Downside

72 Customer Reviews

• "A safe enclosed area for our dogs would have been really good."

  Little things could have been included, like oven gloves,dish cloth, kitchen roll, better selection of crockery.ie pasta bowls .A chair or stool in main bedroom to sit by the mirror. A pint of milk! The sofas,beds and pillows were really comfortable.

  Reviewed by Clare4.1★Jun 2025

• "We really enjoyed our stay in Downside."

  The cottage was very comfortable and ideal for relaxing in on wet days. Wonderful to have such a comfortable mattress on the double bed! Our elderly labrador enjoyed his walks up the lane, while we enjoyed the views across the fields.

  Reviewed by Elizabeth5.0★May 2025

• "Lovely warm cottage with everything you need very quiet you can walk to the ..."

  Lovely warm cottage with everything you need very quiet you can walk to the village but it's a steep uphill walk back ,the only negative for us is that the only dining table is in the conservatory and in February was to cold to use a couple of lap trays would be useful

  Reviewed by Ray5.0★Feb 2025

• "Fantastic cottage in a beautiful location, host was friendly and happy to help answer any enquiries we had."

  The cottage itself was lovely - more than enough space for my partner, myself and our 2 dogs. It was lovely seeing the chickens wandering around the property & listening to the cows was strangely soothing. Sunsets from the bedroom window were amazing (especially for this time of year). Overall, no complaints from us - we loved it!

  Reviewed by Cherryl5.0★Jan 2025

• "Lovely place and perfect place for my baby’s first little holiday and my birthday"

  Reviewed by Annaleigh5.0★Dec 2024

• "Cottage was very comfy and cosy."

  The bed and sofa's were lovely. The bin in the kitchen wasn't emptied and didn't realise about the farm and the size until Monday as the information was under the table not on top.

  Reviewed by Samantha5.0★Sep 2024

• "A fabulous getaway location."

  Well equipped and comfortable cottage, beautiful views and great walks for the dogs. We really enjoyed our stay

  Reviewed by Jayne5.0★Sep 2024

• "The cottage was lovely and we enjoyed our stay there."

  It was homely and a nice place to have as our base for the week. Would definitely recommend.

  Reviewed by Paula5.0★Aug 2024

• "Great property for us."

  Out in the country. Peace and quiet. Perfect for relaxation.

  Reviewed by Julie5.0★Jul 2024

• "Nice cottage, comfortable and well equipped."

  Garden is great, but not secure, not a major problem. Had a minor issue with the hot water which was sorted quickly.

  Reviewed by Gail3.8★Jul 2024

• "Lovely cottage in beautiful surroundings, very helpful owners."

  Very peaceful and great place to explore.

  Reviewed by Naomi5.0★Jun 2024

• "A spacious property located on a farm down a country lane."

  Although the lane is narrow this farm is the only habitation bordering it and thus the lane is virtually traffic free. It leads down onto the main road into Beaminster and on to Bridport. The property has all the amenities you would reasonably expect and views over the surrounding country side where you can see the cows coming into the farm for their daily milking. A nice spot from which to take days out to the various local attractions.

  Reviewed by Kevin5.0★Jun 2024

• "Nice little cottage, comfy bed and sofas."

  A good location and easy to find. Friendly owners. Enjoyed the cow parade each day

  Reviewed by Kevin4.4★May 2024

• "An absolute delight."

  Warm, comfortable accommodation with everything I needed. Beautiful views and the joy of peace and quiet. My idea of heaven.

  Reviewed by Louise4.7★Mar 2024

• "Clean and comfortable."

  Rarely do you get 2 reclining settees. Lovely views and peaceful. Approach can be difficult if meeting another vehicle in Down view Road. This never happened to us. Dogs enjoyed the large garden.

  Reviewed by Derek5.0★Mar 2024

• "A very cosy and comfortable property, with a super functional kitchen, plenty of hot water for showers."

