The Old School Cottage

64 Customer Reviews

• "Cottage is in a wonderful location, it’s warm and comfortable with a nice garden for the dog."

  The host is next door and helpful.

  Reviewed by Ann3.8★Mar 2025

• "Lovely cottage in a lovely location."

  Owners very friendly. Plenty to do and we particularly enjoyed Corfe Castle and Portland Bill. Also close enough to drive up to Cheddar for a day. Our only slight issue was the upstairs layout in the cottage didn’t suit us, as no privacy in master bedroom area. But would suit a family with small children perfectly. We had a great week though despite the glorious British weather!

  Reviewed by Tracy3.8★Feb 2025

• "We had a great stay at the cottage - based in lovely surroundings, friendly owners and even better that we could bring our dog along to enjoy the holiday with us."

  Perfect location - very close by to attractions, beautiful coastal walks and lovely country pubs. Would love to return!

  Reviewed by Luisa4.4★Oct 2024

• "A great place and area to stay."

  A good area to take your dog and lots of places to take her.

  Reviewed by Jonathan5.0★Sep 2024

• "We had a lovely stay at the old school cottage."

  We enjoyed the garden with our children and dog. The cottage met our expectations. The only one things that would have been a nice addition, would be some board games; especially as it rained for much of our stay. An evening game of monopoly with the kids for example would have been nice. Otherwise all good

  Reviewed by Kate3.8★Aug 2024

• "Just had lovely week here."

  Beautiful gardens, charming owner. Wi-Fi was good which was important to me as a writer and researcher.

  Reviewed by Susan5.0★Aug 2024

• "Arrived and greeted by owner."

  All good on that aspect. Gates were still broken so no secure garden for children or pets. No plans to get the gates repaired till the end of the year. Any children or pets could easily get on to the main road. While not a large footfall of traffic it is still a main road. The garden is looked after but the garden furniture was covered in bird muck. The front door of the cottage could do with painting and the windows cleaning. Moving onto the inside of the cottage it is comfortable but dust on walls especially in the bathroom, the floor at the back of tv cabinet needs cleaning, cobwebs on light fixtures and switches in kitchen grubby. Some of the pictures on sykes website are of the owners property and garden to show it was an old school. For the price we paid for a weeks stay I was disappointed. So glad that we had plenty of places nearby to visit including Durdle Door and Lulworth Cove. Anybody staying here in high season with children or pets needs to be aware it is not a secure garden so won’t be able to relax.

  Reviewed by Mandy1.9★Jun 2024

• "The house and the owners are lovely."

  The only thing that let's in down is the fact that it is advertised as an enclosed shared garden, unfortunately lately this isn't the case, we were lucky with our dogs as they stayed close to us. The area is lovely and quiet perfect for relaxing. The visitors attraction are within a 30 minute traffic dependant.

  Reviewed by Mark4.4★May 2024

• "The Old School Cottage is ideal for a couple and is dog friendly."

  We have been here several times and have always had a warm welcome from Joan (and her sons). The cottage is beautifully situated in a tiny hamlet, a few miles from Dorchester and Lulworth, with all the advantages of the Jurassic coast. It is clean, comfortable and very well equipped. The garden is an added delight. We will certainly come again.

  Reviewed by Sylvia5.0★May 2024

• "It’s a lovely place to explore Dorset and walk the dogs ."

  Suitable for a couple with two children. Not suitable for 4 adults as small bedroom very cramped. Unfortunately the house had not been cleaned from the previous occupier . Used towels were in the bathroom and the bath had been used but not cleaned . Rubbish in the kitchen bins . Surfaces in the kitchen greasy hob etc. . The owner has an ideal location but her property needs a good clean between rents . Another problem occurred which we notified her of . It says an enclosed garden but again infortunately the gate was broken and not in use . Therefore not safe to leave dogs in the garden .

  Reviewed by Linda3.1★Apr 2024

• "A lovely place and I can not wait to go there again."

  It quite and has nice areas to take your dog.

