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Candy Cottage

(Ref. 5331)

Thornford near Sherborne, Dorset Show on map

4.2

Sykes rating

  • 2 Guests

  • 1 Bedroom

  • 1 Bathroom

  • Pets Yes

Features

  • Off road parking
  • Open fire
  • Pub/shop < 1 mile
  • Broadband / WiFi

Reviews & Ratings

Accuracy of the listing
Cleanliness
Comfort
Facilities and Maintenance
  • All reviews
  • cottage (41)
  • lovely (32)
  • welcome (21)
  • owners (21)
  • great (17)
  • village (17)

59 Customer Reviews

  • "We stayed at Candy Cottage for a long weekend with our 2 small dogs."

    A lovely log fire. Lots of Utensil's in the kitchen. Eggs and Doggie treats were a lovely touch. A lovely Bedroom with lots of storage and an outstanding bathroom. Heating always on to keep us warm but the log fire was a wonderful extra. Space outside the property for the car. Lovely pretty village with lots of walks and the pub close by, excellent food/Sunday roast, lovely people, great service, recommend. Went to owners café with the dogs a few miles away, such good value, really recommend this. The owners of Candy cottage were absolutely lovely and very approachable. I would highly recommend this cottage and hope to return soon.

    Reviewed by Helen4.1Mar 2024

  • "The cottage is perhaps smaller than photos indicate."

    The bathroom, although very good, didn't have a two pin razor socket. Also kitchen area rather small. But a pleasant stay nonetheless.

    Reviewed by Colin3.4Feb 2024

  • "The property was dirty throughout, especially in the kitchen and bathroom."

    The first night we had to spend £35 on cleaning products to clean the kitchen, bathroom and utensils. There were cob-webs in the toaster, dirt in the draws and mouldy food in the cupboards. The kettle, and shower heads had a lot of limescale on them, the oven was caked in grease so cooking wasn't really an option. Unfortunately, the smoke alarm kept going off as well. I messaged the host but they didn't reply. One one night the bathroom began to smell of gas so we ended up staying in a different accommodation. A lot of extra expense here and I wouldn't recommend staying.

    Reviewed by Lucas2.2Dec 2023

  • "Warm, clean & very comfortable place to stay."

    Reviewed by Philip4.4Dec 2023

  • "There were only 7 logs of wood for the week as the owner hadn't received a delivery and if we needed any more we had to buy them."

    Without the fire lit the property was very cold The WiFi was very annoying, hardly any signal and we were told by the owner that we were on holiday so didn't really need it. 2 toilet rolls for 2 people for a week. We didn't dare say anything incase we were told to buy it ourselves. Alround a very poor show. Without the intervention of Sykes Cottages we would have been unable to contact the owners to find out about the key collection as the telephone numbers provided did not work.

    Reviewed by Ernst2.2Dec 2023

  • "Really enjoyed our stay thanks, small cosy cottage at a very fair price, would happily use again, many thanks"

    Reviewed by Lee3.8Nov 2023

  • "We liked the location, the welcome pack and the toiletries."

    The cottage smelt unclean as soon as we entered and it was very dirty on inspection. We had to wash all cutlery, crockery, glasses and cookware. The inside of the kitchen cupboards were disgusting with grease and dirt on the shelves. Top and bottom of microwave had a film of grease over it. The internal kitchen bin was filthy with bits of food and drink spills down the sides of it. The kettle had not been emptied and was dirty on the outside. The toaster was dirty and had not been cleaned. The skirting boards throughout were dusty. Underneath the lampstand which was corroded and dirty, and behind the sofa was dirty with many dead insects. Some of the bedroom drawers smelt stale and we couldn't use them for clothing. Carpets were grubby and need replacing. The windows and frames inside and out were disgusting and obviously had not been cleaned for some time. The two roller blinds in the kitchen and bathroom were dirty with mould and dead creatures stuck to them. The bedroom curtains were also grubby. The sofa looked worn and tired as others had commented previously in their reviews. I am glad that we took our own throws to sit on. The tall candle holder was full of cobwebs inside and there were used candles in all of the holders. We brought scented candles to try to improve the horrible aroma within. The small patio area was full of weeds and above the front door were overhanging bushes which made it difficult to stand to unlock/lock the door. There was a small bistro set in front of the cottage but unfortunately this was rusty and dirty so we did not use it. Overall, the cottage was dirty which is sad as with a deep clean and replacing worn items it would be beautiful. We left the cottage cleaner, tidier and smelling fresh on our departure. Although the owners lived next door, we felt it pointless talking to them as they obviously has not taken note of previous guest comments.