  An open fireplace which was really nice. Very comfortable electrically operated recliner sofas. I’m sure this might have been mentioned before. The upstairs landing floor boards are very noisy and needs sorting. Plus the gutter above the conservatory needs clearing out, as when it rains the noise is unbearable as the rain overflow falls onto roof of the conservatory. Although there is a double radiator in the conservatory this is not enough to keep the temperature the same as the house. Especially as this is the dining area. Obviously in the summer this would not be a problem. However even with these maintenance issues we would still recommend this property as we had a super break. Thank you very much.

  Reviewed by Michael4.7★Feb 2024

• "Comfortable and roomy property in v quiet situation."

  Location was great for us too. Good for dog walks too. It provided a home from home for us for two weeks as our property was being refurbished. WiFi connection not always reliable.

  Reviewed by Andy4.7★Jan 2024

• "Lovely cosy cottage, peaceful setting and a lot to do in the area"

  Reviewed by David5.0★Dec 2023

• "We enjoyed our stay, friendly owners, nice house with a cozy conservatory."

  It was nice to see the cows passing by every day.

  Reviewed by Marc4.1★Aug 2023

• "The most idyllic relaxing stay we could have hoped for."

  With the bonus of seeing the cows everyday, and all the families animals! Thank you for a perfect break away!

  Reviewed by Michaela5.0★Jul 2023

• "Lovely cottage, with friendly owners."

  Lots of things on the doorstep, Montacute Hall is good. Even found a few fossils on charmouth beach. Would happily book again

  Reviewed by Steven5.0★Jun 2023

• "Lovely cottage with everything you need, wonderful views and wildlife."

  Was great being able to watch the cows coming in to be milked. Short drive to many places of interest.

  Reviewed by Angela5.0★Jun 2023

• "It would have been nice if the lady of the property had passed the time of day with us but no the gentleman did say hi to my sister-in-law."

  I know they are in it for the money but hello would have been nice.

  Reviewed by Mary4.1★Apr 2023

• "A lovely,quiet and beautiful location."

  Views everywhere,lots of birds,cows,calves to see. Cottage was excellent,very comfortable,clean,well laid out. Would definitely recommend and stay again.

  Reviewed by Ian5.0★Apr 2023

• "Really enjoyed our stay at Downside."

  Very comfortable farm property, with a new kitchen.

  Reviewed by Simon4.7★Feb 2023

• "We were surprised by how quickly the cottage warmed up each time we returned from a trip out, bearing in mind how cold the weather was."

  The beds were extremely comfortable and the bedrooms warm. Kitchen was brilliant and a joy to cook in.

  Reviewed by Keith5.0★Feb 2023

• "The cottage is in a pleasant and very quiet location with only the occasional passing car (we never heard the cows which were of course in the barn)."

  The central heating was very effective despite the bitterly cold weather and the cottage retained warmth well when the heating was off. However, the radiator (initially not working but rectified by the helpful owner) in the large conservatory was not powerful enough to heat it to an acceptable temperature, as we discovered to our dismay on our first evening; I imagine that in milder weather it would be adequate but, with severe frost each night, it proved unpleasantly cold. As the only table is in the conservatory and could not be brought into the lounge (since we couldn’t open one of the connecting doors), this made for uncomfortable dining but we managed. The sofas are comfortable and the motorised recliners are excellent. The large smart TV in the lounge is very good and it was great to have another TV in the double bedroom. There are only ceiling lights in the lounge, which we found rather stark. A table lamp or standard lamp would make for a more subtle ambiance. The double bedroom, which offers a pleasant view across the fields, is a good size and the bed is comfortable, so we slept well. There is more than enough wardrobe and drawer space. We saw 3 deer from the bedroom on 2 occasions. The bathroom is OK and the excellent shower runs consistently hot. The plumbing makes a number of strange noises, particularly after flushing the toilet, but it wasn’t an issue for us. A small waste bin would be a useful addition. The kitchen is fine and well-equipped though the fridge is rather small such that initially we couldn’t get all our food items in it. The very popular Admiral Hood pub, 1 mile away in Mosterton, does superb food and the Sunday carvery was excellent and copious. It’s advisable to book even for a weekday lunch. There are pleasant walks in the immediate area and the attractive town of Crewkerne, only 3 miles away, is an easy stroll; Waitrose and Lidl are there. On our walk there we saw a fox just ahead on the lane. A 5-mile round walk can be made by taking the bridle way (West Lane) which starts in the village at the bottom of Mosterton Down Lane and continues past The Log Store. Cedric’s speciality cake, cheese and drinks shop opposite The White Swan in Misterton, just over the border in Somerset, is well worth a visit though it’s rather expensive. We made very pleasant visits to Montacute House (National Trust), Lyme Regis and West Bay, though it was bitterly cold. In conclusion, it was a very enjoyable week and, though persistently cold, it never snowed or rained, so walking was pleasant, especially when it was sunny.

