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Gorgeous 2 Bedroom Country Cottage With Lovely Garden Views & Great Location

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December 2024
January 2025

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Exterior
Smart TV, fireplace, DVD player, books
2 bedrooms, iron/ironing board, travel crib, free WiFi
Property grounds
Fridge, oven, stovetop, dishwasher

Reviews

10 out of 10

Exceptional

Entire home

2 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 5

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
  • Pet friendly
  • Washer
  • Kitchen
  • Fireplace
  • Barbecue grill

Explore the area

Map
Fifehead Magdalen, ENG
  • Gold Hill Museum
    12 min drive
  • Shaftesbury Abbey Museum and Garden
    12 min drive
  • Stourhead
    18 min drive
  • Bournemouth (BOH-Bournemouth Intl.)
    67 min drive

Room options

About the neighborhood

Gillingham

Located in Gillingham, this vacation home is in a rural location, within a 15-minute drive of Gartell Light Railway and Gold Hill Museum. .This vacation home is 6.2 mi (10 km) from Sturminster Newton Mill and 6.9 mi (11 km) from Shaftesbury Abbey Museum and Garden.
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What's nearby

  • Gold Hill Museum - 12 min drive - 6.8 miles
  • Shaftesbury Abbey Museum and Garden - 12 min drive - 6.9 miles
  • Stourhead Garden - 18 min drive - 11.2 miles
  • Stourhead - 18 min drive - 11.4 miles
  • Longleat Safari and Adventure Park - 39 min drive - 23.8 miles

Getting around

  • Gillingham Dorset Station - 10 min drive
  • Bournemouth (BOH-Bournemouth Intl.) - 67 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Gillingham Railway Station - ‬10 min drive
  • ‪Virginia Ash - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪Gillingham Tandoori - ‬10 min drive
  • ‪Orchard Park Garden Centre - ‬11 min drive
  • ‪White hart alehouse - ‬12 min drive

About this property

Entire place

You'll have the entire home to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.

Gorgeous 2 Bedroom Country Cottage With Lovely Garden Views & Great Location

This beautiful terrace cottage is owned by a renowned travel writer & contains decorations from all over the world - as well as a myriad of books! There are 2 bedrooms, a cosy lounge with open fire and a large airy kitchen & dining area. French windows lead from the kitchen to the garden which is small, a little wild, but much loved -- there is plenty of room to have lunch outside but you might struggle to organize a five-a-side football tournament. There are beautiful views from the end of the garden southwards towards the Dorset Downs. As well as the kitchen and living room, the downstairs has a small book-lined library, a bedroom with two single beds and a guest loo. Upstairs is a large landing with a divan or day bed that could be used to accommodate a fifth person, or perhaps just for afternoon naps, a double bedroom and a large family bathroom with bath, sink, bidet and shower. The house stands on a quiet road on the edge of an even quieter village. There are plenty of walks from the front door. There is WiFi throughout the house, TV and DVD, a stereo system for CD's and all necessary equipment and facilities, including a gas hob, in a well-stocked kitchen. Weekly guests will find a welcome pack of essentials on arrival to get them started, including a bottle of wine, and the kitchen contains all the usual stuff like tea, coffee, salt, pepper, olive oil, etc etc that guests are welcome to use.
Make yourself comfortable in this vacation home, which features a fireplace and a Smart TV. There's a private patio. A kitchen is outfitted with a refrigerator, an oven, and a stovetop. Complimentary wireless internet access keeps you connected, and a DVD player is provided for your entertainment.
Take in the views from a garden and make use of amenities such as barbecue grills.
Guests will find features like internet access and onsite parking.

Property manager

Stanley Stewart

Languages

English, French, Italian

Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in the house: Free WiFi

Parking and transportation

  • Car required
  • Parking on site

Kitchen

  • Blender
  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Cookware, dishware, and utensils
  • Dishwasher
  • Electric kettle
  • Oven
  • Refrigerator
  • Spices
  • Stovetop
  • Toaster

Dining

  • Dining table

Bedrooms

  • 2 bedrooms
  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

  • 1.5 bathrooms
  • Bathtub
  • Bidet
  • Hair dryer
  • Shampoo
  • Shower
  • Soap
  • Toilet paper
  • Towels provided

Living spaces

  • Dining table
  • Fireplace
  • Living room

Entertainment

  • Books
  • DVD player
  • Games
  • Music library
  • Smart TV
  • Stereo
  • Video library

Outdoor areas

  • Barbecue grill
  • Garden
  • Outdoor furniture
  • Patio

Laundry

  • Washing machine

Comfort

  • Heating

Pets

  • Pet friendly
  • Welcoming cats and dogs only
  • One pet total

Suitability/Accessibility

  • Smoke-free property

Services and conveniences

  • Iron/ironing board
  • Phone

Location highlights

  • In a rural location
  • In a village
  • Near a hospital

Things to do

  • Birdwatching nearby
  • Ecotours nearby
  • Fishing nearby
  • Golfing nearby
  • Hiking/biking trails nearby
  • Horseback riding nearby
  • Mountain biking nearby
  • Wildlife walks nearby

