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

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Entire home

The cosy living room opens out into the light dining area and kitchen

The house is full of cosy corners and books and comfy furnishings

The kitchen table, the heart of the house, with views onto the garden

Kitchen has washing machine, dishwasher, fridge / freezer and gas hob and stove

Overview
Amenities
Policies
Location
Host

Exceptional

2 bedrooms1+ bathroomSleeps 5

Popular amenities

Washer

Pet-friendly

Barbecue grill

Outdoor space

Kitchen

Fireplace

Explore the area

Fifehead Magdalen, ENG

Stourhead Garden18 min drive
Stourhead18 min drive
Longleat Safari and Adventure Park39 min drive
Bournemouth (BOH-Bournemouth Intl.)67 min drive

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 5)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 2

2 Single Beds

1 bathroom, 1 half bathroom

Bathroom 1

Bathtub · Bidet · Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 2

Toilet

Spaces

Deck or patio

Kitchen

Outdoor play area

Garden

Dining Area

About this property

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.

Property manager

Stanley Stewart

Languages

English, French, Italian

Amenities

Kitchen

Washer

Pet-friendly

Free WiFi

Outdoor space

Barbecue grill

Kitchen

Washer

Dryer

Free WiFi

House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM

Minimum age to rent: 21

Check out before 10:00 AM

Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17

Events

No events allowed

Pets

Pets allowed: dogs and cats (limit 1 total)

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

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

On-site 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 that there is a smoke detector on the property

Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit

We should mention

A car is required for transport to and from this property

About the area

Gillingham

Located in Gillingham, this holiday home is in a rural area. Sturminster Newton Mill and Shaftesbury Abbey Museum and Garden are local landmarks, and some of the area's attractions include Gartell Light Railway and Mill on the Brue. Larmer Tree Gardens and Badger Watch Dorset are also worth visiting. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.

Fifehead Magdalen, ENG

What's nearby

Gold Hill Museum - 12 min drive
Stourhead Garden - 18 min drive
Stourhead - 18 min drive
Center Parcs Longleat Forest - 32 min drive
Longleat Safari and Adventure Park - 39 min drive

Getting around

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

Restaurants

‪Orchard Park Garden Centre - ‬11 min drive
‪The Dolphin Inn - ‬11 min drive
‪Gillingham Railway Station - ‬10 min drive
‪Virginia Ash - ‬8 min drive
‪Ship Inn - ‬3 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Gorgeous 2 Bedroom Country Cottage With Lovely Garden Views & Great Location pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows cats and dogs (limit 1 total).

What time is check-in at Gorgeous 2 Bedroom Country Cottage With Lovely Garden Views & Great Location?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Gorgeous 2 Bedroom Country Cottage With Lovely Garden Views & Great Location?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Gorgeous 2 Bedroom Country Cottage With Lovely Garden Views & Great Location located?

Situated in a rural location, this holiday home is within 9 miles (15 km) of Gartell Light Railway, Sturminster Newton Mill and Gold Hill Museum. Shaftesbury Abbey Museum and Garden and Cranborne Chase and the West Wiltshire Downs are also within 9 miles (15 km).

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.

Learn more

8.8/10

Cleanliness

8.0/10

Property conditions & facilities

9.8/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

9.8/10

Listing accuracy

10/10 Excellent

David M.

10 Sept 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

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

Michael James

9 Apr 2024

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, communication

Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2024

10/10 Excellent

Alison R.

1 Sept 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

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.

20 Aug 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Rustic

Comfortable house and pretty garden in very quiet area in easy reach of interesting, scenic places.

Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Michael M.

5 July 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

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.

23 June 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

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

8/10 Good

Lisa M.

8 June 2023

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

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

Alexandra F.

7 Aug 2022

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

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

Penny B.

5 July 2022

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

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.

19 June 2022

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

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.

14 July 2021

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

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.

17 Oct 2020

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lovely house! Very cosy for exploring the local countryside.

Lovely!

Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2020

10/10 Excellent

jackie w.

10 Oct 2020

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

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.

30 Nov 2018

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.

26 Nov 2018

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.

29 May 2018

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.

8 Apr 2018

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

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

9 Oct 2017

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

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Yvonne K.

28 Sept 2017

Ländliche Idylle pur

In dem mit viel Liebe und sicherem Kunstgeschmack sehr individuell und wunderschön eingerichtetes Reihenhaus haben wir uns sofort heimisch gefühlt. Bücher und CD-Sammlung vom Feinsten stehen zur Verfügung, im Garten haben wir Äpfel und Birnen vom Baum pflücken dürfen. Küchenutensilien, Bettwäsche, Handtücher – alles ist reichlich vorhanden. Der Emailkontakt mit dem Besitzer war sehr freundlich, er hat uns sogar vergessene Kleidungsstücke umgehend nachgeschickt. Einfach ein Glücksfall!

Stayed 6 nights in Sep 2017

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Sandra M.

9 Aug 2017

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

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Mark S.

30 Apr 2017

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

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

John W.

14 June 2016

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

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Nicky L.

26 Jan 2016

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

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Robert O.

10 Oct 2015

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

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Annette K.

4 Sept 2015

Beautiful house

The house is truly lovely. It is located in a small, rural village and has a great view over the Blackmore Vale. The house is well kept and beautifully decorated with souvenirs the owner brought home from obviously many travels araund the world. The house is full of the most interesting books. You'll find novels you wanted to read for a long time, books you loved and read some time ago, a lot of poems and a great deal of books about Dorset. We felt very much at home and the rainy days were as lovely as the sunny days, when we roamed the area via footpathes or visited the most beautiful manors and huge houses around. The recommendations in the leaflet, the owner provides, are very good. A wonderful holiday! We were very sad, when we had to leave.

About the host

Hosted by Stanley Stewart

I am travel writer and author. I was born in Ireland, grew up in Canada but have lived all my adult life in England. When I am not travelling, I currently divide my time between Rome and the UK.

As well as three travel books, I write regularly for most of the national newspapers in the UK including the Sunday Times, the Daily Telegraph and the Financial Times as well as for National Geographic Traveler in the States. I am a contributing editor at Conde Nast Traveller UK.

Why they chose this property

When I moved out of London, after thirty years there, I fell for Dorset simply before it was so beautiful. I had travelled here before, and I found myself coming back again and again. It is one of the most rural counties in England, and the only one with no motorways. There are also no cities other than Bournemouth down on the coast. It is a landscape of green rolling hills and small quirky villages -- a storybook landscape -- and I love it. I find the beauty of the area inspires me every day, and my cottage is the perfect quiet hideaway from where I could work, and from where I can explore one of the loveliest parts of England.

What makes this property unique

This house is a real home. I live here on the rare occassions when I am in the UK. All the pesonal stuff of course may have been cleared away for rental but the house will have a homely cozy lived-in feeling rather than the rather spartan hollow atmosphere of some rental properties. I love it and I hope you will too. There is lots of wonderful walks from the front door, and our road is part of the National Cycle Way. There are at least a half dozen wonderful gastro pubs with seriously good food close to hand, and it is an area to explore -- with lots to see and do.