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Reviews of Barn conversion, quiet location and heated swimming pool ( from mid May)

Barn conversion, quiet location and heated swimming pool ( from mid May)
Dorchester, England

Reviews

9.4

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 42 out of 56 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 10 out of 56 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 4 out of 56 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 56 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 56 reviews" "

8.8/10

Cleanliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Brian H.

Liked: Cleanliness
Glorious
Beautiful, well maintained, large, bright but cosy home. The setting was stunning was gorgeous. Even though weather was poor for our stay our surroundings were vibrant and luscious in the rain. Lambs and cows grazing happily in the grounds. We found Courage Cottage to be an tranquil, idyllic retreat! Cottage brilliantly equipped and hosts lovely people! Thankyou
Stayed 7 nights in Apr 2024

6/10 Okay

Andrew T.

Disliked: Cleanliness
Great location, needs some TLC
First impressions were disappointing, would have helped if the doorstep had been swept. Well equipped kitchen, comfortable sofas, effective under-floor heating, no BBC channels on TV though. The shower is quite small and both bathrooms would benefit from redecorating. Previous visitors appear to have been very happy with the property so perhaps our expectations were too high. The location is excellent with just a short walk along a very quiet lane to Maiden Castle.
Stayed 5 nights in Mar 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 31 Mar 2024
Thank you Andrew. We will look into all this and try to improve but this was clearly not the sort of place for you!

10/10 Excellent

Kaye B.

Liked: Cleanliness
Courage Cottage
Courage Cottage is in a lovely quiet farm estate. With plenty of nature right outside the lovely big windows. This is a lovely barn conversion, very comfortable with everything you will need. We stayed during the Christmas period and was greeted with a lovely decorated Christmas tree, which was a lovely touch. We hope to return in the future.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2023

10/10 Excellent

KATE W.

Liked: Cleanliness
The perfect holiday stay
We have always returned to this property year after year , the host is very welcoming . The property accommodates 5 of us well . The gardens and the pool are a bonus and the area is worth exploring.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Yasmin B.

Liked: Cleanliness
Beautiful cottage
We loved this cottage. It had everything we needed. The children were chuffed with the swimming pool, and the dogs loved the outside space to run around. We especially liked the formal garden. It was well kept and pretty. Anyone staying here will be very happy.
Stayed 7 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Lee-Ann W.

Lovely cottage
We enjoyed our stay there just a few things, one thing is that the room that sleeps 3 is up a winding staircase so no good if your not so steady on your feet, we was fine but anyone else may struggle, also beds very noisy every time you turned over. We was lucky with the weather so sat outside we found the garden furniture could do with some tlc, maybe new cushions, but over all a lovely location very quiet and the cottage has all you need.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Farah H.

Liked: Cleanliness
Beautiful and Peaceful
This is a beautiful barn conversion. All the rooms are spacious from the kitchen, to the lounge, bedrooms and bathrooms. Outside is very spacious too with a very pretty walled garden. If you want a place to relax this is it - it is so very peaceful. It is also a convenient spot to explore the local area such as Weymouth and Portland, as well as the extremely pretty villages in the immediate area. We can also highly recommend the Brewers Arms in Martinstown for food. Overall, we had a fantastic stay and will be recommending this to our friends and family.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Angela B.

Liked: Cleanliness
Super spacious cottage
The cottage is very spacious with comfortable beds and sofas. Dog friendly Lovely farm all around and great walks nearby. The pool was a fabulous perk and we used it daily. Owners friendly but courteous of privacy which was lovely. Lots to do locally beach. Dorchester. Weymouth monkey world Durdles door Portland countryside fab villages and pubs. Will hope to visit again tho maybe not in the summer holidays. This year exceptionally busy Overall though I’d recommend the cottage and location.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2021

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness
Amazing holiday cottage
Well converted barn with all modern amenities. Lovely quiet location and beautiful walled garden. Trampoline and outdoor pool thoroughly enjoyed by the kids. They didn't want to leave and were upset when holiday was over. Richard was always available if some friendly help was required and was very accommodating. Everything needed was just a short drive away. Would definitely return but book well in advance as this place will book up fast!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2021

8/10 Good

Colin B.

Liked: Cleanliness
Quiet Location
Interesting barn conversion
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2020

10/10 Excellent

Caroline J., Bromley, United Kingdom

Liked: Cleanliness
Beautiful barn in peaceful location
The tranquility & seclusion of this barn is hard to beat! It really is a gem of a place and provides the perfect base for a family staycation in Dorset. It also has a swimming pool which was lovely too. Highly recommend.
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2020

10/10 Excellent

Paul R.

