Dorset buyers choose from coastal, town and countryside new homes

Home to the popular seaside resort of Bournemouth and the historic county town of Dorchester, Dorset is a largely rural and pleasantly uncrowded county with a gorgeous coastline and a strong tourism industry. Plenty of people also dream of settling down in new homes in Dorset rather than just enjoying their holidays there - and developments are springing up across the county to meet this demand.

Coastal homes

Buyers seeking a surf lifestyle will be drawn to the new Breeze development from Linden Homes in the Bournemouth suburb of Boscombe in south Dorset. These one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments range in price from £160,000 up to £345,000, and are all situated just a few hundred yards from the seafront, many with sea views. With its new artificial surf reef, Boscombe looks set to become Bournemouth's surfing capital, surrounded by trendy cafés and lively surf shops. And an added bonus for first-time buyers is the fact that some apartments are available for as little as £128,000 through the Government-backed FirstBuy affordable housing scheme.

Semi-rural homes

Just 20 miles west of Salisbury, picturesque Shaftesbury is one of the oldest and highest towns in Britain. With its scenic hilltop position and far-reaching rural views, it is a desirable place to live. Just east of the centre, Charles Church's Pembroke Gate development offers a range of luxury two-bedroom apartments from £99,960, and a selection of two- to five-bedroom houses. Featuring solar thermal panels that reduce the amount of gas needed to provide hot water, these new homes are ideally located for commuting to Blandford Forum and Bournemouth. Also in Shaftesbury, The Maltings is a collection of two- to five-bedroom homes from Persimmon Homes priced from £111,960 upwards, designed to complement the area's existing landscape and architecture, featuring attractive exterior elevations and spacious interiors.

Urban homes

The Georgian market town of Blandford (or Blandford Forum) offers a good central location for commuters to the city of Salisbury (23 miles) and to towns such as Poole (15 miles), Bournemouth (20 miles) and Shaftesbury (13 miles). Persimmon Homes' award-winning Badbury Heights development in Blandford is made up of one- to four-bedroom homes, and for families there's the renowned Bryanston School close by, as well as and several other primary and secondary schools.

And for housebuyers in Salisbury, Osmund Fields, also from Persimmon Homes, will appeal to those who want to be within easy reach of the city's best shops, pubs, bars and restaurants. Situated just on the southern edge of the city, there are now just two plots remaining, including a four-bedroom detached house for £329,950.

Those looking for a quieter town to live in could take a look at Ferndale in east Dorset, where Bloor Homes has created a select development of just ten new homes at White Oaks, priced from £309,950 to £389,950. These three- and four-bedroom houses are close to lovely countryside and beautiful coastal spots, yet benefit from having convenient local amenities nearby - and being within easy reach of Bournemouth, just seven miles away.

There is a selection of three- and four-bedroom homes available at Bloor Homes' White Oaks development in Ferndale, seven miles from Bournemouth, priced from £309,950