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Overton Cottage

(Ref. 1075433)

Sturminster Newton, Dorset Show on map

4.7

Sykes rating

  • 6 Guests

  • 3 Bedrooms

  • 2 Bathrooms

  • Pets Yes

Features

  • Open fire
  • Garden / Patio
  • Pub/shop < 1 mile
  • Washing machine
  • Dishwasher
  • Broadband / WiFi

Reviews & Ratings

Accuracy of the listing
Cleanliness
Comfort
Facilities and Maintenance
  • All reviews
  • cottage (18)
  • parking (15)
  • lovely (15)
  • location (12)
  • stay (12)
  • everything (11)

30 Customer Reviews

  • "The cottage was lovely , simply decorated clean and tidy."

    Had everything we needed even a vase when my daughter sent me flowers for my birthday and a dog bowl and dog towel. Loved the free standing bath

    Reviewed by Sue4.4Oct 2024

  • "The cottage was very comfortable."

    Nice and clean and homely. We would definitely consider staying there again.

    Reviewed by David5.0Oct 2024

  • "The cottage was perfect for the 6 of us."

    Lots of space and reasonably clean. Parking in the courtyard was impossible so we had to make use of the car parks. Often the church one was full so needed to park in town. There were not many glass tumblers which we think needs to be addressed. Also a fan or two would be useful when the weather is hot. The courtyard and outside the front door needs to tlc regarding weeds.

    Reviewed by Heather3.8Aug 2024

  • "A nice place to stay, with everything you need"

    Reviewed by Stephen5.0Apr 2024

  • "The house is extremely well furnished and it would appear that it has only recently been decorated and fitted out."

    It is spacious, comfortable and well located.

    Reviewed by Paul5.0Mar 2024

  • "Fabulous cottage, really comfortable and clean."

    Great location in a lovely small town. Would fully recommend staying here.

    Reviewed by Jane5.0Feb 2024

  • "Very comfortable and spacious cottage in quiet location."

    Car parking is tight so not suitable for large car however managed to reverse Astra into space.

    Reviewed by Brian5.0Sep 2023

  • "We had a great time staying at Overton Cottage."

    It provided everything we needed for a comfortable, family stay in a beautiful area of Dorset. We stayed there as we had family in both Dorset and Somerset, so within easy commute of them. The village of Sturminster Newton provided us with everything we needed, except a large supermarket but again there are ones close by - I’d recommend the Tesco in Blandford Forum or Asda in Gillingham. The bakery sold the most amazing cakes and butcher’s is well work a visit. We didn’t have a lot of time eating out there but would recommend The Bank for tapas and the fish n chip shop. I loved looking around the shops and picked up some great gifts as well. The parking is limited but equally wasn’t an issue for us, we had 2 small suv cars and could park them in the back by keeping the gate open & careful reversing! As we stayed for 3 weeks, we really tested the functionality of the cottage. Pleasingly it lived up to the demands of 4 adults and 2 children. There were of course a few things we’d have changed in an ideal world, for example, having no downstairs toilet was a slight inconvenience for us but would cause people with mobility issues more of a problem. My grandchildren are 1 and 2.5 years, we had to organise our own travel cot/high hair and I had the feeling the listing isn’t really aimed at families with young children. That said, they quickly got used to the steep stairs and you can shut areas off to stop them roaming freely. The free standing bath was beautiful for a relaxing soak but not so practical when needing a quick shower. While there was a shower in it, you had to sit down and no splash back tiles for the water. When convenient we did use the main shower downstairs. All in all, we’d definitely recommend staying here as there was a lot more to love than not. I’m certain we’d rent here again if ever back in the UK.

    Reviewed by Julie4.4Sep 2023

  • "Lovely place to stay ………."

    .in fact I’d like to live in it

    Reviewed by Kay5.0Sep 2023

  • "Lovely cottage."

