River cottage sits in a pretty rural setting with its own enclosed garden

3 bedrooms3 bathroomsSleeps 61 sq m

Popular amenities

Washer

Dryer

Pet-friendly

Outdoor space

Enjoy the area

Dorchester, Dorset

Hardy's Cottage8 min drive
Monkey World Ape Rescue Center12 min drive
The Tank Museum12 min drive
Bournemouth (BOH-Bournemouth Intl.)46 min drive

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 6)

3 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Bathroom 2

Bathroom 3

Spaces

Garden

About this property

River Cottage stands within the beautiful grounds of Athelhampton House and is accessed via the estate car park and a bridge over the River Piddle. The cottage sits in a pretty, rural setting with its own enclosed garden, and provides generous accommodation with three spacious bedrooms, all with en-suite bathrooms. There is a comfortable sitting room with french doors to the terrace with its garden furniture and views of the surrounding countryside, and there is a dual aspect kitchen with dining area. The cottage is perfect for a relaxing family break in a very special property.

Guests staying at River Cottage have the privilege of being able to view the house and gardens during their stay, and the cottage is well located for trips to the Jurassic Coast including iconic Durdle Door and Lulworth Cove. Just a few minutes by car is the village of Puddletown with a well-stocked shop and pub. The historic county town of Dorchester is just a short drive away and there are many quaint and pretty villages nearby, providing many opportunities for exploring this wonderful part of Dorset.

Additional Information:
Travel cot available on request (please bring your own cot linen).
Up to two well behaved dogs welcome (small additional charge).
The heating and water are heated by ground source, all powered by solar.
Please note that Internet access is offered at this property for recreational purposes only and is not meant for business use or streaming. Speed/service may vary depending on the package obtained by the owner which is provided to guests free of charge. Should guests experience difficulties or loss of use, neither the owner nor Dorset Hideaways will be held responsible.

Property manager

Dorset Hideaways

Premier Host

Languages

English

Amenities

Washer

Dryer

Pet-friendly

Outdoor space

Pet-friendly

House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM

Minimum age to rent: 21

Check out before 10:00 AM

Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17

Events

No events allowed

Pets

Pets allowed

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Damage and incidentals

You will be responsible for any damage to the rental property caused by you or your party during your stay.

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy

Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges

Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed

On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited

Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip

Host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property

About the area

Dorchester

This cottage is located in Dorchester. Monkey World Ape Rescue Center is a popular attraction and the area's natural beauty can be seen at Durdle Door and Durdle Door Beach. Traveling with kids? Consider Kingston Maurward Park and Gardens, or check out an event or a game at The Avenue Stadium. Take an opportunity to explore the area for outdoor excitement like cycling and other activities like birdwatching.

Dorchester, Dorset

What's nearby

Athelhampton House and Gardens - 2 min walk
Sculpture by the Lakes - 7 min drive
Hardy's Cottage - 8 min drive
Monkey World Ape Rescue Center - 12 min drive
The Tank Museum - 12 min drive

Getting around

Dorchester West Station - 17 min drive
Bournemouth (BOH-Bournemouth Intl.) - 47 min drive

Restaurants

The Blue Vinny - 3 min drive
Trumpet Major - 9 min drive
The Thimble Inn - 8 min drive
Frampton Arms - 9 min drive
Royal Oak Inn - 7 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is River cottage sits in a pretty rural setting with its own enclosed garden pet-friendly?

Yes, pets are allowed at this property.

9.4

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.

Learn more

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

8/10 Good

11 December 2023

River cottage

Very chocolate box cottage. Everything you need is there. Owen the manager was lovely and arranged a private tour of Athelhampton house for us, provided by Emma who was very knowledgeable. We were lucky as there was a Christmas fair happening that weekend too. The Blue Vinny pub in Puddletown was excellent and very accommodating. Would recommend staying.

This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

19 October 2023

Loved it would definitely be coming again

Everything was great can’t think of anything, maybe one thing and that was more for my Dad who came with us , because he his 82 he got in and out of the shower/Bath but was frightened of slipping so maybe a bath Matt or even a shower cubicle in the down stairs bedroom, only a thought, but still would give the holiday 10/10

This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

8/10 Good

Robin B.

20 September 2023

Lovely location

We really enjoyed our stay at River Cottage. It was a very peaceful location, despite being near a main road. Athelhampton House and gardens are beautiful. The cottage was a great base for us to explore Dorset - we can recommend visiting Sherborne, Lulworth, Monkey World, Maiden Castle and the Studland peninsula. The cottage itself was cosy and comfortable and there was a generous welcome basket of goodies for us to enjoy. The garden is secluded and private - we even saw a few frogs! The only issue we had (really minor!) was that some of the kitchen drawers were difficult to close. Also, I wouldn't recommend this property to anyone who was seriously afraid of spiders.

10/10 Excellent

Jan W.

20 August 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Another world

We were enchanted by River Cottage - the cottage itself and its surroundings. Downstairs there was the dining kitchen, lounge, hall and ground floor bedroom with ensuite. Patio doors from the lounge led to the garden with table & chairs. Leading up from the kitchen was one double bedroom & ensuite; and leading up from the hall was another bedroom where we had twin beds & ensuite. True, the kitchen and lounge were a bit on the small side for our family group, and there was only one small cupboard for dry food goods, but we managed. The cottage is situated in the grounds of Athelhampton House, to which we had free entry. Amazing. Much more to see than a National Trust house. My son was also able to charge his electric car at the back of the house. Owen, the Estate Manager, was very helpful and we just loved it there. It was so calming and peaceful.

Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2023

This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

3 July 2023

Lovely Property in a Tranquil Setting

Tucked away on a private driveway on the Athelhampton estate, pretty River Cottage is a lovely getaway from hustle and bustle yet only a minute's walk to the main house visitor centre (open daily with a cafe and bar) if you need assistance or supplies. There was a thoughtful welcome basket of basics and treats (including delicious bread). We popped across to reception a few times to stock up and everyone was friendly and extremely helpful. A bonus was the free entry into fascinating Athelhampton House and its extensive formal gardens. The fully enclosed cottage back garden was perfect for the dogs. There was even a goal post at one end for a family game of football as well as barbecue equipment. We brought our own lawn games. Southwest-facing patio with table and chairs was a sunny spot for eating outdoors. The three en-suite bedrooms, including one on the ground floor, perfect for the oldest generation, were spacious and comfortable. Well equipped eat-in kitchen and cosy sitting room with French doors onto the garden. Everything just right for our multigenerational group of 6 and 2 dogs. Dorchester is a very short drive away and there's a shop and post office in nearby Puddletown just up the road. We all had a wonderful time.