Tomtomgoer
March 2016
The Old Stables is well located for Sherborne town itself, shops and supermarkets, and also close to the Old Castle and New Castle, with plenty of walking space as well, particularly convenient if you have a dog, as we did. It was well heated and private, something we count on. However, we have been to many holiday cottages over the years and, although The Old Stables has sufficient to put you up for a week, we were very disappointed in the general standard and condition of it. If you have any mobility problems then this is not the cottage for you. It is accessed up steep stone steps and the main bedroom is situated in the loft space of the property, requiring a slow climb up very steep stairs. This is not a place for those experiencing hip or knee problems. The cottage is 'dog friendly', which means you can expect that the cottage will be suitable to bring your pet. If you are in a strange house, your beloved pet will no doubt want to spend the night time with you, but if they like to 'roam' this could be dangerous, as the steps to the bedroom have big gaps that a pet could easily slip through. Similarly the bedroom has a 10 foot drop to the concrete floor of the lounge at one end, which is wide open. The condition of the cottage overall was quite poor, it is in need of a good coat of paint and a deep clean. You shouldn't have to clean the plates, cutlery and even the grill (it had fat/cheese on it) before you can use them. The single couch had the remains of crumbs of food and also (animal?) hair on the cushions, easily fixed if cleaned properly. Similarly, the bathroom was dirty, whoever cleans the property needs a word in their ear. The property is also listed as having WiFi, and when away on holiday arguably this shouldn't be an issue, but this is supplied from the owner's property and is virtually non-existent. One bar if you stand over by the garden and this drops out constantly. If listing WiFi, this should be sufficient in this day and age to use it with confidence and consistency. The Old Stables needs its own dedicated router, something that should come as standard if the property is advertised as having an Internet connection. In summary, great location with sufficient to keep you going for a week. But if you are a stickler for cleanliness and ease of use, this isn't the cottage for you.