    Reviewed by Piearce1.6Sep 2023

  • "Candy Cottage was a lovely cottage."

    Cosy and comfortable. The owners had thought about everything you could possibly need to make our stay comfortable. Thanks for the treats especially the eggs. They were lovely.

    Reviewed by Corinne5.0Sep 2023

  • "We were booked for four nights we only stayed one night."

    Somebody from Sykes cottages needs to go and check this cottage out. We tried to get in touch with Sykes cottages but proved to be impossible. The place needs a desperate overhaul, settee dirty and smelly, cookerhob cracked. Toaster and kettle needs throwing in the bin !!! The photo of inside cottage is a very old photo and the outside has much to be desired. We should be refunded our money. So so disappointed and very very dissatisfied.

    Reviewed by Derek1.3Sep 2023

  • "Friendly owners,little grubby, and lovely welcome gift"

    Reviewed by Peter4.4Aug 2023

  • "We had a lovely break the cottage was very well equipped and comfortable."

    The lovely treats were very welcome thank you

    Reviewed by Julie5.0Jun 2023

  • "Lovely little cottage for the 2 of us and Eric."

    Great use of space all through the cottage. It is a home from home place to stay. The only downfall was no outdoor space for Eric . Not even for a wee! Lol Got me out and about though. Saw some lovely views and has a great friendly pub in the village. Thank you for a lovely week.

    Thanks for your lovely review - it means a lot. We do our best with the space we have. Sorry if Eric had to keep his legs crossed. Glad you made good use of the pub but rather sorry we could not arrange better weather ! Property Owner

    Reviewed by Tina4.7Mar 2023

  • "Most probably wouldn’t return sorry!"

    Settee was absolutely awful dirty and greasy needs replacing! Big Square plates etc where there is a round sink and a round sink bowl that the plates do not fit!? Bedroom was nice apart from the cream curtains so if you are a light sleeper every car etc will light the bedroom up on passing as it’s right on a road Cooking trays need replacing as they are dirty. Can’t fault the owners though they left us a welcome basket that was a nice touch. Upstairs bathroom is lovely but the claw foot bath is just for show as it wouldn’t fill more than a foot before the water went so couldn’t use it, Sadly won’t return:(

    Reviewed by Ross2.2Feb 2023

  • "A quaint little cottage in a remote countryside location."

    Sherborne and Yeovil easily reached by car and plenty of countryside walks on the doorstep. Friendly hosts and lovely welcome goodies on arrival much appreciated.

    Reviewed by Sarah3.8Oct 2022

  • "Compact but functional cottage."

    Considering the size of the bathroom (Huge), it would have been nice to have a bigger shower enclosure. A couple of small issues: TV remote needs replacing (direction buttons barely work) and the internet cut out a few times during our stay. Overall had a great time and loved the items left for us (including fresh eggs)

    Reviewed by Terry4.7Sep 2022

  • "Although the wifi was not too reliable (due to rural location), the cottage was lovely and the hosts couldn't have been more helpful."

    Generous welcome goodies, and lovely toiletries.

    Thanks for your lovely comments, Ruth. I hope the wedding went well ! Property Owner

    Reviewed by Ruth5.0Aug 2022

  • "Needs a deep clean including windows that need the returns cleaning."

    The doors haven’t been cleaned for years very the tops of the panels very dirty. The sofa very un comfortable. Sorry not a good review.

    We are always upset when we receive negative comments and sad that guests have not enjoyed their stay as we try hard to make things special for them. We are just next door and always hope that people will let us know if there are any issues while they are here. However, although we do our best to be friendly and approachable, we appreciate this might not be easy. We will of course look at the issues raised and deal with as necessary. With regards to the sofa, this does receive mixed comments, some people loving it. We are considering a replacement but have not been able to agree on it so far ! Property Owner

    Reviewed by Maggie1.6Jun 2022

  • "Tracy and David did everything to make the stay a comfortable one."

