Studland named Dorset’s poshest village – here’s why people will be surprised

A village in part of Dorset, known for its nudist beach and nature reserve, has been rated as one of Britain’s swankiest.

In the TelegraphIn the list of Britain’s 54 poshest villages, Studland on the Isle of Purbeck has been selected as Dorset’s poshest village.

Not only is the average property price in the area just under £1million at £972,831, but Studland has its own gourmet restaurant, boutique hotels and fast links to Poole and Sandbanks .

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But many across Dorset may be a little taken aback by the ranking as a village, although that is technically correct, Studland as a community ‘stands on its own’.

So what is available in the village where houses cost almost a million pounds?

What’s in Studland?

Situated slightly inland along Ferry Road, the village of Studland ticks all the ‘chic village’ boxes despite its small size.

Much of the area known as Studland is made up of Studland Nature Reserve and Godlingston Heath, and also includes the nudist beach and National Trust area.

However, the 2011 census showed that the parish had 182 households. Many are holiday homes or bed and breakfasts, but the village also has a number of amenities including the village shop (which includes a post office), church, children’s play area, a party room and a yoga studio.

The village also has two pubs and The Pig on the Beach hotel and restaurant, run by Dorset master chef James Golding and in the same group as the Lime Wood, where the kitchen is run by celebrity chef Angela Hartnett. Indeed, Mr England recently told Dorset Live that the Pig on the Beach was one of his favorite places to hang out.

The restaurant is award-winning and is mentioned in the Michelin Guide for its “light and fresh” dishes.

You also can’t mention Studland without batting an eyelid as the area is known for its nudist beach. Overseen by the National Trust, they state: ‘Today Studland has probably Britain’s best-known official nudist beach.’

About 1 km of the sandy beach front is reserved for naturists and there is a code of conduct which encourages respect for all who use the area.

Although tourism is undoubtedly one of the area’s main draws, it manages to remain quieter than neighboring Sandbanks and Bournemouth due to the need to cross using the chain ferry or cross country roads winding Dorset.

It also retains its Purbeck rural country feel due to the style of the buildings and large green spaces.

Why Studland?

The Telegraph study worked by selecting communities based on a combination of “highest house prices, best lifestyle amenities, connectivity and chocolate box appeal”.

It follows that 57% of Savills estate agents said the strong demand for rental properties in desirable countryside locations came from those unable to buy where they wanted.

Many potential buyers choose to rent in high-end country markets while waiting for a property to become available in their chosen region, in order to be chain-free when properties in sought-after villages become available.

This rings true for a village like Studland which, with an estimated population of 388 people, is unlikely to have a large number of houses available.

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