    Only issue was the parking. Advice on which way is best, drive on ahead into the continuation of the path in Church lane and reverse eith a bit of a chicane in that way, or turn left past the cottage, past the gate and try and reverse in that way - found it way too tight.

    Reviewed by Edmond5.0Jul 2023

  • "We had a lovely stay and everything was as described."

    The house is beautiful and in a great location. The rooms are simple yet comfortable - the second bathroom is a lovely addition. It was very organised and we appreciated how well equipped it was. It was perfect for our needs, the only slight issue for me was that the Wifi didn't extend to the garden area, but as the house was very cool and breezy i was able to work from indoors with no problem.

    Reviewed by Jody4.7Jun 2023

  • "The cottage was very very spacious with every room being light bright and very clean."

    There was loads of space for us and the enclosed garden was perfect for the dogs. It was a great base to explore the south coast by day, and have lazy walks around the village by night, and being right in the centre everything was on hand :)

    Reviewed by Richard5.0May 2023

  • "Parking on drive was more difficult than expected"

    Reviewed by Clare5.0May 2023

  • "We absolutely loved the house and found it so comfortable."

    The location is perfect for exploring the area, so many cafes and pubs around. The house is spacious and was great for us (group of 5 friends), loved the fireplace and the bath upstairs, kitchen had everything we needed, quiet area and so got a really great nights sleep also! Thank you!!!!

    Reviewed by Mariko5.0Apr 2023

  • "Wonderful stay, lovely location, everything you could possible need."

    Only 2 minor points, a zip lock bed instead of twin would have worked better for us. Blackout curtains would have made it perfect, the lamp post outside doesn't go off until 1am and shines into the bedroom. Just our personal preference, would love to stay again.

    Reviewed by Sally5.0Mar 2023

  • "Beautiful property in a wonderful location tucked away in a quiet street in the heart of this pretty town."

    Don’t miss a visit to church at the end of the street for the beautiful and rare stained glass. The house was warm and welcoming when we arrived but lacked the personal touch. We were disappointed there was no house file as hadn’t printed out what had been sent. Also we love to read a visitors book for other guests recommendations! These may have been removed because of Covid restrictions but we have stayed in many places where these items have been reinstated. We found the kitchen equipment particularly lacking, especially with such a fine cooker! Only a huge frying pan, no small saucepan, no sieve, no blender or whisk, no serving dishes. We struggled with the tv as none of us have a smart tv! Sykes cottages were very helpful with this and we got there in the end. It was great to have off road parking and we did manage to get our S class Mercedes in the space (just!) much to the delight of the neighbours! We used the yard for lunch once before the rain came back. This would be a delightful area in the summer.

    Reviewed by Stephen4.1Mar 2023

  • "Lovely home from home property."

    Well maintained with all the facilities and equipment necessary to ensure ease of living. From the roll top bath to the comfortable bed and feather duvet. Modern but with some traditional features. Especially loved the wood burners, which were welcome after experiencing one of the walks around Sturminster Newton. It’s true that the parking is tricky (I have a medium sized car) considering the house sleeps 6. However, you could find parking locally if you needed it. Overall a relaxing and happy week, thank you.

    Reviewed by Alison5.0Jan 2023

  • "We had a wonderful week’s stay."

    The cottage provides you with pretty much everything you need and Sturminster too has all you need on the doorstep. All this made for a lovely visit. The only downside, as others have said, is the parking. It’s fine if you have 1 car but if you have 2 you are reliant on getting parked by the church or if not having to pay for parking in the larger car park. This, however, would not prevent us from booking the cottage again.

    Reviewed by Craig5.0Nov 2022

  • "One or two niggles that I have already shared with the owner."

    The door know in the top bedroom kept falling off and the hot water was intermittent. Please put the key safe higher than it is!!

    Reviewed by Helen4.7Oct 2022

  • "Excellent week at Overton cottage with practically everything we needed and all amenities close by."

