Another year has come & gone, a busy one yet again!  We've loved seeing so many of our regular guests again and as always it's great to meet new ones.

John, Caroline, Gemma, Maria, Marceta and All the Team at the Hensleigh wish you all 
a Very Happy Christmas and Best Wishes for 2007 !

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Cappuccino & Croissant, Hot Chocolate & Muffins, Afternoon Tea with homemade scones and thick clotted cream, a glass of chilled white wine with juicy olives.... Locally caught juicy fresh fish, crab sandwiches, slowly braised shank of Dorset lamb...  all waiting to tempt you during your stay - unwind, relax and enjoy !!!

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Yes, it's finally open !!!

Those of you who have been to see us in the latter part of the year will have seen for yourself that the coastal path from the beach to the east up Stonebarrow Hill and onto Golden Cap has finally reopened - the paths are wider and the views are just as spectacular as before - so don your walking boots and walk up to the highest point on the south coast (and of course down the other side for wonderful crab sandwiches at the Anchor Inn in Seatown).

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Hensleigh House Parties

We've had several groups of guests take over the Hotel for a get together again this year.
If you are organising a family get together, a walking break for friends or any type of break with a group do give us a call.
Menus and mealtimes can be arranged to suit you and your party.

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West Country Tastes

We've teamed up with more local suppliers for next season providing Dorset Lamb, Dorset Honey, traditionally smoked fish and duck amongst others... Along with our current fantastic suppliers of local fresh fish from Samways, Preserves, handmade in Bridport by Forest Products, delicious honey roast sausages from Westaways in Newton Abbot - we experimented with a  different sausage for a week earlier in the year but the moans of guests and the threat of staff leaving if they couldn't have their favourite sausage for breakfast we soon changed them back !!

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Lyme Regis

The works to stabilise Lyme have been progressing well this year. The new beach is now fully open with much easier access along the front and the work up in the gardens is due to finish by Easter  next year

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Charmouth Heritage Centre

Reopened earlier this year, it's bigger and better than before - when you're down it's well worth a visit .
The Centre is running a full programme of fossil walks, talks and activities again in 2007.
Visit www.charmouth.org  for more information...

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River Cottage

Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall fans may be aware that Hugh has moved his River Cottage HQ to Park Farm , a 15 minute drive away.  The team at River Cottage run many interesting courses and special evenings at the HQ - for a listing of this year's events visit  www.rivercottage.net

Dear Guests,

And so yet another year has come & gone………we have, enjoyed seeing so many familiar faces and many new ones pass through the Hensleigh doors .and the time has come to wish all our guests new & old a VERY HAPPY CHRISTMAS!

We hope you have had a good year. We have, although a very busy one!! As many of you know our house was finally finished in June - so much for moving in in April! Just as well when we started we didn’t realise how much time & effort is involved in having a house built or we’d never have started!!! And maybe by next June we’ll get round to hanging the pictures on the wall!!!! Even the locals say it looks like it’s always been there and approve, praise indeed!!

The revamped extended Heritage Coast Centre opened in May and houses interactive computers, hands on displays and lots of information on fossils, fossil hunting and the local coastal and marine wildlife. There is even a video microscope that you can use to examine your finds!

If you ventured to Lyme Regis while you were here this year you will have seen all the coastal protection work going on. The work is vital to save the town from destructive landslides and coastal erosion - the current work is aimed at protecting the foreshore -we’ve seen huge Norwegian trawlers dropping huge boulders off the Cobb wall to form a new defence along with lots of stabilising work in Lister & Langmoor gardens - all very interesting to watch!!

Work in West Bay finished earlier this year and the new Western Pier which stretches well out into the sea is well worth a walk along when you’re next visiting.

Hensleigh life has pootled on - Maria, Julia & Marceta have continued to provide you all with culinary delights. Marceta has made countless batches of scones and Dorset Apple cake throughout the year and her homemade shortbread biscuits were becoming something of a hit at the end of the summer!! We’ve had a few wonderful new faces join the team during the year and hopefully they’ll all be back with us next year to see many of you again.

Gemma has now turned seven - a real grown up helper now and we’re counting the years until all her friends can help in the hotel!! She joined Brownies this year and due to the Brownie leader retiring - I somehow got persuaded to take over as Brown Owl!!! It’s all good fun, but any ideas from ex Brownies or leaders amongst you would be most welcome - particularly any on how to keep twenty 7-10 year olds quiet all at the same time!?