    On arrival there was an impressive array of welcome gifts and items that gave the guest the impression they had thought of as many thinkg as possible that would add comfort to the welcome - including a bunch of red roses on the window sill, fruit and sweeties in the fruit bowl, a stock of basic items-coffee tea sugar, millk and some groceries to get you started and half dozen of their own eggs which was a lovely touch. Upstairs in the bathroom there was an array of quality 'Sancturary' bath and shower products to enjoy while using the nice bathroom. The rubbish was efficiently collected from outside, more or less when it was put out and the internet was attentively made available as well as possible, for the rural area we were in. Communication was very good but not intrusive.

    Reviewed by Anna5.0May 2022

  • "Delightful little cottage."

    Clean and comfortable. We were touched by the thoughtful and delightful gift basket. Loved the friendly welcome. The provision of essentials along with fruit and sweets was a lovely gesture and very much appreciated. The cottage itself is a delight and the light burner made the stay really enjoyable. The only other feed back is, I would have liked a hair dryer.

    Thanks for your lovely comments, Barbara. We’re glad you enjoyed your weekend and hope to meet you again, There is a hairdryer in the bottom right hand drawer of the dressing table. That is my fault, I need to make sure people are aware of this. To Property Owner

    Reviewed by Barbara4.4Mar 2022

  • "We were really disappointed with the cottage."

    We ended up leaving early. We stayed from the 18th of January 2022 for two nights instead of the three. The upstairs of the cottage was nice and as described, the downstairs however was uncomfortable and dirty. There was a terrible smell of damp and nothing was clean. We know it has been winter and that the building is old. However, that doesn’t allow for mouldy and stained blinds, greasy pots and pans, dust and cobwebs everywhere. The sofa was old and stained, also the two dining chairs were dirty and stained. The blind in the bathroom was also mouldy. I’m hoping it will be improved for future guests.

    Reviewed by Alice1.6Jan 2022

  • "Lovely cosy cottage in a convenient location to visit a wide variety of interesting places."

    The owners are very friendly, COVID sensible and the cottage was filled with goodies on our arrival which was very welcoming. The kitchen is well equipped, the bathroom is decadent and the bed is comfy. The local pub serves great food and beer with a friendly atmosphere. Dogs are allowed in the bar area of the pub and bar area tables can be reserved in advance for food. Opening times are a little restrictive but maybe that's just because they're getting back into the swing of things now the COVID restrictions have eased. A few of things to know that previous reviewers have mentioned. The Wifi isn't really viable and mobile signal is largely spotty in the village. We brought a Vodafone mobile hotspot with us and placed it in the window of the bathroom which seemed to get the best mobile signal and provided a useable speed. It's always useful to have internet to do your "places to visit" research or even work from "home" like we did this time to make a longer weekend break. Secondly the road isn't quite as bad as some have stated. Yes it gets a little busy around 8am and 5pm but the rest of the time it's like a normal village road, in fact it's quieter than the village we live in! There is some speeding (where isn't there) but the proximity of the house to the road makes it sound much worse than it really is. Bottom line is you don't really notice it once you're inside the house. The entrance to the drive is a little tight and I'd recommend reversing in as visibility onto the road is poor. Finally the lack of garden isn't that much of a problem if you have a dog, there's a good network of footpaths practically right outside the front door. Our dog loved the fact she got a mini walk for her bedtime pee routine and is now sulking that she's back to getting pushed out onto the back garden at night!

    Reviewed by Will4.7Sep 2021

  • "We were made very welcome, with thoughtful extras from Tracy and David."

    The cottage was very well stocked and much thought and care had been put into it. Nice village with amenities and relaxing walks. The road is fairly busy but didn’t cause us any problem. Sherborne is close by and well worth a visit, and other places of interest are near, for another time. We would definitely return if we were staying in Dorset again. Thank you.

    Reviewed by Patrick4.7Sep 2021

  • "Well equipped many extras which were appreciated!"