Liked: Cleanliness
amazing
gr8 place gr8 area gr8 accomodation no negatives just nice relaxing hol .
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2020
Response from VrboOwner on 21 Aug 2020
Delighted you enjoyed your stay Paul! Thanks for leaving the cottage so beautifully.

10/10 Excellent

Debora T.

Liked: Cleanliness
Perfect tranquil getaway for us and the kids!
We loved our week away at Courage Cottage after months at home during lockdown with the kids. The beautiful gardens, friendly, farm animals, huge trampoline, private heated pool, sounds of the birds and sheep, together with welcoming, relaxed and friendly owners. The property is well equiped and very nicely decorated, we liked having a staircase each to our bedrooms too! Close to Maiden Castle and a short drive to lovely beaches. Highly recommend, one of our top holidays, both us and our children of 9, 9 and 6 loved it.

10/10 Excellent

Matt S.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great location
Lovely place tucked away in a quiet area but within short distance of the coast and Dorchester centre. Great base for walking
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2019

10/10 Excellent

Peter G.

Liked: Cleanliness
Holiday in Dorset
We had an extremely pleasant stay in a very impressive barn conversion. Each of our party of four were delighted with the accommodation, general environment and the range of activities we were able to undertake. The owners were very helpful and made our stay very straightforward and as a result we could not have had a more satisfying experience.

8/10 Good

katie h.

Liked: Cleanliness
Enjoyable stay
Good property in fantastic location
Stayed 5 nights in Sep 2019

10/10 Excellent

Liz D., Bazens, SW France

Liked: Cleanliness
Fantastic for families with young children
This holiday was absolutely perfect for us with four children under 8 the pool was used everyday but the location of the property was brilliant for outings
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2019

10/10 Excellent

Jörg W.

Liked: Cleanliness
Schöner Urlaub in ruhiger Lage
Wir haben zu fünft (2 Erwachsene, drei Kinder) zwei Wochen in dieser Unterkunft verbracht. Die Größe der Unterkunft war sehr gut, sie besteht aus zwei Schlafzimmern, einem zentralen Wohnzimmer, einer großen Wohnküche und drei Bädern (eines mit Dusche, eines mit Badewanne, eines nur mit Waschbecken). Die Ausstattung ist ok, es könnten sicherlich ein wenig mehr Teller und Schüsseln sein. Die Gastgeber sind sehr nett und unkompliziert, die Schlüsselübergabe ist problemlos. Das Grundstück ist riesig und die Vermieter wohnen in dem dazugehörigen Herrenhaus, Die Ferienunterkunft war wohl mal eine Scheune und wurde umgebaut. Gegenüber der Unterkunft ist eine weitere Scheune, in der Hochzeiten gefeiert werden können. Diese Feiern sind aber nur an Tagen, an denen die Unterkunft nicht vermietet ist, so dass es hier zu keiner Beeinträchtigung kommt. Der Pool auf dem Grudnstück ist wirklich sehr gut und wir hatten ihn stets für uns alleine. Zwischen Pool und Unterkunft ist noch einen riesiger Blumengarten, der zum Verweilen einlädt. Der Weg zu der Unterkunft war bei der Anfahrt etwas schwierig zu finden, da es eher ein Wirtschaftsweg ist. Dadurch ist die Lage sehr ruhig. Maiden Castle und Dorchester sindd nur wenige Autominuten entfernt. Dort leigt es auch gleich ein Supermarkt der Mo-So geöffnet hat. Weymouth / die Küste ist in ca. 20 Minuten zu erreichen. Wir haben viele schöne Ausflüge von der Unterkunft aus gemacht. Ohne Auto ist die Unterkunft nicht geeignet. Alles in allem haben wir uns sehr wohl gefühlt.
Stayed 14 nights in Jul 2019

10/10 Excellent

Laura L.

Liked: Cleanliness
Courage House Happiness
What a wonderful place to stay, relax and enjoy a really beautiful part of Dorset. Great location, fantastic accommodation, amazing gardens that are beautifully kept. Property owner was charming and very welcoming. Over all I could not fault our stay, it made us all very happy!
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2019

10/10 Excellent

Kenneth T.

5 Star All The Way.
Great Place / Great Location / Great Owners. Fantastic Place To Use As a Base.
Stayed 6 nights in Sep 2018

10/10 Excellent

Jess D.

So spacious and lovely
Very much enjoyed our stay, lovely big spaces with peace and quiet.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2018

10/10 Excellent

John E.

Quiet but close to main roads and Dorchester.
Perfect weather all week. Great swimming pool and gardens. Nice open plan layout.
Stayed 7 nights in May 2018

8/10 Good

Natalie B.

