A beautifully converted coach house in the pretty village of Charminster offers a lovely holiday home for a family or couples seeking a tranquil rural retreat. The secluded property, sleeping four guests and one dog, is full of character and charm. Charminster lies in the heart of Thomas Hardy country and is a designated conservation area. There are peaceful walks in the surrounding countryside and the county town of Dorchester, with its museums, shops and cafes, is just 2 miles away.
Pretty prints and touches of colour enhance the homely feel of a traditional country cottage. Step through the double wooden entrance doors into a tiled hall. This leads to the living room, with comfortable sofas, armchairs and a cosy wood burner-effect electric fire, perfect for pets to toast their paws. The country-style kitchen/diner is ideal for get-togethers around the dining table, and there is a family bathroom. Upstairs are two charming bedrooms, both with pitched ceilings and skylights: a double which also has a full-length window, and a twin. Patio doors from the living room open to a delightful, paved courtyard garden, with a tree, shrubs and flowers. It is fully enclosed, with garden furniture and a BBQ.
Stroll to Charminster’s superb Norman church (80 metres). The gentle River Cerne runs alongside and from here you can join its course for a quiet, 2.4-mile walk. Visit the county town of Dorchester, famous as the birthplace of Thomas Hardy where you can visit the thatched cottage, now owned by the National Trust. The town is also home for eight museums, including a dinosaur museum, where dogs on leads are welcome. Be sure to visit Maiden Castle, the spectacular Iron Age hillfort (1.5 miles) and the famous Cerne Giant (6.5 miles), high above picturesque Cerne Abbas. For seaside fun, visit Weymouth (10 miles).