Let's face it, we all dream of childhood holidays: long and carefree days on the beach returning at the end of the day to a traditional thatched cottage and that's where for many of us the rose tinted view becomes green as we remember musty cottages crammed with yard sale cast-offs……. Whilst they're still out there, thankfully today's choices are made that much easier thanks to companies like Jigsaw Holidays.

The Cotswold specialist has widened its net to include Dorset where the quintessential bucket & spade holiday has moved on a little…. Take Albury House in Charmouth for instance: chocolate box thatch on the outside, cool and contemporary on the inside. Yes, there's the obligatory aga and woodburner, the much desired roll top bath and Nespresso machine but it's the clever use of space that ensures a happy holiday for the hard to please multi generational family or group of friends holidaying together. As well as a stylish living room for grown up evenings, there's a TV room with X-box 360 complete with controllers, dvds and games galore to satisfy any teenager and for those preferring to curl up with a book, there's even a relaxing reading space.

Younger members of the group can enjoy table tennis, football and trampolining in the garden (competitive dads beware!) but if all that's not enough, you're just a short stroll from the beach and the best fossil hunting and rock pooling along the Jurassic coast. For the more active the area is blessed with some of the best walking country, stunning views from Golden Cap and for thrill seekers the possibilities include coasteering, kayaking, kite surfing and all manner of water sports.

A little more low key than its popular neighbour Lyme Regis, with its thriving community Charmouth offers enough to tick all the boxes stressed out mums and dads have on their holiday wish list and Albury House the perfect haven – the stuff holiday dreams are made of!

For more details contact Jigsaw Holidays on 01305 700047, http://www.jigsawcottagesdorset.co.uk/.