Dog Friendly Cottages in Dorchester

Reviews

What our customers say about their holidays

• Matthew - Verified booking

  We were greeted to beautiful grounds.

  We arrived slightly earlier the planed and when we arrived the cleaners kindly said they will call us to let us know when we could come back as she advised they would be finished earlier as the last guest had left the property clean so there wasn’t much left to do!!!! They obviously don’t deep clean the property after every guest stay it says it all!!!!! Cobwebs greeted you as you stepped into the property. A Grand entrance hall but as you walked in cobwebs everywhere in house. The kitchen area wasn’t nice at all. The pictures don’t do it any justice but it was worse. The Aga was absolutely filthy thick with grease and not clean at all. The oven in the corner was like something from dark ages and wasn’t 100 percent presentable clean inside. We have rented numerous houses and normally you have some condiments like salt pepper etc but cupboards were bare & empty apart from plates cups glasses etc …No welcome pack! every place we have rented have always gone out there way with a lovely welcome pack of small gestures local produce like eggs or biscuits tea coffee etc . The kitchen utilities were a Health hazard ..I’ve taken a picture!! The dishwasher didn’t work the whole time we were there and we texted and rang the property owner leaving voicemail not once did she make attempt to get back to us as we could also see she has read our messages. We were having to wash up non stop as you don’t expect to read you have a dishwasher on the property and having to wash up everything on your holiday. We have been ripped off as this property for what you get inside is definitely Over priced and house just felt dirty tired. Showers not working properly ( one just trickle water) one shower room downstairs the door would get stuck and you couldn’t get out which frightened our children who kept getting stuck . We all had to share the tiniest shower in the house between 9 of us. Curtains in rooms half hanging off rails and bedding was all creased not matching bedding either or presentable, when you pay a lot of money you expect to sleep in lovely bedding. One bedroom was literally thick with dust and had two single beds with one that was unstable and every time you moved on it , it made very loud noises as it was on its last legs ( we have picture prove of everything) and the curtain again hanging half off. One bedroom the mattress was so old thin springy you couldn’t sleep on it and this was the only most presentable room too!!! The grounds outside was beautiful, tennis court fantastic, The games room was actually brilliant for the kids and the dining room was lovely big space as was the sitting room with a fireplace. each shower room all with issues. The owner didn’t call us back or communicate with us which was absolutely unacceptable when you’ve paid out a lot of expensive for this house. There was a book for guests to write in!! You could see pages has been ripped out as I’m guessing they have removed these and only kept the good ones in!!!! We read the reviews before we decided to go ahead with this house thinking other guests were just being picky but all honesty they were right. It probably wouldn’t be so bad for group of people who just want a stop pit to sleep in ( uncomfortably in some beds!!) go out but when your planning to stay in a property whole stay to relax for Easter bank hols this house definitely wasnt suitable.

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• Sandra - Verified booking

  We loved Deer Leap House.

  It was set in the most beautiful grounds which we enjoyed walking around and exploring the woods just beyond. The lake was alive with beautiful fish. Lots of baby fish showing it to be a healthy breeding ground. The deer we saw in the early mornings and evenings were delightful. They weren’t too shy and came quite close to the house at times and we were able to get some lovely photos of them. The house itself was more like a home than a letting house and was full of charm. It had lots of nice touches showing a thoughtfulness towards the guests. Loads of soft furnishings adding extra comfort. It was clean, tidy and warm upon arrival with fairy lighting wrapping the stairs and balcony giving it a nice feeling of welcome. We enjoyed free Wi-Fi, Broadband and Sky TV and the games room. The pool table was used a lot amongst all of us. We even used the record player to play a few LP’s one evening which took us back to the time of our wedding in 1973. The reason behind our family holiday. Magic. There were a few minor plumbing issues which need attention but they didn’t detract from our stay nor our hopes that one day we could return for another stay. We were able to enjoy the pool on several occasions. It did need a clean at the bottom of the deep end but we were unable to use the hoover to sweep it as the hoover was broken. As the rest of the pool was very clean it was not a problem and more likely to have been a recent occurrence or just simply a build up it being towards the end of the season. We all loved the pool. We would recommend Deer Leap House if you want a real homely stay in a beautiful part of Dorset. Don’t expect top end corporate luxury instead expect a real nice family home feel. The owner has made every effort to ensure that anyone who stays can enjoy a wealth of comfort and entertainment. Space for everyone is premium and was especially enjoyed by our four legged family members. I would definitely recommend Deer Leap House and would dearly love to revisit it again. Thank you to the owner for sharing your lovely house with us.