Safety features

  • Carbon monoxide detector not reported (host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector)
  • Smoke detector (host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property)
  • First aid kit
  • Fire extinguisher

General

  • Garden

Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 4:00 PM
Contactless check-in available
Minimum check-in age: 21

Check-out

Check-out before 10:00 AM
Contactless check-out available

Special check-in instructions

You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions

Pets

Pets allowed
Service animals are welcome, and are exempt from fees
Welcoming dogs and cats only
1 total pets

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation

We should mention

A car is required for transportation to and from this property

Gorgeous 2 Bedroom Country Cottage With Lovely Garden Views & Great Location Reviews

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 31 out of 33 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 2 out of 33 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 33 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 33 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 33 reviews" "

9.0/10

Cleanliness

8.0/10

Property conditions & facilities

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Emily B.

Liked: Cleanliness
Relaxing mini break in the countryside
A home from home. Comfortable, peaceful and with everything we needed. We would love to stay again. In a rural location but also close to lots of interesting places with a car.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Michael James

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2024

10/10 Excellent

David M.

Liked: Cleanliness
Amazing stay
Stanley's house was perfect. I cant understand some of the reviews that claim some of the furniture is a bit worn.... the house has charm and has the sense of travelling around the world (which Stanley has) without ever leaving and feeling extremely helpful. Special thanks for the hat from your collection for the wedding i attended (which i returned). Would definitely recommend
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Alison R.

Liked: Cleanliness
Fifehead Magdalene
What a lovely home from home. Stanley is a travel writer so the house is full of interesting books and artefacts from all his travels. We loved the quirkiness of the property and the peacefulness of the location. Popped to Stourhead, Sherborne castle and did lots of lovely walks nearby. A thoroughly enjoyable stay.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Richard L.

Liked: Cleanliness
Rustic
Comfortable house and pretty garden in very quiet area in easy reach of interesting, scenic places.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2023

8/10 Good

Lisa M.

Lovely cottage very out of the way.
Lovely stay in a very well loved home, very well lived in home. Some of the furniture could do with renewing sadly. We slept in single beds as only one double but I think these are more suitable for young children or teenagers The owner Stanley a travel writer was helpful, and very well accommodating with all questions before our stay and directions. Our overall stay was good, we used the cottage as a base for days out which suited us.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Penny B.

Liked: Cleanliness
Good short holiday.
This is a very personal property full of books and artifacts one might expect given the owner is a travel writer, we loved it. It's a quiet location but a good jumping off point for visits to NT properties and important towns and cities of this area of Dorset. Possibly not a property for toddlers but definitely for adults and slightly older children. Good walks starting from around the cottage, otherwise a car required for visits and entertainment.
Stayed 6 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Sue F.

Liked: Cleanliness
Fabulous
Lovely cottage in idyllic surroundings. Amazing views from the garden and very homely property close to many places of interest. We loved it x
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Alan B.

Liked: Cleanliness
Peaceful retreat
We had a good, quiet and undisturbed week in this property. It is very remote and discreet, the views over the rear are fantastic and you literally hear nothing. The property is lovely, homely and practical. There were plenty of items ready for us to use , tea, coffee, sugar and all the necessary things you are likely to need, just turn up with your clothing. Stanley also leaves plenty of bird seed and they will entertain you as well, you'll be kept busy keeping the feeders filled. All in all a homely property in the middle of nowhere, which is what we wanted after the last 18 months of restrictions. We travelled out a couple of times and Bournemouth, Weymouth, wells, are all within an hour of the property. We experienced no real issues. Stanley gave us very precise instructions to get there and get in, there's a very concise folder of what's what, both in the area and in the property. Any problems are just a call/message away. Thankyou very much
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

Lucy M.

Liked: Cleanliness
Lovely house! Very cosy for exploring the local countryside.
Lovely!
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2020

10/10 Excellent

jackie w.

Liked: Cleanliness
Breakfast bench
We had the most perfect stay in Stanley's cottage. Very comfortable, warm and relaxing. I particularly loved the bottom garden and my breakfast bench. Really hope to return as soon as possible. Thank you
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2020

10/10 Excellent

Malcolm R.

Home from home
Our second stay in a peaceful comfortable cottage. we wanted for absolutely nothing. Very well equipped. Well placed to visit the area, a stones throw from the A30, yet incredibly peaceful with beautiful views across the Blackmore Vale. A generous host, really just allowing us to stay in his home, and treat it as ours for a few days!
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2018

10/10 Excellent

Wesley S.

Amazing place
Great location. Superb host and a wonderful variety of books to get lost in
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2018

10/10 Excellent

David M.