    Eating out a couple of nights we however do like to cook at home so would have appreciated some addional dishes for microwaving food or a steamer which would also help with reducing the range fuel use. We also did find the TV frustating with a number of channels either unavaiable or the picture continuoully breaking up and the parking can be a challenge but once you get the hang of it it becomes much easier. Minor issues really and wouldn't hesitate in recommending the accommodation to anyone else.

    Reviewed by Michael5.0Sep 2022

  • "My partner and I really enjoyed our stay at Overton Cottage last week."

    The cottage is close to amenities, especially a variety of good places to eat, and lovely countryside and clearly marked footpaths are accessible from the door. The accommodation itself is very well equipped and all appliances were easy to use. It was particularly easy to operate the central heating and towel rails. The beds were super-comfortable and the rooms spacious and light. All in all the interior was first class. Outside however we found it was tricky using the off-road parking place, having to reverse at a sharp angle through the narrow gateway with inches to spare (our car just a modest-size saloon). This deterred us from evening trips. Also, upon arrival we were puzzled to find the key locker installed below knee height! (Why?) Being elderly, we had some difficulty seeing the alignment of the code numbers.

    Reviewed by Susan4.4Sep 2022

  • "Such a lovely home from home cottage."

    Loved the decor and finishing touches. Perfect location for everything we wanted to do (Durdle door is a must!) and loved that local pubs and shops were within a minutes walk and dog friendly. Managed to get our SUV on the drive with some effort, even with road works that unfortunately took place at end of our stay over the driveway making it even more of a challenge we still got it on just about! My parents also always managed to find a parking space near by so parking wasn't an issue. Only thing we would have preferred is that that second bathroom had a proper shower, with 2 separate families one had to have the roll top bath as their shower (absolutely lovely for a bath but not practical for showers!) Overall really lovely stay, cottage has everything you need. The welcome pack was a nice addition and we would love to come back one winter when it's cosy with log burners on.

    Reviewed by Sadie4.7Aug 2022

  • "Overton Cottage was just as described and as good as the previous reviews."

    The cottage was spotless when we arrived and the welcome pack was a lovely touch - thank you. We loved the very comfortable beds and even in this heat being feather pillows and duvets they still offered some coolness. The grandchildren especially loved ringing the old fashioned doorbell, and the chiming of the church clock was also very quintessential. Yes the parking is a bit of a challenge with a large car, we have a Mercedes e class saloon but my husband, with a bit of manoeuvring got it in. But we also got my sons car in the courtyard as well but that obviously means you can't shut the gate but the lane is so quiet it certainly doesn't affect your privacy. The walks to the river and the mill were lovely and the views there beautiful. We also had some fab beach days in Swanage, with everyone swimming in the sea. Would definitely come back here.

    Reviewed by Carol5.0Aug 2022

  • "We had a wonderful holiday staying at Overton Cottage."

    The house is in a very pretty location and close to shops, pubs and good walks in the area. The house was spotlessly clean, good quality finish with space and everything needed for a family of 3 generations staying together. Parking for one car at the property - free parking nearby for a second car was always available during our stay. Good communication and attention to detail was much appreciated….we look forward to returning again in the future. Janette

    Reviewed by Janette5.0May 2022

  • "Place was fantastic, excellent location, car parking not a problem."

    Place warm. My only issue was the shower, I found the surface very slippy and the height of the shower not adjustable. This did not ruin our stay, but was am issue for our relatives who were older. Great addition were the maps and walking guides. Thanks for an amazing birthday stay

    Reviewed by Christine5.0Feb 2022

  • "Having let the owner know our scheduled arrival we were 1hr early ( The journey being quicker than expected, the worst storm for 30 years was kind to us)."