  Reviewed by John4.4★Dec 2022

• "Comfortable cottage attached to dairy farm."

  Friendly and helpful owners. I am sure it is glorious in the warmer months but we were there in November and the only dining area was in the conservatory where it was cold and the roof leaked. Despite this we enjoyed our stay and would recommend.

  Reviewed by David3.8★Nov 2022

• "Downside holiday cottage was amazing, the whole property was spotless, and the bedrooms were large, with ample storage space, the owners were lovely they were there if needed and did not impose on your privacy, another great experience was being able to see the cows with there calfs and the bulls walking past twice a day, even though it is a working farm there was no noise which was amazing, I would definitely recommend this property, and would love another holiday here."

  BRILLIANT.

  Reviewed by Christine5.0★Oct 2022

• "Beautiful cottage , working farm , all facilities as described , comfy beds ."

  Great area for walking, visiting jurassic coast, travelled to lyme regis ,beer beaches and Weymouth. Crewkerne has a great swimming pool closeby . First time booked last minute Sykes holiday all faultless ,thank you

  Reviewed by Rebecca5.0★Jul 2022

• "We found Downside to be the perfect place for a family holiday."

  Our 3 year old daughter loved seeing the cows each day! The cottage is very well equipped and comfortable, particularly the sofas! There are some creaky floor boards on the landing but to be honest that just adds to the charm. The owners are very friendly.

  Reviewed by Andrew5.0★Jul 2022

• "Lovely location, great views, bull can be quite vocal at times, but you get used to it."

  Property clean throughout. Coservatory very nice and sunny, lounge has comfy sofas, kitchen has seen better days and some of the limited crockery needs replacing. Beds comfortable, but shower difficult to use if you are tall due to slope of the ceiling. The landing and bathroom floorboards make a lot of noise! Would not want to put people off but remember this is a working farm.

  Reviewed by Steve3.4★Jun 2022

• "The hosts were very friendly, and the cottage was in a good location, really peaceful with good walks."

  It was nice to hear and see the cows right outside your window and we even got to watch them being milked. Paul and Michaela

  Reviewed by Paul5.0★Jun 2022

• "Only able to stay 4 nights, wish it could have been longer, so cosy and comfortable, had a great stay xx"

  Reviewed by Beverley5.0★May 2022

• "Lovely cottage and friendly owners."

  Gorgeous views. Lots of home comforts in the cottage. Will definitely book this cottage again later in the year. Ideal location for trips to the beach just a short drive away.

  Reviewed by Sandra5.0★Apr 2022

• "It was last minute decision but we go ahead with the Sykes Cottages as the reviews are good and we did not disappoint with the Downside Cottage."

  It was perfect. We stayed 30th December-6th January and when we arrived our Christmas tree were set up and we had our presents in the morning by the door outside as surprise

  Reviewed by Sibel5.0★Dec 2021

• "Clean and cosy."

  Great location and would stay again! Thank you

  Reviewed by Frances5.0★Nov 2021

• "Lovely relaxing and spacious cottage, has had a refurb pictures on website need updating, will definitely return again"

  Reviewed by Joy4.7★Oct 2021

• "Very peaceful and quiet."

  ...you can only hear birds singing and cows mooing. Love the feel of waking up to beautiful sun and going to sleep looking at the moon & stars. Love watching cows go past every morning and evening, felt like we were in our own village. Very friendly owners, don't need to travel too far to reach historic attractions and wonderful beaches. We would definitely recommend Downside Cottage to our friends and family.