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• Debbie - Verified booking

  The cottage is in a lovely location.

  It's very quaint and comfortably furnished. The sofa and king size sleigh bed are very comfortable. We spent a lot of time in the large well equipped kitchen/ diner looking out at the river, which was lovely. There was a lovely welcome pack for us and our dog, which was a nice touch. The communication and instructions from owners slso very comprehensive. We never had any problem with hot water for bath or shower and the heating is controlled by hive thermostat so you can alter if needed. The cottage was always warm and we were never cold, despite not using the log burner. There is a Pub within walking distance and 3 others within a 10-20 min drive. There is a Spar inside the local garage for emergency provisions, but we had asda delivery whilst there The cottage is nicely situated for exploration of the south coast. We visited many beaches whilst there, all within 30 mins-1hr away. We also visited stonehenge which was an hour away. You don't need to leave the village if you just want somewhere peaceful to relax. My partner caught fish in the river too, which he was delighted about. We were very lucky with the weather though. 17 degrees and sunny mid October. The owners are lovely and were very kind to allow a short overstay due to storm babet.The housekeeper is also friendly and was happy to advise places to visit based on your interests We would strongly recommend the cottage for a holiday.

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• Laura - Verified booking

  This was our 2nd stay at Deerleap.

  We love the space, the pool, the tennis court , garden and grounds. The house provides plenty of space for all the family so children and adults can relax and run wild without disturbing others. The grounds provided amazing adventures for our children aged 9-13. They were out playing, running and laughing until late every single day. We have had the best holiday ever. ( helped by the incredible weather ) .the pool is kept a lovely warm temperature and the surrounding area of the pool is great for sitting,sunbathing and cooking s’mores on the fire pit. This is a beautiful house with great character. Yes we had few niggly problems but they were dealt with promptly. Hannah was welcoming and helpful and easy to get hold of when we needed her. We had great WiFi connection throughout the house but don’t expect to use your phone out in the grounds- enjoy what you’ve got around you. We were incredibly lucky to have a very tame deer that came to us every morning and evening. As well as the heard that grazed at the lake every morning. You will see a heron, woodpeckers ,squirrels and an abundance of wildlife . It’s truly special. We are not high maintenance- we love the house for all it offers and and will accept that maybe some Parker’s of the house could use some tlc. BUT you will not find a property that offers all of what Deerleap can. Memories that last a lifetime.

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• Deborah - Verified booking

  We had a great weekend at Deer Leap House.

  It is a spacious home, with large bedrooms, a lovely two sided porch and lovely grounds with a lake and good tennis court. We saw deer and a heron by the lake and enjoyed the really well thought out garden furniture, with enough chairs and tables for all 13 of us to eat outside or relax on the comfortable garden furniture. We enjoyed all the games facilities and the house, although slightly worn, was comfortable and warm. If I had any negatives, it was just a few maintenance things, we kept getting locked in the downstairs bathroom because the door handle was broken and the same with the dining room door handle. The aga was good to cook on, but the fumes coming from it could be quite strong at times, especially when we first arrived, although that calmed down after 24 hours, although in the kitchen they were still there so we kept the windows open. We also had a mouse in the lounge and the upstairs bedroom above the lounge, which we caught and took away a few miles down the road. Although there are a few maintenance issues it was a really great house for a big party, and the outside games and furniture etc are a real bonus.

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