Beautiful, cosy well kept property in wonderful surroundings
We had a fantastic Easter break at Ashton Farm, despite the rain!! A beautiful, cosy cottage and a very friendly and helpful owner, Richard. Would recommend the walk up to Maiden Castle Hill fort for a little excercise and breathtaking views. We ventured out to Corfe Castle, Swanage, Lyme Regis and the famous Durdle Door. All about 30-40 mins away by car. A great week!!
Stayed 6 nights in Apr 2018

10/10 Excellent

Rebecca E.

Courage Cottage 11/2/18-16/3/18
Courage Cottage is a lovely place to stay I was there whilst on placement in Dorchester. It is a lovely light building with everything you could possibly need.
Stayed 33 nights in Feb 2018

10/10 Excellent

tony l.

Lovely modern converted barn
We wanted a relaxing getaway with areas to walk our dogs and we found it in courage cottage. Overall it was good value for money and although it wasn't quite warm enough to use the pool or cold enough for the fire it was nice that this place had both. Maiden castle is only a short walk away as is martins town (20min walk via public footpaths). The local pub, Brewers arms is fantastic and a must visit if you like good home cooked pub food.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2017

8/10 Good

Neil F.

Lovely and spacious! Very useful having a washer dryer away from the kitchen area.
Cottage very central to attractions. Kids loved trampoline and pool. Very quiet and peaceful setting.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2017

10/10 Excellent

Doreen V., Wimborne

Wow! Amazing place. Courage Cottage
Couldn't have been more perfect and Richard was amazing throughout. We were there for my daughter's wedding and the whole venue was excellent. Totally recommend the venue and hope to return soon.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2017

10/10 Excellent

Alivia R.

Absolutely delightful
Clean ...comfortable ...spacious ...great sofas ...kitchen well stocked with China and cutlery pans t towels it was a home from home ...The gardens were a delight ...so beautiful and to be able to sit and be in walled gardens stocked with flowers and fruits listening to the bees ..what more could you want for a holiday.. Will return we had a great time
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2017

10/10 Excellent

Sarah F.

Beautiful!
Amazing location, beautiful cottages. Thank you so much
Stayed 2 nights in May 2017

10/10 Excellent

Ed H.

Beautifully converted property.
Very peaceful with space for kids to play, a trampoline and outdoor pool. Also on site venue for weddings! Our second stay and we love it. Good location to visit Studland, Poole/Sandbank and Weymouth..
Stayed 7 nights in Apr 2017

10/10 Excellent

Melanie P.

Lovely barn and perfect for what we needed
Richard the host was very accommodating and if there were any problems (e.g. the Wi-Fi stopped working) he sorted it straight away. Lovely quiet area and everything you could need in the accommodation. We were here for work and we will definitely stay again if in the area.
Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2017

10/10 Excellent

Nina and John trapp T.

Wedding and Accommodation! Cannot wait to visit again!
We booked to have our Wedding Ceremony and Reception at the Venue and with that, we booked to hire the cottages before and during the stay for us and some other guests. We cannot fault it. When you arrive here, the owners are so welcoming and you feel right at home. Our stay with Ashton Barn will remain some of the best few days and will always have a special place in our hearts. We are hoping to book again soon and revisit. The pictures do not do this place justice! Thank you again Richard & Marieke x :)
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2016

6/10 Okay

Graham C., Canada

Dorchester Stay
Enjoyed our stay! Pros - location (near Jurassic coast, Dorchester and Waymouth), light and bright rooms, spacious living room and kitchen, comfortable winter heating, friendly owners. Cons - bedding was heavily pilled due to a low thread count - quite uncomfortable for 14 nights (almost bought replacement sheets), horrible pillows (maybe a British thing), we needed to wash/clean out freezer draws - major defrosting is necessary, descriptive commentary on most TV channels (unable to turn off).
Stayed 14 nights in Dec 2016
Response from VrboOwner on 19 Mar 2020
Dear Graham, We are very sorry about the issues raised. We have addressed the linen problem and now have a new cleaner who is on top of all the details you mentioned. Thank you for your comments which are appreciated. We are glad that you enjoyed your stay however. with best wishes, Richard

10/10 Excellent

Sylvain M.

A place too good to be true that actually is!! Just amazing.
When we first saw this listing, we thought it was too good to be true but the reviews were good so we decided to trust them. Boy, we were so glad we did! What an amazing place! Spacious with all the necessary amenities and a pool to boot. So relaxing. Our kids just loved the place too. Sheeps, bunnies, chickens, and friendly dogs roaming around, we even had a herd of cows stroll by and say hi. It was also very close to the beach in Weymouth and close to Dorchester and grocery store. It was also nice being in a place where we didn't feel like we had to lock the doors. Even the wifi wasn't locked. :-) Richard and Marieke were great hosts. We highly recommend this place (and have already to a few of our UK friends).
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2016

6/10 Okay

Katherine M.