Lovely cottage in beautiful surroundings
Absolutely charming cottage in a beautiful village, tucked away in the rolling Dorset hills. We had a fantastic stay here and Stewart was very helpful
Stayed 3 nights in May 2018

10/10 Excellent

Jackie M.

A unique cottage in a beautiful peaceful location
We only stayed four days but could have stayed for ever! The cottage is full of books and artifacts from the owners travels,so interesting and completely unique. If you can drag yourself away from the cottage it's well situated for exploring both Dorset and Wiltshire with many lovely walks on the doorstep too.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2018

10/10 Excellent

Sandra M.

Lovely place to stay
What an amazing home to have the privilege of staying in. We felt relaxed as soon as we arrived. The owner, Stanley, gave great instructions on how to find the property and how to access it. When it was time to come home, we were reluctant to leave, not only was the cottage beautiful but the surroundings were great as well. Would love to visit the area again and would definitely come back to Stanley's cottage.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2017

10/10 Excellent

Mark S.

Beautiful, interesting cottage in a great and quiet location
An interesting place to stay full of books and unusual items from all over the world. Quite spacious with a secluded back garden and delightful forest walks nearby. A great place to stay to explore Dorset and Somerset.
Stayed 7 nights in Apr 2017

10/10 Excellent

John W.

Charming comfort in rural Dorset
Everything about this cottage was an absolute delight, so much so it's probably best kept as a secret !
Stayed 3 nights in May 2016

10/10 Excellent

Nicky L.

Beautifully comfortable cottage in tranquil surroundings close to local attractions.
We were very impressed from the moment we entered the cottage. The kitchen diner was extremely well equipped and perfect for cooking and chatting. We loved the decor of the cottage and both bedrooms were a good size and very comfortable. Loving the day bed on the upstairs landing for afternoon reading/snoozing! We had a rotten days weather on the Sunday we were there but somehow it didn't seem to matter. We lit the fire and watched a movie.....perfect way to spend a rainy afternoon. Shaftsbury and Sherborne are a short drive away and well worth a visit. We will certainly return to the area and would be delighted to stay at the cottage again. In summary, a fantastic cottage that I would recommend to anyone!! PS I should mention the books!! No need to take any reading material with you as there are thousands!!!
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2016

10/10 Excellent

Robert O.

Very pleasant stay.
This is an architecturally interesting house with a homelike feel. The back bench along the rear of the property has nice views over the surrounding fields and is a nice place to rest or have a morning cup of coffee. The house has a very usable kitchen, nice eating area, and a comfortable sitting area. Good instructions and information on the local area were left for us by the owner. Although there aren't any stores or eating establishments within walking distance, there are plenty within a short drive. I would recommend this location to friends and relatives.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2015

8/10 Good

Dagmar H.

Liked: Cleanliness
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Michael M.

Liked: Cleanliness
House with character
We very much enjoyed our vacation in Fifehead Magdalen. Very nice and cosy house with a beautiful view. Happy to come back.
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Heike S.

Liked: Cleanliness
Wonderful rural home from home
Fifehead Magdalen is a beautiful little hamlet in the Blackmore Vale. Very rural , but close to many attractions in North Dorset and the bordering counties. Good farm shop and convenient petrol station Spar supermarket close by. We especially loved the more unknown Minterne Gardens and Athelhampton House and Gardens. The cottage is a heaven for book lovers and travel enthusiasts, so we immediately felt at home . As the owner is about the same age as us , we also loved the CD Collection and more than often listened to (e.g.) an old Simon and Garfunkel disc at the large kitchen table with a mug of coffee and lovely morning sunshine. That said, the living room is a bit dark during the day and the sofa and easy chair were old and lovely but sagging a bit. The cottage has a lovely lived in feeling and was decorated in a travel vibe theme with travel memorabilia , but cluttered (in a good way). So do not expect contemporary uncluttered chic. The cottage was very clean, but wear and tear can be seen. Not a purpose build holiday property but a real home you seem to have been given to stay in for a while by a trusting friend. Lovely country views from the back part of the back garden (bench) , but not from the patio because the garden shed is blocking the view. Absolutely great property to immerse yourself for a few days in , to quote from the guest book, “ the library of Dorset”.
Stayed 7 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Alexandra F.

Liked: Cleanliness
Home sweet home
We simply love Stanley’s place. Everything was perfect to us : the books, the house nicely decorated, the location (near from shops and beautiful villages), the walks everywhere, the lovely garden. It was the perfect size for the 3 of us. Stanley provided many wonderful recommandations for pubs, walks, sightseeings. His neighbors are very friendly. It’s like visiting a friend’s house with everything you need, and the feeling of being truly welcomed. We will definitely come back!
Stayed 14 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveler

Cosy house with lots of books
We loved our stay in this house with a lot of books, cosy sofas and a lush garden.
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2017