    We met the cleaner who was lovely and she showed us round the property; it was lovely and clean and well equipped. It was a pleasure to have more than 6 plates, knives, forks etc. Due to the inclement weather the cleaner was most apologetic that no logs were available for the wood burners since her supplier had closed for the day. We bought one bag from town and prior to departure from home had ordered logs from a local supplier who true to his word delivered on Saturday morning. We would throughly recommend Overton Cottage it is comfortable and it’s location in the town is brilliant for walking to pubs and restaurants. The Bull and the Bank Brassiere we excellent. Yes, the drive is a little tight but the cleaner parked her BMW saloon with little effort and after some assistance I parked a Mercedes saloon comfortably. There are super walks from the house, the dogs had a great time. Thank goodness the white carpet in the lounge was marked as this reduced the stress levels when sat in front of the wood burner with a glass of red wine - zero accidents. ( Hopefully when it is replaced a more forgiving colour will be chosen) We did not use the twin room but noticed on day of departure that the gale force winds had blown down the woollen seal in the chimney. It would be good to have a mirror in the bedrooms plus the sinks need rubber seals replaced round the pop up plugs. We had a great time at the cottage and if you want a relaxing week away with all amenities within walking distance would urge you to book this character residence. We have already rebooked!

    Reviewed by Martin5.0Feb 2022

  • "Lovely size property but not at all as clean as it should be (windows filthy) along with a badly stained carpet in the lounge."

    Appreciate that only room for one vehicle - but how this equates with a 3bed/6 person house does not add up. Rear yard was a disgrace and unable to sit out in even if we wanted to as furniture covered in bird droppings and even an old Christmas tree up against a wall. Covid being used as an excuse far to much to not even supply the essentials on arrival e.g. tea, coffee, milk. Two wood burners that had not been cleaned out and 3 logs supplied which again is just very tight.

    We’re sorry to hear that your recent stay at Overton Cottage was not as positive an experience as you would have liked. We want all our guests to have an enjoyable stay, so we will be taking action to address the points you have raised. The windows are cleaned inside and out every 8 weeks and this was due the week after your stay. The carpet in the lounge has become stained over recent months and will be replaced sometime during February, together with the carpet on the stairs and landings. The guest information is clear about the parking situation. There is off-street within the rear courtyard for one vehicle and additional spaces available on-street and in public car parks locally. It’s not unusual for houses of this size in Sturminster Newton and other holiday destinations to have no off-road parking so one space is a real positive. Our cleaner is tasked with cleaning the garden furniture after each stay. Although it is unlikely that guests will sit out in the rear courtyard as much during the winter months as at other times of year, there will be days when the weather is nice and guests want to use the garden. We have therefore asked our cleaner to ensure the garden furniture is kept clean throughout the year. The Christmas tree was left behind by the guests who stayed over Christmas, but it was tucked away in the corner of the garden until we can dispose of it. The property is rented on a self-catering basis so most guests supply the essentials for their stay. We do not live nearby so it is difficult for us to arrange a welcome pack, but we are speaking with our cleaners to see what they could do to provide guests with some basics, such as tea, coffee and milk, on arrival to improve the guest experience. The property information asks guests who have used the wood burners to empty the ashpans into the general waste bin. However, we appreciate that this does not always happen so we have asked our cleaner to ensure the wood burners are cleaned after every stay. Matches and some firelighters are provided in a tin next to each log burner. Some logs are usually provided for use by guests and details of a local shop that supplies logs is provided in the guest information. Property Owner

    Reviewed by Andrew2.5Jan 2022

  • "We had a lovely stay at Overton Cottage and would recommend it."

    We will hopefully stay there again next year as it is a good central location in 'Stur' and a good base for walking and touring the surrounding area.

    Reviewed by Susan4.7Oct 2021

  • "The cottage itself was excellent."

    The parking situation is not accurate and unacceptable. Car parking is an important factor when choosing somewhere to stay. The description was "off road" parking for two cars. The angle of the tight access made it impossible to park my car - had I been able to park my car, I would not have been able to close the gate which would have meant the garden was not dog secure.