  Reviewed by Jonathan5.0★Nov 2023

• "Property is advertised as dog friendly but dogs are not allowed upstairs which I understand but would be beneficial if advertised."

  Whilst in correspondence about this, the owner kindly agreed to put a bed downstairs for me to be with the dog as he is unwell but on arrival this had not happened and she was away. Also advertised is can pre order meals to be put in the freezer, I did order three but none were left. The property was not clean. It smelt dirty, was dusty, mouldy in party and the toilet brush was floating in a holder of excrement on arrival. There were several flies about so we contacted Sykes who contacted owner after one night but we were not offered a solution. On the third night we had around 200 /300 flies come in from somewhere which was hideous. I had to move my 86 year old mum out at 10.30 pm due to this. The owners response was, this happens sometimes. Not a situation I would like other guests to be in.

  Reviewed by Louise2.5★Oct 2023

• "We arrived at the old schoolhouse full of anticipation - disappointed beyond belief as the week went on."

  The cottage is in the grounds of the owners home, the cottage is a block that has their garage on one end and their workshop the other which they were in a lot of the time, there is no privacy you are in a goldfish bowl, the picture is very deceiving the area you see in front of the cottage is the shared parking area. The cottage smells of damp, it is not clean, cobwebs and dust on all picture frames and on the bedside tables, lampshade stained with watermarks, TV screen has not been cleaned for a while, dust on the wooden floor behind the TV - the cottage needs a deep clean. Main bathroom is off the kitchen and the smell of damp hits you as you open the door and the shower is COLD - I raised with the owner who boosted and then came in and checked and the water was warmer but when I showered on the Tuesday evening the water was cold again. Main bedroom area is dangerous, there are very sloping ceilings and when you access a small toilet and basin area when you come back out watch your head, my partner and I both hit our head the first evening and me again really badly on the Saturday morning the tears did not stop for most of the day. We were woken early a couple of mornings - once by a JCB and workmen fixing a tree that overhung their property and another morning by them turning on their car with the radio on loud whilst they loaded up. Heating was on a timer and came on in the morning and evening but we tried to get it to come on when we got back one afternoon no joy. I don't know how this property has a 4 tick rating from Sykes they need to visit and reassess the property. We left early and will not be using Sykes cottages again.

  I have read the above feedback and very much regret that this family had a bad experience. This is very rare, as judging from my visitors€™ book most guests have a very enjoyable time here. Cleaning and hot water issues have now been addressed, and timing of heating can be adjusted according to needs of guests, and weather conditions. Unfortunately, I went away on holiday during their stay, and so was unaware that they were not happy with the settings. As to other issues, the Sykes description does say twice that there is an art gallery and framing workshop on site. The business is only myself occasionally, and I have no employees, so any noise would be very minimal. The Sykes description also mentions clearly that there is restricted headroom on the first floor, so care must be taken by taller guests. (The upstairs toilet and basin are for the convenience of older guests who may have a problem negotiating stairs at night). Yes, there is a shared driveway, but dedicated parking for up to two cars for the cottage. There are now two upstairs Velux windows overlooking the fields on the other side of the cottage. Lastly, as a responsible homeowner I had to inform the local farmer about one of his trees in the adjacent field that was over-shadowing my property and starting to shed branches during windy periods. The farmer himself came with a tractor and helper (not a JCB!) to deal with the tree while the field was free of cattle. They were very efficient, and it was all done within about an hour. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Rosie1.3★Oct 2023

• "Very pleased with stay, cottage was as exactly described clean comfortable Very happy all round."

  Reviewed by Stephen5.0★Sep 2023

• "We had a very comfortable stay at The Old School Cottage."

  We are a family of 4, with a 7yr old and 4 yr old, plus a dog, there was enough room for everyone and it felt safe. The access to the garden was a bonus, stunning garden and safe for kids and dogs. This was the perfect base for a family summer holiday.

  Reviewed by Katie4.1★Aug 2023

• "Place looked tired."