  Reviewed by Amara4.7★Aug 2021

• "The cottage is clean and looks recently refurbished- e."

  G new carpet, settees, flat screen tv, etc. Feels comfortable and clean. The location is quiet in the middle of lovely countryside.

  Reviewed by Dominic4.4★Aug 2021

• "A really comfortable and spacious place to stay in, surrounded by beautiful countryside."

  Emma and Andrew were very welcoming, and it was great to be on a working farm.

  Reviewed by Tim5.0★Jun 2021

• "It is in a very remote position"

  Reviewed by Elizabeth4.4★Jun 2021

• "The cottage exceeded expectations and photos didn’t do it justice."

  The owners are friendly, helpful and easy going. All in all a great place to stay. Word of caution to pet owners: the conservatory is south facing and gets very hot when the sun’s out!

  Reviewed by and Mrs4.7★May 2021

• "What a great stay!"

  We loved it! Definitely the pictures should be updated, it is much nicer than in the photos. The annex was very clean and had everything we needed. The owner is super nice. It would be great to have WiFi, but we only stayed for a couple of days, so we didn’t mind.

  Reviewed by Angela4.7★Apr 2021

• "Very homely."

  Reviewed by Jean5.0★Oct 2020

• "Great cottage, warm and comfortable with great views and friendly owners."

  Can’t recommend enough. Dog friendly and in a great area to visit Dorset, Somerset and Devon easily.

  Reviewed by Janet5.0★Sep 2020

• "The photos do not do justice to the cottage, the furnishing has been completely upgraded."

  Emma and Andrew are such lovely people, very welcoming. Love the peace and tranquility of the setting. Watching the cows come in for milking and the calves playing in the fields is wonderful. Chickens coming around in the mornings, we would definitely recommend this place x

  Reviewed by Carol5.0★Sep 2020

• "We found the experience of staying at the cottage very relaxing and comfortable."

  We particularly liked the conservatory and it's furnishings. Mr. and Mrs. House were friendly and there when needed. We had the most wonderful sunsets and views from the cottage. The facilities provided were appropriate, though a few more teaspoons would have been useful! We are certainly looking forward to staying there again despite the narrow access lane with few passing places. The area of North Dorset is beautiful and local villages and towns very interesting.

  Reviewed by Tim3.8★Sep 2020

• "We really loved our week staying at Downside."

  The instructions on how to find it were spot on, on first impressions there was more social space than I realised. Our son really enjoyed his first stay on a farm seeing the cows, sheep, chickens but he loved the friendly cats the most. The weather wasn’t great for our week but we did manage one evening to bbq (store bought instant bbq) and sit outside on the picnic table. The bedrooms were lovely and waking up to the views over the farm brought a smile to our faces. Being rural flies were a part of life rather than an indication of cleanliness, mentioning to give realistic expectations. On rainy days we watched kids movies on their Netflix and chilled out on the comfy sofas. The kitchen was nice and had a good selection of ovenware and pans better than some places we have stayed in before. It was a great base to discover Dorset and only 25-30 minutes drive to lovely West Bay. I also found the owners very easy to communicate with. We visited during COVID-19 pandemic, having antiviral handwash and a small hand sanitiser and very clear instruction on how to prepare the property on check out. I was also impressed with the effort to encourage recycling. We would highly recommend Downside.

  Reviewed by Lucy4.7★Aug 2020

• "The cottage had all the 'requirements' but went no further."

  Everything was functional and basic; all the cutlery and crockery in the kitchen was cheap mix and match, there was a minimum of bedding and one uncomfortable old mattress in the second room. We would love to have felt something of the gift of hospitality. Having said that, it was in a good location, perfectly comfortable, pleasant, and with no negative issues.

  Reviewed by Jennifer3.1★Aug 2019

• "Downside is located on a quiet, working farm and we thoroughly enjoyed our stay."