    Reviewed by Sue4.4Oct 2021

  • "Good location, lovely cottage - however, lots of cobwebs and spiders!"

    Reviewed by Victoria4.4Aug 2021

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Summary

  • Over three floors
  • Three bedrooms: 1 x king-size, 1 x twin, 1 x second-floor king-size
  • Bathroom with bath, shower over, basin, heated towel rail and WC
  • Second-floor bathroom with bath, hand-held shower, basin, heated towel rail and WC
  • Kitchen
  • Utility
  • Dining room with woodburning stove
  • Sitting room with woodburning stove
  • Gas central heating with 2 x woodburning stove
  • Range cooker with gas hob, fridge, freezer
  • Utility with dishwasher and washer/dryer
  • Smart TV and WiFi
  • Fuel and power inc. in rent
  • Bed linen and towels inc. in rent
  • Off-road parking for 1 x medium sized cars
  • Two well-behaved dogs welcome
  • Enclosed courtyard
  • Sorry, no smoking
  • Shop 0.2 miles, pub 0.1 miles
  • Note: No puppies

The property

This delightful, Grade II listed cottage is nestled down a quiet lane near to the centre of Sturminster Newton; a quaint market town in North Dorset.

It is resting in the scenic Blackmore Vale, making it a great touring base for those looking to explore Dorset’s main attractions and the Jurassic Coast, including Durdle Door, Weymouth and Lulworth 45 mins away.

With three character bedrooms, including a king-size with feature fireplace and double aspect windows, along with a twin and a second king-size on the top floor, this pleasant accommodation offers a superb place to relax and unwind.

When you’re not dining at a local restaurant, the amply-equipped kitchen offers a range cooker with gas hob, fridge/freezer, while the utility hosts a dishwasher & washer/dryer so you can you rinse your muddy clothes straight away.

Set the dining table for a home-cooked meal, before heading into the lounge for an evening of relaxation, offering a woodburning stove and a Smart TV for entertainment.

To the outside is an enclosed courtyard where you can enjoy your morning coffee whilst the pooch stretches their legs.

Once home to Thomas Hardy and the Dorset dialect poet William Barnes, Sturminster Newton is a real gem; visit the picturesque water mill on the River Stour, find out the rich the traditions of the Blackmore Vale at Sturminster Newton Museum, or celebrate the 2 day annual Cheese Festival held in September.

Avid walkers can explore the unspoilt, pastoral expanses of the Vale following the White Hart Link walking trail, a 50 mile circular route linking the five towns of North Dorset using footpaths and quiet lanes.

The ancient town of Sherborne is 12 miles away, whilst the market town of Dorchester, with its Roman roads and wealth of shops and eateries, is 20 miles away.

Once those are ticked off, the magnificent Dorset Heritage Coastline is a must-visit, awarded as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it offers a great way to see the amazing landmarks and far-reaching coastal views of this part of Dorset.

Whilst here, visit the pretty seaside towns of Swanage, Lyme Regis or West Bay for something to eat or a chance to rest your feet.

Overton Cottage is a superb ‘home away home’, providing great opportunity for exploring Dorset at any time of year.

Note: This property has a Good Housekeeping bond of £200.

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About the location

STURMINSTER NEWTON

Blandford Forum 11 miles.

The small, attractive market town of Sturminster Newton is set on the banks of the River Stour, reached via a graceful, six-arch, 15th century bridge, carrying a warning of deportation to those who may damage it! The whole area acted as inspiration for the works of Thomas Hardy, who wrote Return of The Native whilst living in the town. The region is dotted with thatched cottages, rural walks, stunning country views, and fascinating towns, such as Sherborne, with its abbey and castle, whilst the beautiful Dorset Heritage Coast is also within easy reach, making this an ideal base all year round!

Note; There is a Good Housekeeping Bond of £200 for this property

This property offers the following short breaks:

  • Winter
  • Off-season
  • Last minute
  • Christmas