Away from it all!
We were very happy with our visit. Quiet, beautiful situation, lovely garden and pool and very relaxed. House well equipped and comfortable. A few small issues re missing bathroom and kitchen things, possibly due to wedding booking happening the previous day. Quickly put right. House only set up for two people in one room but we required both rooms. This was not required on Owners Direct website , therefore property owners unaware of needs. Never received directions to property from Owners Direct.

8/10 Good

Prema M., Calgary, Canada

Characteristic spacious property in a lovely area, close to touristic places and seaside.
Lovely property with lots of space. Close to touristic places and lovely places to walk all around. Tucked away in a farm area and owned by a lovely family. Only thing for families with young toddlers or babies is that the spiral stairs is not as easy to climb up or down in the middle of the nights. We had a great relaxing time and Richard, Marieke and their children were so welcoming and engaging and attentive to our comments. We'll use again and the kids had a great time.

10/10 Excellent

Katarzyna Lewandowska

Amazing property and location!
We had a fantastic time at the property. The barn is beautiful both inside and outside and is equipped with everything you'll need to prepare meals, clean up and relax. There was five of staying at the property and thanks to the size of the barn, we were all very comfortable as it's so spacious. The owner, Richard was very welcoming and not intrusive at all. We felt as comfortable as if we were staying in our own home. The location is perfect with many tourist destinations just a short drive from the property. I can't recommend this place enough! Excellent!!!
Stayed 5 nights in Sep 2015

10/10 Excellent

Helen N.

Idyllic comfortable & spacious cottage, oozing with character
My husband and I stayed in The Hayloft with our little boy in July 2015. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay. Ashton farm is in a great location for visiting the beautiful sights of Dorset and the cottage was exactly what we'd hoped for, full of character and charm, we could sense the history of the building which was wonderful. The gardens outside were very well kept and in full bloom at the time, which was absolutely stunning. Our parents stayed in Courage cottage for the break which was also a lovely place, very light and airy, well laid out with plenty of communal living space. The weather was so perfect during our stay however, that we all actually spent lots of our time in the cottage garden enjoying the sunshine. We have lovely memories of our stay and will definitely be returning.

10/10 Excellent

Russell Peacock

Augyst 2015 at Ashton Farm
Courage Cottage at Ashton farm is a great holiday cottage, with lots of space, excellent facilities and in a great location. As the descrption says, the second bedroom is not next to the first so can't be accessed without going through the lounge. Our kids aged 6 and 8 loved it (as did we!) and loved having their own bathroom but it might not suit younger ones. Inside space is beautifully done, without being fussy and very handy to have the laundry area. Cottage had access to lovely gardens and great pool. Further afield are great beaches all over Dorset. We had a great time despite some fairly robust weather. Highly recommended. Weymouth has fantastic beach although the town is unremarkable. Nearby Dorchester is a very nice county town with lots of facilities inc. cinema. Get to Kimmeridge if you can for a great bay and beach, with rockpools etc- well off the beaten track. Lyme Regis also great beach. Inland, Corfe Castle highly recommdned and unavoidable! we sheltered from the rain a few times at the Smugglers Inn at Osmington, where the kids loved playing in the stream. Loads of tables for alfresco dining when the sun shines. The Peacock Family August 2015.

8/10 Good

Anja H.

Nice place to enjoy Country Flair
Wir hatten ein paar wunderschöne Tage mit netten Ausflügen in die Umgebung
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2015

10/10 Excellent

Jane T.

A wonderful barn in a peaceful location in glorious Dorset
We had a great few days in this tasteful barn conversion. We had everything we needed to self-care or we were not far from local pubs with good food. We particularly liked the local in Stratton, just North of Dorchester.Our hosts were not intrusive which suited us perfectly although we were in the farm yard. We would choose to return! Jane

10/10 Excellent

Sarah C.

Fantastic Courage Cottage
Myself and my family had a wonderful time, the barn is stunning and the views. The pool was brill with breathtaking views all around. Bonnie is the most friendly dog. The barn was lovely and clean. Richard and his family are helpful and friendly very kind. We will holiday again at Courage Cottage Barn it was fundamentally wonderful.
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2015

10/10 Excellent

Andrea H., Haldenwamg, Deutschland

Liked: Cleanliness
Lovely Cottage
We had a great break at this lovely cottage with plenty of character! The garden is beautiful and the kids loved the swimmingpool. Many thanks for everything!
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2023

8/10 Good

Marcel J.

Liked: Cleanliness
Prachtige historische locatie in de Engelse countryside!
Leuke locatie op een voormalige historische boerderij. Veel wandelmogelijkheden aan strand en platteland in de buurt. Huisje is goed ingericht en biedt voldoende ruimte. Mooie tuin rondom om buiten te zitten.
Stayed 7 nights in Apr 2023