy Dorset at your own pace.
A village with stories to tell
Before heading for the coast, take time to explore Osmington village with its limestone cottages and thatched roofs.
John Constable spent his honeymoon here in 1816, painting and sketching the village and Weymouth Bay. Above Osmington, the White Horse was carved into the hillside in 1808 to honour George III, whose visits helped make Weymouth a popular seaside destination.
This history has shaped our approach: giving The Sunray a fresh chapter while respecting the village around it.
Sustainability, built into your stay
Caring for this setting has guided practical decisions throughout the restoration.
Our cottages combine energy-efficient design with solar energy, air source heat pumps, and underfloor heating. Drinking water comes from our private source, 80 metres below ground within the Portland stone, and passes through our filtration system.
Across the grounds, bat boxes, bird bricks, and bee bricks provide habitat, supported by native trees, shrubs, and planting. Dedicated green areas remain undisturbed, giving nature space alongside our guests.
We’ve chosen certified wooden furniture and worked to minimise plastics. Even the outdoor tables and chairs have a coastal connection: they’re made from recycled sea plastics.
Make The Sunray your Coast Path base
The Sunray is well placed for exploring the Ferrybridge-to-Lulworth Cove section of the South West Coast Path, which passes through nearby Osmington Mills.
For shorter outings, the Association’s published walks include the 2.6-mile Osmington and Osmington Mills circuit and the 4.7-mile Burning Cliff route, taking in Ringstead and views towards Portland. Both start and finish at Osmington Mills, which is five minutes from The Sunray.
Back at The Sunray, choose from cosy one-bedroom retreats or larger cottages for family and friends. Every cottage has a private courtyard, most have wood-burning fires, and some feature a wood-fired hot tub for a relaxing soak after a day’s walking.
The on-site pub makes breakfast, lunch, or dinner easy, while younger guests can enjoy the children’s play park. Stay a little longer and there’s time to discover another stretch of coastline or simply enjoy an unhurried morning.
Enjoy 10% off your stay if you are a SWCP charity member
South West Coast Path Association members receive 10% off holiday accommodation when booking directly.
Explore our cottages and plan your Dorset walking break.
The Sunray are one of over 500 Way Maker businesses offering places to stay, eat and drink or take part in activities along the South West Coast Path. Explore all our businesses online using our Place Finder or order a copy of the Official Guide to the South West Coast Path.
