Dorset self catering holiday cottages

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Dorset self catering holiday cottages

Welcome to Belview Cottage, a charming self-catering holiday cottage situated in the heart of the beautiful Blackmore Vale in North Dorset, south west UK.

Belview Cottage has one double and one twin room and has been completely refurbished and equipped to a very high standard. The Cottage provides the perfect location for a family holiday from which to enjoy the beautiful surrounding countryside, whilst being within easy reach of the Jurassic Coast and other tourist attractions. The historic towns of Dorchester and Sherborne are both about 25 minutes drive away and the coast at Weymouth and Lyme Regis is about an hour away through beautiful Dorset Countryside.

There is easy access to a range of footpaths for walkers, including the Wessex Ridgeway and the Hardy Trail – well-behaved dogs welcome, with prior notification. Travel cot, high chair and other baby equipment available on request. Free Wi-Fi internet access also available.

The cottage is situated in the hamlet of Fifehead Neville, a few miles from the market town of Sturminster Newton. The name Fifehead Neville is derived from the Saxon word Fithyde – a hide was originally the amount of land which would support life for a free peasant family, which in Wessex was 48 acres. So Fithyde was a village of 240 acres in the time of the Domesday Book. William de Nevill, who came over from Neuville in Normandy, gave the hamlet the second part of the name.

Foundations of a Roman villa were excavated in a nearby field in 1881 and 1902-1905. You can see artefacts from the site in Sturminster Newton Museum. One of the few surviving medieval packhorse bridges in the country crosses the little river Divelish at the lower end of the hamlet – the river is aptly named since during heavy rain, it can rapidly rise to five feet deep at the ford! The parish church, dedicated to All Saints, dates in part from the 14th century, with later additions.

Belview Cottage is a detached modern holiday cottage situated in the grounds of the owners’ house, in the quiet hamlet of Fifehead Neville, a few miles from the town of Sturminster Newton in North Dorset. There is off-road parking for two cars immediately outside the cottage.

The cottage includes the following:

• Well-equipped kitchen with electric oven and hob, microwave oven, washing machine, dishwasher and fridge freezer, ironing board and electric steam iron
• Lounge/dining room with two large sofas, coffee table, wood burner-effect electric fire, TV and DVD player with Freeview, tuner/CD player with music port, dining table and chairs
• Double bedroom with 5 ft bed, wardrobe, chest of drawers, 2 chairs, 2 bedside cabinets, radio alarm clock and hairdryer
• Twin bedroom with wardrobe, chest of drawers, 2 chairs, 2 bedside cabinets, radio alarm clock and hairdryer
• Bathroom with full-size bath, separate shower cubicle, toilet, basin and heated towel rail
• Airing cupboard
• Small private fenced garden with table, chairs and garden shed.
• Free Wi-Fi internet access
• Bed linen, towels and tea-towels are provided
• Full oil-fired central heating
• Roller blind safety gates are fitted at the top and bottom of the stairs
• Travel cot, highchair, baby bath, changing mat and play mat are available on request

Bike Hire and Cycling

Dorset Cycles, 31 High Street, Stalbridge, DT10 2LL Tel: 01963 362476
The repair specialist. Everything from custom built bikes, new, used & hire bikes, a large range of children's bikes. Easy parking available.

Torico Unit 3 North Dorset Business Park, Sturminster Newton, Dorset, DT10 2GA
Tel: 01258 473 770. Hire of bikes.

UK Bike Park for downhill mountain biking, located at the top of Okeford Hill, near Shillingstone (about 20 minutes away by car).

There is also an off road trailway between Sturminster Newton and Shillingstone along the route of the old railway line, which is popular with cyclists and walkers.

Swimming

Blandford has a great indoor swimming pool and even has a water slide too - check for opening times. Tel: 01258 455566

Dairy House Farm, Woolland (a few miles away) has an indoor heated swimming pool.
Tel: 01258 817501 for more details.

Children’s Activities

Climb Aboard, Ambassador Business Park, West Stour, Gillingham, Dorset SP8 5SE
Tel: 01747 839888, Children’s soft play centre. Situated just off the A30 between West Stour and Henstridge, about 30 minutes by car.

Cool Play Ltd, Spiders Farm, Rivers Corner, Sturminster Newton, Dorset DT10 2AB
Tel: 01258 474666, Indoor play centre, including laser games. Just a few minutes' drive away.

Manic Monsters, Unit 8, Sunrise Business Park, Higher Shaftesbury Road, Blandford Forum, Dorset DT11 8ST. Tel: 01258 456688, Three tier adventure play zone with café. About 25 minutes away.

Adventure Wonderland, Merritown Lane, Hurn, Christchurch, Dorset BH23 6BA
Tel: 01202 483444, Dorset's No. 1 theme park. About one hour away.

Honeybrook Farm Shop and Park, Wimborne, Dorset BH21 4JD
Tel: 01202 881120,  Adventure playground, toddlers' play houses, farm animals to meet, tractor trailer rides. About 45 minutes away.

There is a children’s playground at Alec’s Field in Hazelbury Bryan (opposite the Antelope Inn), about 1.5 miles away.

Farmer Palmer’s Farm Park, for children up to 8 years old,
Tel: 01202 622022. Situated at Organford, four miles from Poole.

Walking

There are many footpaths and bridleways all around the area, with fantastic views over the surrounding countryside and along the stunning coastline. You are welcome to borrow our OS Explorer map of the immediate area during your stay.

Sturminster Newton (about 3 miles)

Stur is a small market town situated in the heart of the Blackmore Vale. It has a working 17th Century Mill and the Town Museum.

There is a very fine medieval six-arched stone bridge over the River Stour at one end of the town. The author Thomas Hardy lived here for a couple of years around 1876 and wrote "The Return of the Native" whilst here. There is a trailway along the course of the old railway which starts in Station Road car park and is suitable for walkers and cyclists.

Sherborne is a most attractive and historic town, with two castles and the Abbey being well worth a visit.

Dorchester (about 18 miles)

Dorchester is the county town of Dorset and has many interesting features and attractions, including the Dinosaur Museum  and the Tutankhamen Exhibition , as well as its links with Thomas Hardy, who called it Casterbridge.

Lyme Regis (about 44 miles)

Lyme Regis is an historic unspoiled seaside resort and fishing port on the world famous Cobb harbour. Surrounded by beautiful coastlines and countryside, the area has now been awarded World Heritage Site Status; famous for its geology and fossil finds.

Weymouth (about 27 miles)

Weymouth is home to a safe clean sheltered family beach with three miles of level promenade, providing access to the beach, Town Centre, Harbour and Country Park. Also the location for sailing events in the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Salisbury (about 31 miles)

Salisbury Cathedral has the tallest spire in Britain and dates from the 13th Century. Attractive town centre and shops.

Tel 01258 818 397

www.belviewcottagedorset.co.uk

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Dorset self catering holiday cottages