    Wi-fi erratic worked better outside - understandable in a small village . Phone signal awful where we live. Information about local amenities very helpful. Phone call before visit much appreciated. Thank you for a great week Sue & nigel

    Reviewed by Sue4.4Jul 2021

  • "The whole house was damp ."

    .all the walls were damp ..settee was damp ..our clothes all damp ..house smelt ..cobwebs everywhere..we didn't want to go back to the cottage but had no choice so we stayed out later ..we paid for a 4 tick cottage...but definitely wasn't that ..we use sykes cottages alot ..this was the worst

    Reviewed by Andrew1.3Jul 2021

  • "Lovely cottage lovely owners who have gone above and beyond to ensure that there are lots of little extras to be enjoyed."

    Small village but lovely local shop and pub it’s well located to explore the surrounding area.

    Reviewed by Julie5.0Jul 2021

  • "The owners were lovely people and there were lots of extras that we didn't expect."

    Reviewed by Margaret5.0May 2021

  • "Perfect cottage for two."

    Very well equipped with lots of extras. Lovely village pub Kings Arms worth a visit, very accommodating staff

    Reviewed by Christine4.7Sep 2020

  • "Enjoyed our stay at Cottage but would like to point out the Road Cottage was on ..."

    Enjoyed our stay at Cottage but would like to point out the Road Cottage was on was really noisy and Busy Cars travelled far beyond the Speed limits for a Small village of this size

    Reviewed by Darnell3.8Aug 2020

  • "Met expectations in general except for the wifi."

    This was implemented, but was only really usable on one of the devices we were intending to use, and that only for short periods early on some mornings. Otherwise the cottage was a cosy little place and we enjoyed visiting several national Trust properties in the vicinity. Good food and drink was available at the local pub (5 minutes walk) and there were several pleasant local walks. Our hosts were very helpful, particularly in allowing us to charge our car from the cottage supply.

    Reviewed by Richard4.4Aug 2020

  • "Lovely owners and a well resourced cottage."

    It was clean and the fireplace was wonderful. It was great that we were able to bring our dog with us. Lots of lovely walks and the Village was friendly.

    Reviewed by Krystal4.1Aug 2020

  • "Very friendly owners of the cottage."

    Also very helpful. Very comfortable cottage in a lovely village . Sykes gave us all the information we needed including covid virus info. We could not ask for anything more. It was a much needed and enjoyable , and relaxing break.

    Reviewed by Glyn5.0Jul 2020

  • "It was a very restful break the weather didn’t spoil it a Beautiful spot Tracy ..."

    It was a very restful break the weather didn’t spoil it a Beautiful spot Tracy and David are very welcoming the welcome pack was lovely will be going back again

    Reviewed by Martin5.0Feb 2020

  • "Exceptionally warm welcome from the owners who live next door (no need to phone to arrange key collection) complete with a "tour" of the property and tea, coffee, milk, eggs and other "goodies" were provided."

    The cottage is immediately adjacent to the road so might disturb light sleepers in the morning. The village has a friendly small shop and post office (great bakery items and honey) and a pub with excellent food at reasonable prices within a couple of hundred yards. The railway station (a halt) is less than 20 minutes' walk away along a good footpath and ideal for a trip to Weymouth.

    Reviewed by Alan4.4Sep 2019

  • "This cottage was lovely and comfortable,Tracy and David added extra touches which where lovely highly recommend"

    Reviewed by Winifred5.0Jul 2019

  • "Thumbs up to the lovely owners of Candy Cottage with their generous hospitality."

    Reviewed by Vivien5.0Jul 2019

  • "Loved the cottage, the owners provided a nice welcome basket & a few bits such ..."

    Loved the cottage, the owners provided a nice welcome basket & a few bits such as milk in the fridge, condiments, tin of beans & there was even some toiletries in the bathroom which my husband and I did not expect, it was clean & comfortable in in a lovely area easy to drive to places of interest & some nice villiages with pubs

    Reviewed by Claire5.0Jun 2019

  • "It was a wonderful welcome with lots of lovely extras."

    Reviewed by Jon4.4Feb 2019

  • "Great base for surrounding h area helpful owners."

    Everything we needed

    Reviewed by Carol4.7Sep 2018

  • "The location for this property was excellent for the surrounding areas ie Durdle Door, Lulworth cove & West Bay and Lyme Regis."

