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Skylark

(Ref. 1076553)

Portesham, Dorset Show on map

4.5

Sykes rating

  • 8 Guests

  • 4 Bedrooms

  • 3 Bathrooms

  • Pets No

Features

  • Off road parking
  • Ground floor accommodation
  • Ground floor bedroom
  • Garden / Patio
  • Pub/shop < 1 mile
  • Washing machine
  • Dishwasher
  • Games Room
  • Broadband / WiFi

Reviews & Ratings

Accuracy of the listing
Cleanliness
Comfort
Facilities and Maintenance
  • All reviews
  • well (9)
  • property (8)
  • stay (7)
  • our (7)
  • lovely (7)
  • garden (7)

18 Customer Reviews

  • "The kitchen is well equipped and with the three bathrooms there were plenty of facilities for eight of us (6 adults and 2 children) The garden allows plenty of space for safe play although it is rather untamed."

    Highly recommend the pub down the road, take a torch if returning in the dark. Although we generally enjoyed our stay the following issues need a mention: 1. It was not easy to locate and operate the key safe and we were jolly glad it wasn't raining given that it took about 10 minutes. On leaving we couldn't operate the safe and put the keys through the letter box. 2. E V. (Electric Vehicle charging) was a major reason we chose 'Skylark' and it proved to be a pair of 13 amp sockets without an adaptor lead. We travel with a charging lead but not an adaptor lead since we have have a charging socket at home. The person I contacted said he didn't have an EV and didn't know anything about them and had installed the sockets. This was a disappointment and frustration. At least insert a note for people to bring the necessary charging adaptor in the information. 3 The wardrobes had a rather musty aroma which penetrated clothes hanging in them. Keep your clothes in your suitcase if you can. 4. The en-suite wet room shower made most of the floor wet and would benefit from having an enclosure. 5. The television, as mentioned in other reviews, is unique and not intuitive!

    Reviewed by Monica4.1Aug 2024

  • "Skylark was a lovely place to stay."

    The bungalow was so spacious and we were all able to have our own space. It had the added bonus of the table tennis in the garage. Through the back gate and there were so many lovely walks. Local bus was a short walk away and was a cheap way of seeing the jurassic coast. Good supermarkets a short drive away. A good base for exploring. Everyone said the beds were very comfortable. We have booked again for next year - says it all!

    Reviewed by Susan5.0Jun 2024

  • "Lovely house and garden, set a in a nice village"

    Reviewed by Helen5.0Mar 2024

  • "Really nice, comfortable bungalow with lots of space, plenty of kitchen equipment and crockery etc, good plumbing in nice bathrooms, and a great base for exploring local area."

    Property owner very helpful. Hope to come again!

    Reviewed by Ruth5.0Oct 2023

  • "The property's location and price make it very good value for money, especially as the village (Portesham) has an excellent pub and cafe nearby (though the journey on foot can be a bit dangerous with no pavement and blind bends); recommend having a torch handy if walking in the dark."

    There are also many walks that you can start from either the front door or the side gate. 1. The two twins rooms had an odour, possibly due to damp, which detracted from the holiday for those staying in those rooms. 2. There were many flies loitering in the dark corners of the corridors and rooms, which was unexpected for October. 3. There were only five of us at the cottage, which was fine for the five seats in the living room (though not everyone could see the TV easily). If there had been more of us then it would have started to feel cramped quite quickly. This was clear to me from the photos provided in the listing. Overall, the location, the price and the village made this an excellent holiday cottage.

    Reviewed by Mark3.1Sep 2023

  • "The property is in a lovely location with great views and convenience to the village."

    It was well presented, clean and had all the basic facilities you would expect. Our challenge with it is that it is an old property and felt damp, especially in the back twin bedrooms. This made for an unpleasant experience when sleeping in the beds. There were also very strong mothball smells in the draws and wardrobes.

    Reviewed by Graham3.4Sep 2023

  • "The week just spent here was a family 'get-together' to celebrate our Golden Wedding."