  Dust and cobwebs in all corners. Toilet wobbled. Sink taps wobbled and were not very clean as well as plugs. Kitchen cooker grill dirty, had the remains of the previous hirers’ dinner. More comfort needed with garden furniture. Owner’s business attached to cottage not really appropriate. You said dog friendly but owner stipulated no dogs allowed upstairs. Parking also an issue, was asked to park in church opposite when politeness would be for owner to do so.

  Reviewed by Andrew2.5★Jun 2023

• "A lovely cottage in a ldilic area that allowed us to explore the picturesque county of Dorset."

  Thank you to Joan for being so supportive of our needs during our stay. We will most certainly be back

  Reviewed by Robert5.0★May 2023

• "The cottage is in an idyllic setting, a lovely place for a real getaway and perfect as a base to travel and visit the area."

  A huge bonus is the EV charger on the cottage and much cheaper than using the sparse public ones!! Joan was a lovely host and tried her best with sorting out the wifi which was off more than on! The cottage bedroom was lovely, waking up to lovely views over the fields. Only request would be that the water be set hotter as running a lukewarm bath was disappointing after a long day walking. A couple of relaxing chairs outside would be a great addition too! Recommend if you need somewhere away from it all. Thank you Joan for your kind assistance.

  Reviewed by Julie4.1★May 2023

• "Stunning location and beautiful garden"

  Reviewed by Ruth3.1★May 2023

• "Thoroughly enjoyed our stay here in early May."

  Lovely property and surroundings and well appointed inside with all necessary facilities. Dogs are welcome, and weren't charged for but are not permitted upstairs. We worked round it but it might need considering. The garden was great. Fabulous to sit out and enjoy the good weather we had. Dogs loved it too. It's not completely sealed though. I had to make sure the gate to the adjacent property was closed and filled in gaps near the front door with some pet fencing. Personally, I would have liked a larger than 2 seat sofa, your mileage may vary. 15 mins from Bovington, 20 mins from Monkey World, what's not to like? Would we go again? You betcha!

  Reviewed by Jeremy4.7★Apr 2023

• "My only critism is that it would nice if there were a couple of small side tables to put drinks or snacks on while watching tv in the evening."

  We enjoyed a very nice stay over Christmas ( but the wheather could have been better}.

  Reviewed by Anthony5.0★Dec 2022

• "An interesting conversion, situated perfectly for exploring Dorset, especially Hardy's 'EgdonHeath'."

  The cottage had all the features described on-line but we found it difficult to live in. Upstairs, the sloping ceilings allowed so little full head height that getting out of the double bed presented real problems (we ended up using a bedroom each). The 'reading space' was a wasted corner that could have been put to better use, eg with a hanging rail, as there was no proper hanging space anywhere. On the plus side were the rechargeable torches provided which were a very good idea. Downstairs, one blind in the living room wouldn't stay down. The seating was arranged so that it was impossible to sit by the huge woodburner and also watch TV; so we moved the furniture. Side tables to put our drinks on would have been helpful - we ended up using dining chairs as tables! There was little by way of information on local attractions. In the kitchen we found no bread bin, no obvious place to store food (we had to find space in the corner cupboard containing cooking pans) and a selection of unmatched cutlery (but no serving spoons) that should be unacceptable in a Sykes property. On arrival, as the nearest shop is some distance away, we would definitely have appreciated a 'welcome tray' with the makings of a cup of tea. Some of this can be easily corrected but sleeping arrangements as they are would not be suitable for two couples as there is such a lack of privacy. All in all, we had an enjoyable week exploring the area and might return to it - but not to this property as we were disappointed that it was not up to the standard we expected from stays in cottages elsewhere (Sykes and others).

  Reviewed by Anne2.8★Oct 2022

• "Ideal location for seeing Dorset."

  Lovely views around the cottage. Cottage equipped with all you need. Joan was an excellent host.

  Reviewed by Karen4.4★Sep 2022

• "Great house for a young family to holiday in Dorset."