    The local pub views wasn’t great unfortunately because of new ownership so we didn’t explore that avenue.! However the little local shop was fantastic Very friendly & helpful and sold all local produce. The only downside we found was how close the road was to the cottage which meant it got rather noisy at times.

    Reviewed by Sarah4.4Aug 2018

  • "Lovely little cottage, great base fir exploring Dorset."

    Reviewed by Julie4.4Aug 2018

  • "It was a lovely picturesque village, It only had 1 shop that didn't open on saturday, It had 1 pub that only served meals till 2."

    00pm on sunday, & didn't open at all on monday. If you wanted to get any food or milk bread etc in these hours you had to travel 4 miles to sherbourne to get them. If you want a quiet Holiday, its great, but if you like to visit lots of places you definately need your own transport to get about.

    Reviewed by Karen5.0Jul 2018

  • "A good, well thought out, compact cottage."

    Hosts were very helpful .It was also thoughtful to provide milk in the fridge and a basket of goodies on arrival. We would advise backing onto the parking area. Good value and an enjoyable stay. Easy access to Sherbourne and surrounding area.

    Reviewed by James4.1Jun 2018

  • "Very uncomfortable settee in seating area."

    Strong smell of urine downstairs.Very steep staircase not mentioned in cottage details. Would not return or recommend.

    Reviewed by J3.1Jun 2018

  • "The hosts provided many lovely food treats for us, including sweets, biscuits, wine, fresh eggs, fruit and milk."

    The kitchen and bathroom were extremely well stocked. The bath was sheer luxury!

    Reviewed by Jacqui5.0Apr 2018

  • "Beautiful cottage ,all our needs catered for and the welcome pack was an added luxury."

    Lovely little village and excellent good value food at the local pub too.

    Reviewed by Lorraine5.0Mar 2018

  • "The directions provided assumed we would be arriving from the opposite direction compared to our actual route; it would have been helpful to have directions which covered entering the village either way."

    Reviewed by Christopher4.4Feb 2018

  • "Lovely cottage with fantastic attention to detail ."

    With everything you need plus a welcome pack and many other thoughtful touches .The area was lovely so many pretty villages to explore .Would highly recommend.

    Reviewed by Jill4.8Jan 2018

  • "Great location for sight seeing and the local pub is great, also just a few miles from Sherbourne which has a lovely Abbey - well worth visiting."

    With regard to the cottage, the fridge and kitchen utensils could have done with a clean. The bathroom smelt of damp and the mattress on the bed could do with changing as I could feel the springs digging into my back which made for a very uncomfortable nights sleep.

    Reviewed by Susan2.9Nov 2017

  • "The owners of this property were very welcoming, they'd put a lovely welcome pack in the cottage for us, also flowers and toiletries, absolutely lovely."

    and the luxury bathroom was a dream.

    Reviewed by Denise4.8Nov 2017

  • "The cottage was exactly what we wanted, great facilities and extra personal touches were above and beyond."

    Reviewed by Adam5.0Oct 2017

  • "It was a great little cottage very good location the owners David and Tracey are lovely people probably one of the best welcome packs we have had ,would certainly consider going back again in future we have always used sykes and would always recommend them."

    Reviewed by Sandra5.0Sep 2017

  • "A lovely cosy cottage with luxury bathroom and inglenook fireplace with wood burner."

    The owners were very welcoming and provided many extras such as luxury toiletries and locally produced goodies as well as doggy treats and freshly laid eggs from their own chickens! Can highly recommend this cottage as a great base for a Dorset holiday. The local pub is less than 5 minutes walk and was very friendly and food was very good.

    Reviewed by Paul5.0Sep 2017

  • "Immaculate little cottage ideal for exploring this part of West Dorset."

    5 minutes walk to village centre with excellent pub that serves superb food & beer! Also a very useful little village shop & post office. The cottage owners - David & Tracy, have thought of absolutely everything to make for a comfortable relaxing break - we have never seen such a generous welcome pack: milk, eggs, wine, a full fruit bowl, teabags, coffee, biscuits, snacks, shower & bath toiletries, choice of heavy or light duvet etc etc! Everything was spotlessly clean & tidy! The cottage is quite tiny, although perfect for a couple, but something to bear in mind is that there is no garden, and the cottage fronts a busy road with no fencing or gate - so not ideal for dogs. Other than that thoroughly recommended!

