Large Cottages in Dorset for Group Holidays

Reviews

What our customers say about their holidays

• Andrew - Verified booking

  The Rousdon Estate is a fantastic place to stay.

  There are good short walks around the estate with a lot of interesting and quirky buildings to look at. For longer walks, the massive plus is that the estate has its own path down to the Undercliff (about half way along) from where you can walk to Seaton or Lyme Regis. If you cross the Undercliff path the private path continues on to a private beach which was virtually deserted both times we went (although the path is quite challenging). 2, Old Home Farm itself is a very clean, airy and well-appointed house which had easily enough space and seats, etc for seven of us. The large fridge-freezer was particularly welcome as we did a lot of cooking ourselves. The house also has a nice sunny garden, front and back. We didn't have any of the problems previous guests had with showers (we've had a lot worse!) However, although it was very clean, we did have a few niggles about how the house had been left for us. First, we had asked (when booking and also by phone the week before we came) for both the beds in bedrooms 1 & 3 to be made up as superkings. We had received an email saying that this would be done but bedroom 3 was still a twin when we arrived. We had to zip-link it ourselves and luckily we had brought a spare double sheet and duvet. Second, like the previous reviewer in April we were pretty appalled to be greeted by a pile of 26 empty bottles just lying around outside the back of the house. Then we found a further 14 bottles in a food waste bin in the same location, making 40 in all. Clearly the cleaners expected that it was future guests' responsibility to dispose of their predecessors' empties. Anyway, we put them all in black sacks and put them in the orange top black bin - where all rubbish and recycling has to go - and put the bin out on Tuesday night for Wednesday collection. We found out about this in the guest book but it would be helpful if this info could be displayed more prominently. In addition, there was no outside bucket for cleaning our dog's paws after a muddy walk so we bought a Lyme Regis "Crab Bucket". Before leaving, we wrote "2, Old Home Farm" on this bucket and left it outside the back door for future dog owning guests to use, so we hope that it is still there. Finally, we would like to say that these were only minor irritations and we really enjoyed our stay at 2, Old Home Farm and on the Rousdon estate and would definitely recommend it

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• Linda - Verified booking

  Like other reviewers, we were disappointed by The Courthouse.

  We have stayed in many self-catering cottages over the years, always opting for the more expensive ones, and usually getting what we paid for. The Courthouse is generally shabby and tired in appearance. we had to hoover the carpet when we arrived, after our grandson rolled on it and came up covered in dog hair. A large table lamp had broken off at the base and been propped up so that the slightest knock would dislodge it, leaving sharp edges that would have been dangerous to a child. Similarly, there were paracetamol tablets in a child-height drawer in the kitchen. The kitchen extractor fan was filthy, and the glassware and crockery were smeary, probably because of the dirty hinges and seals in the dishwasher - we washed ours by hand during our visit. The garden furniture included a table that was too rickety to use comfortably for eating, and one of the reclining chairs was broken (missing hinge). Luckily we noticed that before our heavily pregnant daughter-in-law sat in it. There is a sunken bin at the bottom of the garden for dog waste, but it is half full of dried faeces because no one has put any of the required fluid in to dissolve it, so we didn't add to it. It just seems that no one seems to check anything, or do any of the minor jobs that are needed to keep a rental in good condition (like oiling the bedroom door hinges). Although we eventually managed to turn the front door key (you have to lift the door fairly forcibly to get it to engage), someone even older and frailer than us would have struggled. This is a nice cottage in a lovely location, but it needs a lot of attention to justify the price.

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• Gillian - Verified booking

  Broken downstairs toilet seat.

  Dead animal smell in the ensuite, and mould over ceiling and walls, reduced to using just 1 toilet out of the 3. Dirty glasses, cups, and cookware put away in the cupboards. Dog excrement in the garden and a full poo bag in a Bush. Garden furniture(Chairs) 4 of 6 broken and repaired badly, 2 beyond repair and broken. Loose bricks on the step edges from patio area to garden. Outdoor light (mains) not working and has been this way in all our visits, 4 since Christmas. Log surrounds of the raised garden literally rotting away and falling off, I refixed 3 in April (our previous visit this year).All of these faults apart from the mouldy and smelly ensuite were communicated within an hour of arrival. The condition of the Courthouse this time was appalling especially as this was high season pricing, I find it hard to report these faults as we have had 3 fantastic stays in this property. The reporting and actions to these issues was poor and we were constantly told that the request for help would be closed unless we had more to say. Closed without any actions no apologies and no local contact unless we remained in the property for someone to rectify the problems, which could not have been done whilst it was being let. We were informed that the owner was told of the situation but no direct contact or apology. Not a good way to treat customers that have paid just about £5000 pound in a year.. Disgusted to a point of not wanting to return.

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• Abi - Verified booking

  We had a wonderful stay at the Courthouse.

  Beautifully clean, well equipped, with very comfortable beds. The good quality cotton bed linen was lovely too, great to snuggle up in after a long day of walks on the local beaches & countryside with our two collies. Perfect bath (there is an over bath shower) or separate powerful shower which is en-suite to the master bedroom. Large comfy lounge (3 seater, 2 seater & two chairs) overlooking a fully enclosed garden which our two loved. Ample parking space for our car. Nice neighbours, they have dogs & whilst friendly kept themselves to themselves. The cottage is just a 2min stroll from The Springhead pub which is nestled away & clientele were lovely, good varied drinks, food menu & pizza oven outside. Lots of great walks for every type of walker. Close to Osmington Mills, Lulworth Cove/Durdle Door & Weymouth, Portland Bill. For avid readers there’s a red telephone box in the village packed with lots of good exchange books. All round excellent cottage & location. Yes, take your own towels as Sykes advises & if your visit is during or following a soggy week or two I’d imagine it is incredibly hard to clean the cottage if they’ve had a mindless family staying & not managing their dogs/tidying up after themselves, as would be anywhere. The decor & detail at this property showed me the owners & their cleaner care greatly for those that stay. I’ve always liked the All Blacks motto, ‘Sweep the Shed’.

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• Keith - Verified booking

  Thatched Cottage is very old and comfortable and has all one needs for a quiet relaxing holiday in a fantastic country setting, but needs some internal TLC, the wall as you enter the cottage is breaking away (plaster?

  ), in the excellent conservatory , and utility quite a few of the Double glazed windows have 'blown' spoiling the wonderful views . Having said this the cottage is well equipped and very comfortable if you want peace and quiet this is the place for you, many eating places and country houses/parks etc all close by, or relax in the lovely gardens with chairs and cushions supplied by the owners, listening to the birds and if up early enough to see the deer walking across the fields, The owner (Karen) who lives opposite the cottage is lovely and has fresh eggs and lovely venison produce if you are not a vegetarian, Both are highly recommended as in general is the Thatched Cottage, if the time and expense allows to fix the above items could be 100% perfect . The 5pm take over time is very late and should be brought in line with most other holiday lets, usually 3pm. (4pm at the very latest)

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