  Our dogs got used to the proximity of the farm animals, even the chickens in the garden! This is a perfect base for exploring Dorset and Somerset. As well as the local villages of Mosterton and Crewkerne, we managed to visit Bridport, West Bay, Glastonbury, Weymouth, Durdle Door, Dorchester and Cheddar. All in 1 week! The facilities are as described and I am sure that if we had asked for anything extra, we would have been looked after. Thanks Downside and Sykes!

  Reviewed by Mark4.4★Aug 2019

• "Lovely cottage great holiday"

  Reviewed by Annette5.0★Jun 2019

• "The cottage is set on a farm in a very rural area but within reach of many places of interest and the coast."

  A lovely peaceful setting with lots of walks on the Dorset/Somerset border of which we enjoyed and the cottage and its setting on the farm gave a us a great place to stay.

  Reviewed by Russell5.0★May 2019

• "Really enjoyed our stay , very relaxing."

  Loved seeing all the animals on the farm. Just remember to bring Wellington boots if you want to do for a walk around the farm. Would stay again

  Reviewed by Andy5.0★May 2019

• "Clean, comfortable and a relaxing time."

  Just what we needed. Although a working dairy farm it is in a quiet area and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. Hope we can return again sometime

  Reviewed by Elizabeth5.0★Apr 2019

• "It must be remembered this is a working dairy farm, run by a very hard working couple, with 3 children, 100 + cows and a bull, sheep, chickens, and ducks!"

  A bit of a novelty for townies, superb views in all directions,from a superb vantage point. Single file lanes in all directions . Can be quite noisy with the twice a day milking regime! The cottage, which is part of the original farmhouse, could do with a little TLC . Not exactly 'Homes & Gardens' standard, but very comfy. The owners, the House family, are a superb crowd, even letting me be with them for Christmas dinner!!

  Reviewed by Murray4.4★Dec 2018

• "Whilst the cottage was in a fantastic location we were very disappointed by it's cleanliness and contents."

  The water is very hard there and we found the kettle so full of scale and scum that we couldn't use it on arrival so had to boil water in a saucepan. The stainless steel sink in the kitchen was very dirty as were the taps and shower in the bathroom. The downstairs toilet wasn't clean. The first morning i went to a local shop and bought cleaning products so spent the first morning cleanig the cottage and descaling and cleaning the kettle . There were lots of cobwebs that I had to Hoover away. No welcome pack which was unusual because every other Sykes cottage we've been to supplied nibbles or bread and milk. Whilst it's not compulsory it is welcoming. In this cottage there was nothing - no washing up liquid, no spare toilet rolls, cupboards full of old food left by previous guests. The last morning I cleaned the cottage and left it as I would have liked to have found it. I left my cleaning supplies and spare toilet rolls for the next people in. It was very disappointing and you should contact the owner to encourage them to be a lot more considerate about cleanliness. Don't want to spend hours of my holiday cleaning. Never had to do it before and don't want to do it again.

  Many thanks for voicing your grievances regarding this property, unfortunately, due to the size of Sykes’ portfolio of properties, we can't visit every property on a weekly basis. That said, your words have given us cause for concern with our standards at this property and we are now investigating the matters raised. If you wish to discuss or elaborate more on the issues raised, please feel free to contact the Sykes office on the details below, quoting your booking reference number and any other information that may assist us in providing the best possible outcome and customer service. Our lines are open 7 days a week from 9am until 7pm. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Lesley3.1★Sep 2018

• "Downside was just the most lovely cottage on a wonderfully beautiful part of the world."

  Although made to feel very much st home we only saw the hosts twice, when we collected and returned the keys. The cottage is ideally located for lots of Dorset and Somerset attractions. Crewkerne is nearby with all the amenities (Waitrose and Lidl) and the village shop in Mosterton was well stocked. The very quiet roads meant that driving at a sensible speed with due caution made it a pleasure. So all in all, everything anyone could need within a reasonable distance and a fabulous cottage. We definitely would consider going back. P.S. we were struck by what a dog-friendly area Dorset is. Albeit cottages that are 2-dog friendly were a bit thin on the ground. Thank you for trusting us with your cottage and our dogs. They loved it too.

  Reviewed by Pennie5.0★Sep 2018

• "EXCELLENT LOCATION EXCELLENT HOLIDAY."