    Reviewed by Graham5.0Jun 2017

  • "Only concern although pet's are welcome there is no enclosed area in which to let pet's out."

    Reviewed by Malcolm4.8May 2017

  • "Lovely cottage with lots of extras included."

    Owners very welcoming. Great location for walking and train within easy reach for Weymouth and Yeovil. Local dog friendly pub. Definately recommend this cottage.

    Reviewed by Beverly5.0Mar 2017

  • "Very compact cosy cottage set in lovely village."

    clean The owners are very welcoming have thought of everything you might need. lovely welcome pack. great place for a weekend break.

    Reviewed by Sue4.6Dec 2016

  • "We have booked with Sykes a number of times now and have always been given excellent accommodation."

    We have a dog and in the past, when booking with other companies, we have been given very basic accommodation, implying that we should live "with animals". Sykes have always been a home from home provider and significantly better value for money too

    Reviewed by Johanna5.0Nov 2016

  • "The cottage clean and well presented, very comfortable and cozy with every thing ..."

    The cottage clean and well presented, very comfortable and cozy with every thing you needed within and the welcome pack very , well, welcome, we thoroughly enjoyed our stay and will highly recommended it to our friends and family

    Reviewed by Christine4.8Oct 2016

  • "IT IS ON THE MAIN ROAD THROUGH THE VILLAGE."

    Reviewed by Deborah4.8Sep 2016

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Summary

  • One double bedroom
  • Luxurious bathroom with freestanding roll-top bath, separate shower, basin and WC
  • Open plan living area with kitchen, dining area and sitting area with woodburning stove.
  • Night storage heaters in sitting room and bedroom, underfloor heating in bathroom with woodburning stove
  • Electric oven, ceramic hob, microwave, fridge, TV with Freeview, Wi-Fi, DVD, selection of books and games
  • Power and starter pack for stove inc. in rent
  • Bed linen and towels inc. in rent
  • Roadside parking available for 2 cars
  • Off-road parking for one car
  • Two well-behaved dog welcome
  • Sorry, no smoking
  • Shop and pub 8 mins walk
  • Note: Steep twisting cottage stairs, may be unsuitable for the infirm
  • Note: property does not contain a garden.

The property

A self-contained wing of the owners' house, a former Sherborne Castle estate worker's cottage, believed to date back to 1640, in the attractive village of Thornford, 3 miles from Sherborne in north west Dorset.

This Sherborne cottage has been cleverly renovated and is well furnished, incorporating an inglenook fireplace with a warming wood burning stove in the open plan living area, a cosy double bedroom, and a superb roll-top bath and separate shower cubicle in the first floor bathroom.

This Sherborne cottage is close to open countryside, offering many lovely walks, with the local shop and pub both a short stroll away.

There's even a ˜halt' on the nearby railway, which can conveniently take you to the lovely city of Bath.

From this Sherborne cottage it's a short drive to Sherborne's castles and abbey, as well as the ancient hilltop town of Shaftesbury, the Fleet Air Arm Museum at Yeovilton, and several National Trust properties.

This Sherborne cottage offers a cosy, romantic village base from which to explore this lovely area, at any time of the year!

View on map

About the location

THORNFORD

Sherborne 3 miles.

A most attractive north west Dorset village, Thornford is only 3 miles from the ancient town of Sherborne. Over 20 historic cottages make up the conservation area at the centre of the village, which boasts a pub, local shop and a Post Office, as well as a 'halt' on the railway line linking Weymouth with Bristol. The village is surrounded by an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, bursting with lovely rural walks, and just a short drive takes you into Sherborne, well known for its castle and abbey, and where you can browse the array of interesting shops and restaurants. Good transport links ensure that visits further afield to historic Bath, Stourhead, and Salisbury, as well as the stunning Jurassic Coast, are easily made. This really is a great touring base for visiting this lovely area.

This property offers the following short breaks:

  • Winter
  • Off-season
  • Last minute