    Generally, we enjoyed a very pleasant week in Dorset, in this spacious property which catered extremely well for the needs of our group. It afforded privacy when needed (particularly for one member who had to work digitally 'from home' throughout the week). The property was spotlessly clean and internally, in excellent decorative order. Having three bath/ shower rooms was a real bonus as was the ample off-road parking. The beds were extremely comfortable. Skylark is beautifully located in a quiet residential close but with a feeling of peaceful solitude once through the gates. The views of hills from both back and front and of the sea to the south were lovely and the little white gate was frequently used to access some stunningly scenic walks (and runs) in the hills or when heading down to the Kings Arms or farm shop. One or two minor grumbles... On arrival, we had to play a game of 'hunt the key safe'. Fortunately, it was eventually located without the need to call the given phone number but a bit of guidance in the pre-visit email would have been helpful. A folding clothes airer would have been a useful addition as it could have been placed inconspicuously outside for helping to dry damp towels etc. Mindful of the £100 penalty for incorrect recycling, we were slightly annoyed to discover the previous 'residents' had left a selection of non-recyclable items in the green-topped bin which, in order to avoid being penalised for the sins of the previous guests, necessitated the rather unpleasant task of us having to re-sort the contents into the correct bin. It was felt that one or two bits of guidance in the welcome pack were due an update. Generally though, a lovely property which we would be happy to recommend to others.

    Reviewed by Jeremy4.7Aug 2023

  • "Loved our stay here, lovely spacious property and we really liked the garden."

    We were able to do a lot in the area including a couple of local walks that are in the property info booklet left by the owner, Abbotsbury subtropical garden was great, and some nice shingle beaches in the area. Loved the decor and furnishings personally, felt nostalgic like old family holidays. May well come back! Also thanks to John for his quick help when we needed it. 5 stars!

    Many thanks for the review Ben. Glad to hear you enjoyed your stay. All the best, John Property Owner

    Reviewed by Ben5.0Aug 2023

  • "The property is very well situated in Portesham but suffered with a lack of TLC."

    The property had a musty smell when we entered and that smell remained throughout our stay. The property would do well to be modernised to a higher standard. The garden was overgrown and not maintained at all well. However, there is a lot of space in the property to spread out which was what we were aiming for.

    Reviewed by Jonathan3.1Jun 2023

  • "We really enjoyed our stay at Skylark, the garden was lovely to relax in as there were places to retreat to from the hot sun."

    Inside everything that you needed was there. The only complaint was the T V which had very poor reception even through the Sky box.Portesham itself was a lovely village with a good bus service and pub.Would thoroughly recommend.

    Reviewed by Peter4.7Jun 2023

  • "Very well equipped cottage,"

    Reviewed by Brian4.4Aug 2022

  • "For us Skylark was in a good position (the donkeys were appreciated by the younger members)."

    Skylark was well equipped with the facilities we needed. Any minor problems were dealt with easily and efficiently.

    Reviewed by Paul4.1Aug 2022

  • "This is a well maintained and equipped property with good support from the owner."

    My only criticism is the tv system which was far too complex for ordinary needs and even defeated my son!

    Reviewed by Andrew5.0Jul 2022

  • "Lovely location."

    Very spacious bungalow. Very will kitted out. It has almost everything you could possibly need down to a hair dryer. A washing line would be useful to save using the tumble dryer. Hope to stay there again in the future.

    Reviewed by Ian5.0Jun 2022

  • "Skylark is a spacious and comfortable bungalow, set in an attractive and peaceful garden and surrounded by the beautiful countryside of the Dorset hills."

    Everything one could need is provided in the property, and we would happily book again in future.

    Reviewed by Phillip5.0Apr 2022

  • "It was very difficult to find suitable showers with disabled access."

    This bungalow was perfect. The garden was beautiful and the location perfect. Would definitely recommend

    Reviewed by Lesley4.7Sep 2021

  • "Property was as described, clean and well presented."

    We had a comfortable and fun stay.

    Reviewed by Udita4.7Aug 2021

  • "Excellent location central to all the sights in Dorset and loved the village (Portesham)."

    The cottage has everything you will need and the beds are super comfortable.

    Reviewed by Heyns5.0Aug 2021

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Summary

  • All-ground-floor
  • Four bedrooms: 1 x double with en-suite walk-in shower, basin and WC, 1 x double, 2 x twin
  • Wet room with shower, basin and WC
  • Bathroom with shower over bath, basin and WC
  • Kitchen
  • Utility
  • Dining room
  • Sitting room
  • Conservatory
  • Oil central heating
  • Electric oven and hob, microwave, fridge/freezer, fridge, washing machine, tumble dryer, dishwasher, TV, WiFi
  • Fuel and power inc. in rent
  • Outside electric charging point suitable for electric car charging available
  • Bed linen and towels inc. in rent
  • Spacious Games room within Double Garage, full sized table tennis
  • Private driveway parking for three cars
  • Enclosed, gently sloping garden with patio, lawn and furniture
  • Level access for wheelchair users
  • Sorry, no pets
  • No smoking
  • Shop 0.4 miles, pub 0.3 miles.