  A really idyllic location, good facilities, and a friendly host.

  Reviewed by Joe3.8★Aug 2022

• "We had a really pleasant stay at Old School Cottage."

  The only reason I'm dropping a point is that the beds were a little hard and the shower had a sparse flow although strong and adjustable so was difficult to get shampoo out of hair properly. Also chairs in living area a little uncomfortable apart from the two seater sofa. I found the door difficult to lock. These are just minor gripes though. Other than that it was lovely. The TV was nice and large and had Netflix installed. The living area was sizable so didn't feel on top of each other. It was a nice room to chill out in. The garden was a lovely place to sit on an evening. We found the cottage an absolutely perfect base for exploring Dorset. Certain attractions and pubs were only a 10 minute drive away which was fantastic.

  Reviewed by Rachel3.8★Aug 2022

• "Had a lovely few days staying at the old school cottage."

  My only comments would be the main bed is pushed against a wall with no bedside tables & the cottage is probably due a lick of paint. The cottage is great for a few days rest and switch off time. Joan is a lovely host. The cottage is set in a lovely location and you have the use of Joan’s garden.

  Reviewed by Kevin3.8★Jul 2022

• "Wonderful thank you, the cottage is perfect for "all" of us."

  I would hope to visit again. Easy access to the beaches and coastal path and the river walk close to the cottage was ideal for the first evening. The EV charger was an immense help and will be very important to some travellers. Seeing the art work in your gallery was a refreshing change for me, thank you for making us so welcome.

  Reviewed by Rachel5.0★May 2022

• "Peaceful location with a lovely garden."

  The property had all the facilities needed for a short break. Ideal for trips to Dorchester, Studland Bay and Swanage.

  Reviewed by Helen5.0★Apr 2022

• "A little gem of a property in a beautiful quiet location within east reach of Dorchester, Weymouth and the Dorset coastline."

  Joan was the perfect host and we were lucky enough to be there to experience a wonderful piano recital at the Old School House. Highly recommended!

  Reviewed by Patricia5.0★Dec 2021

• "We have stayed at the Old School Cottage several times and it is ideal for us and our dog."

  The woodburner is a bonus. Joan is always very welcoming and gives free rein to her lovely garden. Her beautiful gallery is open to the public and has an array of distinguished works. This time we felt the Cottage was not as clean on arrival as on previous visits. The vacuum cleaner is totally inadequate for the property especially when dogs are present. Otherwise a lovely relaxing holiday in a spectacular part of the world.

  Reviewed by Sylvia4.4★Oct 2021

• "The cottage and location were just right for us."

  The cottage was clean, comfortable and well equipped and the owner couldn’t have been more charming or helpful. Lovely holiday.

  Reviewed by Rosemary5.0★Sep 2021

• "The cottage was extremely dirty."

  It was obvious it hadn’t been deep cleaned in a long while.Windows were filthy also. I have photos. One blind in the lounge didn’t stay down and had to put something heavy on it to keep it down. Front door wouldn’t stay shut unless locked. No wardrobes and only one set of four drawers between the maximum of four people. Too few kitchen utensils. Bathroom through the kitchen. The worst and most expensive cottage we have been to.

  Reviewed by Derry1.3★Aug 2021

• "Lovely holiday second time bk Joan and David are lovely people highly recommend"

  Reviewed by Sharmon4.4★Aug 2021

• "Our host Joan was very welcoming and knowledgeable."

  The cottage was a great base for some fantastic days out in the area and beyond. Only criticism is that I would have liked the cottage to be a little cleaner (maybe the cleaner had a bad week!) but otherwise would definitely recommend. Thanks, The Holloways.

  Reviewed by Louise3.4★Jul 2021

• "We had another lovely week in Dorset, this cottage is nicely located for places including Weymouth, Dorchester, Swanage and Bridport, which we visited during our stay."

  Just be aware that the Freeview signal was prone to occasional interruptions and the broadband connection wasn’t great and often stopped completely, so don’t bank on streaming television for your evening entertainment. All in all a very nice holiday.

