The Dorset Craft House

Rooms

The Dorset Craft House combines a 19th-century 3-bedroom cottage with a loft-style 1-bedroom annexe next door (available as an add-on).

The cottage is a riot of colour and influences, with real wow-factor. Downstairs is a sociable open-plan living space for hearty suppers and board games in front of the fire. Across the hall, the snug has a Sony internet-TV for lazier moments. We slept blissfully in the double-height master bedroom (complete with ensuite shower). This and the second double bedroom boast original oak beams, designer wallpaper and a classic but still vibrant palette. At the back of the house, the twin bedroom’s elegant blush walls are accented by mustard handmade beds, mint Anglepoise lamps and framed Lucienne Day fabrics. Siberian goose-down bedding and 400-thread-count sheets are present throughout. In the main bathroom, you'll find a wood-panelled bathtub, drenching walk-in shower and botanical Bramley products.

Next door, the timber-clad annexe has a more understated colour scheme. Striking crittall doors open into an airy open-plan lounge and Sebastian Cox kitchen. A wood-burner and underfloor heating keep things cosy. Upstairs, there’s a compact mezzanine sleeping area with sloping ceilings; its clothes storage area and metro-tiled shower room are downstairs. Outside, the seating area and gravel garden are overlooked by the owner’s home, but we felt perfectly happy reading and sipping our afternoon coffees there.

Features include:

• Hairdryer
• In-room treatments available
• Tumble dryer
• Washing machine
• WiFi

Eating

The cottage's light-filled kitchen-diner comes with David Mellor cutlery and glassware, plus every pot, pan and utensil you could need. A Dualit toaster and Ruark DAB radio nestle on the oak counter; the old chimney breast holds an enormous Rangemaster. Outside, a west-facing dining terrace and brick BBQ catch the last of the afternoon sun.

The owner provides a welcome hamper – the longer you stay the ampler it becomes. We were welcomed with a fresh seeded loaf, delicious homemade granola, Greek yoghurt, ruby-red strawberries, butter, milk, sweet lemon curd and jam. You’ll also find Kilner jars of tea and Dorset coffee waiting for you, plus olive oil and the like. It’s a similar story in the annexe , whose compact kitchen includes an oven, hob, toaster, kettle and fridge.

You can request a fresh fish delivery from Tisbury Fishmongers. If you're celebrating a special occasion, the owner can also recommend a local caterer (prior arrangement is essential). The cottage also has an honesty fridge filled with homemade chicken pies.

For additional supplies, Semley has a simple village shop, nearby Compton McRae sells delicious meals to go, cheeses and charcuterie, while nearby Shaftesbury and Tisbury have independent delis and supermarkets. The area has plenty of tempting gastropubs and restaurants, too – we love Pythouse Kitchen Garden (a mile along the lane), The Beckford Arms, The Forresters and Bird and Carter for brunch. Some are walkable during the day, but you'll want to drive or get a taxi at night.

Features include:

• Barbecue
• Chef on request
• Coffee maker
• Dishwasher
• Food blender
• Fridge
• Full kitchen
• Hob or stove
• Meal delivery service
• Microwave
• Oven
• Restaurants nearby
• Shopping service
• Toaster
• Welcome hamper

Activities

• Take a country walk straight from your front door to Old Wardour Castle or Fonthill Lake – choose a route from the books provided, and borrow wellies from the utility room
  
• Play tennis at Pythouse Tennis Club, a mile up the lane – you get free membership as part of your stay
  
• Spend a morning perusing Tisbury's handful of independent shops before visiting Messums art gallery, a multi-purpose arts centre housed in a Grade-I listed thatched tithe barn (the largest in England)
  
• Hill-top Shaftesbury is a medieval market town replete with boutiques, inns and history. Seek out iconic Gold Hill (from the Hovis advert) and Park Walk for expansive views over the Blackmore Vale
  
• Visit one of the area’s many National Trust properties: Stourhead Gardens is a favourite and particularly picturesque during spring and autumn
  
• Back at the cottage, watch a movie in the snug, soak up the sun in the large lawned garden, or unwind with a massage or beauty treatment (recommended local therapists use heavenly Neal's Yard products)

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Fishing
• Golf
• Hiking
• Historical sites
• Horse riding
• Museums / galleries
• Plantlife / flora
• Shopping / markets
• Tennis
• Tennis coaching
• Well being

Kids

The Dorset Craft House is family-friendly, but probably best suited to teens and babes in arms as there are many hand-crafted items and bespoke soft furnishings.

Best for:

Babies (0-1 years), Teens (over 12)

Family friendly accommodation:

The cottage has 3 bedrooms, one of which is a twin. The annexe might work well for older, independently minded teens. A baby cots can be added to either property

Distances:

• Airport: Southampton (70 minutes), Bristol (75 minutes)
• Hospital: 7 minutes (Shaftesbury, small hospital), 25 minutes (Salisbury, major hospital with A&E)
• Shops: 7 minutes (Shaftesbury)

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

The Dorset Craft House is in Semley village in Wiltshire, southwest England. It's halfway between Tisbury and Shaftesbury (Dorset).

By Car:
The cottage is just over an hour's drive from Bristol and 2 hours from London; see our car rental recommendations.

By Train:
The nearest station, Tisbury, is a 10-minute taxi-ride away. Trains from London Waterloo take 1 hour and 45 minutes. The owner can recommend local taxi firms - book in advance.

By Air
Bristol, Bournemouth and Southamption airports are all within a 1-2 hour drive. London hubs are a 2+ hour drive away.

Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.com.

More on getting to the UK and getting around