Gorgeous 2 Bedroom Country Cottage With Lovely Garden Views & Great Location Reviews, Deals & Photos 2025

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

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

Q: 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).

10/10 Excellent

Emily B.

27 Oct 2024

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

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

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

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

8/10 Good

Lisa M.

8 Jun 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

Stephen M.

27 May 2025

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

Excellent location and ambience

This is the perfect home away from home for relaxation after a day touring the countryside, and we were very grateful to have enjoyed it for two weeks. The owner, Stanley, provided detailed instructions on how to reach it, and in the house is his booklet with details on places to visit nearby, and instructions on how to operate the appliances. Stanley kept in touch with us as our arrival date neared, and answered any questions promptly. The house itself is filled with many interesting books, travel artefacts from around the world, and cozy nooks in which to enjoy them. The kitchen has all the appliances and utensils needed if you like to cook, and we enjoyed good meals there with food from local farm shops. Stanley gave advice about which shops to visit and destinations we told him that we wanted to see. While relaxing in the house, birds in the back garden kept us entertained, and there's a nice view over the downs with a bench on which to enjoy a drink at the end of the day. The location was convenient to reaching the stately homes and quaint towns in the region. All in all, the place added a lot to our enjoyment of the trip.

Stayed 13 nights in May 2025

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

8/10 Good

Dagmar H.

2 Oct 2024

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

Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Michael James

9 Apr 2024

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, communication

Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2024

10/10 Excellent

Michael M.

5 Jul 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 Jun 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

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 Jul 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 Jun 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 Jul 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

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 Jun 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

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

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

Reviews

Entire home

Popular amenities

Add dates for prices

About this property

Entire place