  Reviewed by Trevor5.0★Aug 2018

• "We had a lovely time and could not fault the setting, my husband even got to see the cows being milked."

  Thank you to the Houses for a very comfortable and relaxing stay, would definitely recommend the cottage.

  Reviewed by Candice5.0★Jun 2018

• "Excellent holiday on a working farm."

  Farmer & wife could not do more to help us and make our holiday unforgettable

  Reviewed by Sheila5.0★May 2018

• "Think Farm--Think Wellies!"

  Dairy Cattle driven four times daily past property on only available lane.Not noisy but road soiled for some distance. Although welcome to walk dogs on property , fields are quite steep. Not for oldies!! Domestic chickens,duck, lambs and cats all friendly and 18month old grandaughter delighted and entertained. Comfortable double bed in larger bedroom and great power shower in bathroom. Kitchen perfectly adequate to prepare food for four at once. Conservatory provides airy relaxation/ dining area. Tiled floors easy to clean after food spillages and dog footprints. Good menu at local pub and great cider country! Add beautiful views, picturesque villages, and peace. Stir well and serve regularly for a memorable break.

  Reviewed by Michael5.0★May 2018

• "Our holiday stay at Downend exceeded expectations."

  The proximity of the cottage to the farm was very close, in fact on your doorstep. I miss all the farm noises - especially the cockerel and cows. We got to feed the lambs and enjoy the dairy farm and its atmosphere. Incredibly friendly owners to the cottage. The accommodation was very comfortable, warm, cosy and very well equipped. The location of the cottage is ideal for visiting the surrounding area and close to the coast.

  Reviewed by Amanda4.4★Apr 2018

• "We had a lovely stay at Downside despite the very inclement weather."

  The accommodation was excellent and in particular we enjoyed the open fire during the evenings. Our grandson really enjoyed the greeting he got from the hens each time we left the house. Downside is ideally located for the Jurassic coast and we visited West Bay and Lyme Regis on day trips. We owed a big thank you to Andrew and Emma for letting us take our grandson to see the cows being milked, to meet the bulls and see the lambs that were being bottle fed. Then to top it off he got to sit in a One very happy family and one very happy grandson. Our thanks once again for the warm welcome and the way we were looked after during our stay.

  Reviewed by Peter5.0★Mar 2018

• "This cottage is all about location if you want to reconnect with nature or your other half this place will do just that ."

  it's by far not full of all the gadgets it's comfy its warm and open fire , you will struggle to beat the views when you open the curtains. ducks sheep cows fox's badagers monk jacks there all on your door . all ready booked to go again

  Reviewed by Jason4.6★Feb 2018

• "Very happy with our holiday break."

  Was very happy with the cottage and made to feel very welcome. Beds extremely comfortable. Property very well presented and clean.

  Reviewed by K5.0★Nov 2017

• "We thoroughly enjoyed our stay."

  The cottage was warm, comfortable and peaceful. We'd love to go back again. Would highly recommend it.

  Reviewed by Jackie4.8★Feb 2017

• "Fantastic cottage in lovely area."

  Delighted to stay here with our dogs.

  Reviewed by Jenny5.0★Nov 2016

• "Downside was about a mile up a single lane farm track, completely dark after sunset."

  PAssing places were sparse and for any one who was nervous about reversing if another vehicle met tem it would be worrying..therwise it was delightful. SHeep in the garden one morning eating fallen apples. Soon moved on. Sky at night was so clear and free from pollution. Not a sound at night. COmfy beds and sitting room furniture.

  Reviewed by Valerie4.8★Oct 2016

• "A hairdryer would be a useful addition."

  Reviewed by Lesley4.0★Oct 2016

• "A very enjoyable the owners were extremely helpful ."

  Very quite location and the local area was very nice

  Reviewed by Marilyn4.4★Sep 2016

• "Cottage owned by very friendly and welcoming family."

  Beautiful, but quiet rural location on working farm. Comfortable, well equiped accommodation. Would recommend.

  Reviewed by David5.0★Sep 2016

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