Dorset Holiday Cottages

Reviews

What our customers say about their holidays

• Sue - Verified booking

  The apartment was larger than expected and had all the essentials required.

  We did not expect to find washing up liquid, dishwasher tablets, bin liners or cleaning cloths so this was nice. The kitchen was well stocked of pots and pans and all essential cooking equipment. We were able to cook our meals in the apartment without any issues. The beds were very comfortable and both bedrooms very spacious. I do not usually sleep well for a couple of days when being somewhere different but I slept well every night so a big bonus for me. There was a hoover, iron and ironing board, clothes airer and cleaning equipment - we did not use them all but good to know they are available if required. We did use some of the cleaning equipment to clean the patio doors to the balcony so we could see the beautiful view from them - although this could be an endless tasks if there is lots of wind and rain which is why the doors and windows were not clear. The shower was dripping when we arrived but we were told this will be sorted by the plumber which it was and the shower was replaced which was much better and the water pressure was good, however, we did run out of hot water when all 4 of us showered and 3 washed their (long) hair which was more time consuming and therefore not enough hot water for all. I appreciated the little sewing box in the drawer as I needed to use this which meant I was able to wear the item of clothing again. We also played some of the board games that were in the drawers although we had brought some of our own in case of rainy days - which we only had 2. We enjoyed looking around the area, including all the shops and did plenty of walking. The beach was also great for the kids and their fossil hunting and my husband did some fishing off the beach whilst I managed some sunbathing for a few hours (until the cloud came over). Having the garage to park the car was great and it also kept it dry from the couple of windy wet days we had. We have a large car but was able to fit it in the garage although everyone got out before parking it as there was not much room to the side even when parked right over to one side. We visited Lulworth Cove, Durdle Door and Monkey World (this one is a favourite of ours and we try and go once yearly). Weymouth was lovely but we did not manage to visit Portland which was recommended to us.

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• Joe - Verified booking

  Although there was nothing wrong with the cottage/dairy itself, in fact on the whole it was quite nice, there were a couple of disappointments to deal with when we arrived.

  Apparently, there had been vehicle damage to a telegraph pole and there was no Internet. Obviously this was outside the control of the owner, but knowing about it would have been nice as I had taken some work with us that I couldn't do. This was coupled with problem that we couldn't get any type of Internet connection via 4g, or even slower, while in the area of the cottage. We couldn't even get a telephone signal of any kind. No Internet, so no WhatsApp, no telephone signal, so not even texts. I am with O2 and my wife is with Vodafone. I don't know if that is the usual situation or the problem is related to the issue with the telegraph pole. We were asked to move our new car from the front of the property to the side, because it was in view of the guests from the other holiday property (their car was at the side of their property). We did this but I was a bit concerned about all the conkers that fallen all over that area. However it wasn't windy so that wasn't a problem. When we came back one evening the new guests from the other property were parked where we'd been told to park, so we had to park at the front anyway. Also, again no fault of the owner, but the A35 was closed for repairs each night between 8.00pm and 6.00am, so getting back after 8.00 was via single track country lanes, but there are passing places. On the plus side the property has pretty well everything you are likely to need and it's handy for anywhere accessible from the Dorchester to Honiton road. There are some nice eateries a short drive away, particularly The Loders Arms. The food is good and the service too, but don't go if you have a problem with dogs, although all very friendly, there's a lot of them. It's our 6th visit to Dorset and apart from the aforementioned inconveniences, we had a good holiday and we will, God willing, be returning to Dorset next year.

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• Lisa - Verified booking

  This property had pretty views from the sitting room, an open plan living area and bedrooms and bathroom situated downstairs, clean and pretty comfortable throughout .

  There were various issues, some of which were down to us making assumptions on booking, some not. There is a lot of damp in the main sitting area, and the kitchen is very basic, not great if you want to cook. The cupboards are very high, we are not that tall and could barely reach. Oven looked new, no instructions on how to use it were provided though, so there was a lot of trial and error but we got there in the end! There is no washing machine (we of course should have checked and not assumed) three dogs and by a beach, plus good old English weather, meant we ran out of stuff very quickly. Strangely there is an airer and ironing board. The sitting area was comfy and we made up horror stories about the door in the ceiling :). The bedrooms were nice, particularly the larger room, the beds were comfortable. The bathroom was fine, tiled throughout, nice strong shower. The bathroom door kept jamming shut though and after getting stuck in there the first night, we had to leave it open. There is no outside space at all so you have to walk your dogs even if they want to go out at 2 am, in hindsight we should have checked on Google maps to see exact space ..a lesson learned! The property is set halfway up a hill, and the whole area is very steep, would not recommend to anyone with mobility issues. And although there is free onstreet parking, finding a space was very hit and miss, so be prepared to make many trips with your luggage! Good way to get your steps in though. Overall would recommend to anyone with a reasonable degree of fitness who wants a clean base from which to explore (assuming the damp and the sticky door get sorted) . Would not recommend to dog owners due to no outdoor space and no washing facilities, or to anyone with mobility issues. Hope people find this useful!

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• John - Verified booking

  Blueberry cottage is very nice, well maintained and modern, warm, good facilities, enjoyable place to stay.

  The location, almost equidistant between Weymouth and Dorchester and in a quiet village is excellent. On the downside, car parking is a problem. There is no designated parking spot for the cottage and the locals are extremely possessive of any spaces going, including in front of the cottage itself. We parked as far as 200 yards away opposite the village pub. A minor problem concerns the loo which is on the ground floor off the kitchen. Navigating steep stairs from the bedroom in the night to visit the loo is not ideal. Almost reminds me of early years, at least this loo is inside! On a wider issue, why do Sykes insist on Friday to Friday lettings? Friday is the worst day of the week for road travel. Arriving on holiday in an unfamiliar place fraught from Friday travel is not the best start to a holiday. We use other holiday cottage agencies who are happy with Saturday to Saturday lettings and I'm afraid whilst Sykes continue with this Friday to Friday situation, we shall prioritise those other agencies for cottage bookings.

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• Jesal - Verified booking

  We generally had a good stay at Harbour Scene and the flat is in a fantastic location, especially for the beach.

  There were a couple of things we'd suggest to improve the overall experience. Firstly, the cleanliness of the kitchen wasn't to a high standard, we had to wash all dishes again before their use and the cupboards and appliances were sticky to touch. It just made it feel a little dirty and uncomfortable. The second thing is the linen, we stayed for a week and there was only one set of towels and bath mat with no facility in the flat to wash them. I'd suggest that you provide an extra set of towels or put a basic washing machine in the kitchen for the use of guests. The other thing, which is more minor is that the smaller bedroom's curtains let in a lot of light so my children were woken up very early. Overall though, it was a nice stay which could have been even better with a couple of tweaks. Thank you for having us.

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