The property

Skylark is a traditional, detached bungalow on the edge of Portesham, sitting in an idyllic location within the Dorset Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

This spacious all-ground-floor cottage sleeps up to eight guests, making a perfect dwelling for a large family or group trip to the Dorset coast, within easy reach of popular Weymouth and Dorchester.

You are greeted to the property by a large private drive way, offering parking for up to three cars, surrounded by immaculate gardens with open countryside views, all secured by a gate and making an enclosed area for children to play safely.

Upon entering the property, discover a bright and airy double bedroom with dual aspect windows, another double bedroom with a convenient en-suite shower room, plus two twin bedrooms, which make for flexible sleeping arrangements and a cheerful place to escape to at the end of a long day.

The bedrooms are served by a stylish wet room with walk-in shower and a further bathroom with bathtub and shower, where you can unwind with a soothing soak.

The chosen chef of the group can take advantage of the self-catering facilities in the kitchen to rustle up an evening meal, while the handy dishwasher takes care of the dishes!

Enjoy your home-cooked meal in the adjoining dining room with its lovely garden views, where all guests can gather together to toast a wonderful holiday.

A utility room boasts further fridge/freezer space, a washing machine and a tumble dryer, so there's no need to worry about sandy clothes after a day spent at the beach.

Completing the layout is a charming sitting room where you can curl up on the sofa for a night in front of the TV or sit out in the conservatory and play a game of cards whilst you enjoy a glass of wine and a spectacular sunset Or within the spacious double garage games room, which contains a full sized table tennis which is perfect for family days or rainy days.

Outside there is a large enclosed garden, with plenty of lawn for your children to play, and a patio with picnic table, making it an ideal space for a spot of alfresco dining, or a place to enjoy your morning coffee whilst you look at the distant sea views.

There is direct access from the garden to the foot of the Downs, with breathtaking views of the Dorset coast just a short meander away.

The village of Portesham has a fantastic pub which serves real ales and a good choice of food, as well as a farm shop and café which sells any essentials you may need during your stay.

Direct from the door or within a short drive you can access many of the region’s most popular walking and cycling routes such as the stunning World Heritage Jurassic Coast, the South West Coast Path and the South Dorset Ridgeway.

Skylark is a great base for exploring the seaside town of Weymouth, the county town of Dorchester and the market town of Bridport, each with an abundance of shops, bars, museums and eateries, as well as the popular Sea Life centre and magnificent harbour at Weymouth, Maiden Castle at Dorchester and the West Bay Beach and golf club near Bridport.

Also well worth the visit and just a short drive away is the Abbotsbury Swannery, which is the only managed colony of nesting mute swans in the world, as well as the nearby Tropical Gardens.

If you can tear yourself away from the excitement of beach days and coastal walks, take a walk up to St Catherine’s Chapel so that you can embrace the sea views from further afar and look out over Chesil Beach.

For a great base from which to explore the Dorset AONB and coastline, choose Skylark.

Note: This property has a Good Housekeeping bond of £100.

View on map

About the location

PORTESHAM

Weymouth 8 miles;Dorchester 8 miles

Portesham is a beautiful West Dorset village, superbly located for access to the spectacular World Heritage Jurassic Coast, South West Coastal Path and South Dorset Ridgeway, in an area of outstanding natural beauty and only a short drive from Weymouth, Dorchester or Bridport. The village is surrounded by glorious countryside, with direct access to public footpaths including the south west coastal path. There is an excellent local pub serving good food and real ales, and a village farm store. A great base for touring, there is plenty to see and do within a short drive of this picturesque area, including Abbotsbury Swannery and Tropical Gardens. Take a walk up to St Catherine’s Chapel and experience the fantastic views over Chesil beach. The bustling market town of Dorchester is just 8 miles away, with its array of interesting shops, restaurants and museums. Within easy reach is the family friendly seaside resort of Weymouth and the Jurassic coast, and also dramatic Portland, venue for the 2012 Olympic sailing events. With Bournemouth and Poole only 40 minutes away, this is altogether a super holiday destination at any time of the year.

The property is suitable for wheelchair users, and guests having limited mobility.
Level access and ground floor accommodation.

This property offers the following short breaks:

  • Winter
  • Off-season
  • Last minute
  • Christmas