  Reviewed by Jason3.4★Jul 2021

• "Location was amazing."

  Only 20 mins to the beaches, fossil hunting, pubs and so relaxing. Will definitely be back

  Reviewed by Chris5.0★Jun 2021

• "We enjoyed our stay in this quiet, cosy cottage, the setting is really beautiful, looking out onto the grade 2 listed building and beautiful garden."

  The shared garden was great for the kids and dog with space to run around and a patio area with seating. It is well located for places to visit, you'd need to stay a month to even scratch the surface of all the places you could go. The cottage itself is well set up, all you could need in the kitchen, a great wood burner that heats the whole house and comfortable beds. The owners are very friendly and helpful really going above and beyond. The art gallery is well worth visiting, and 2 wonderful Pianos in there.

  Reviewed by Katharine4.7★Apr 2021

• "Hosts were charming and attentive and very helpful and understanding."

  They went above and beyond to make us feel welcome. Also, the setting of the cottage is utterly lovely surrounded by woods and hills and curated countryside and so is the garden. and the gallery in the main house is definitely worth a visit. Another detail which was very useful is that the garden can be closed and our dogs could be outside without the fear of any dangerous exit. Priceless

  Reviewed by Adela4.7★Apr 2021

• "Had a lovely relaxing break in this quaint little cottage, a lovely rural location with lots to see and do near by."

  Reviewed by Amanda5.0★Aug 2020

• "Lovely holiday cottage, everything you need was provided and the owners are really helpful and friendly"

  Reviewed by Steph5.0★Jul 2020

• "We have just spent Xmas 2019 in this cottage and it was lovely and peaceful, although the owners are on site, they left us alone to cook, walk and drink!"

  They were so nice and left some eggs and mince pies on arrival with the living area being naturally decorated with Holly springs and tea lights and of course the wood burner which is an added extra but worth it! We also had shared use of their garden for the dogs and could close the gates for this. Joan also runs a beautiful Art Gallery, which is definitely worth a look around! The only downside were the mattresses weren't that comfy. Wi-Fi works well as the mobile signal is not good. We would definitely stay there again, as the area is lovely.

  Reviewed by Mary3.8★Dec 2019

• "Lovely relaxing time."

  Great location. Friendly helpful owner.

  Reviewed by Chris4.7★Sep 2019

• "Joan was an amazing host during our stay, nothing was too much effort."

  The cottage was first rate; clean, comfortable and relaxing with everything you could need. Tincleton is an idyllic quiet little spot perfectly positioned for the Jurasic coast and Joan's Gallery is a must visit. Thanks again for a great stay.

  Reviewed by Ray5.0★Aug 2019

• "This is a lovely cottage in a very quiet but convenient location near to the town of Dorchester and Moreton railway station."

  Attractions including the Tolpuddle Martyrs’ Museum and Monkey World nearby, with Weymouth and Bridport a modest drive away. the cottage is very comfortable and well appointed and I’ve already booked to come back next year!

  Reviewed by Jason3.8★Jul 2019

• "A small coffee table between the armchairs will be nice."

  Very friendly owner, pitoresc location.

  Reviewed by Margareta4.7★Jun 2019

• "There are so many things to enjoy in Dorset and this cottage is well located for a short trip to these places."

  The place is clean and cozy. The owner is very kind. We would love to go back again to spend longer holiday there.

  Reviewed by Kyumi5.0★Feb 2019

• "A very pleasant cottage."

  Reviewed by Irving4.7★Jan 2019

• "The cottage was lovely, roomy, comfortable, plenty of space well equipped, everything usable, owner friendly and approachable, all facilities grade one."

  Reviewed by Michael5.0★Oct 2018

• "This cottage is lovely, in a lovely location, we had a very comfortable stay and would happily book it again."

  Reviewed by Jenny4.1★Oct 2018

• "Lovely setting, cottage was ok but as said sofa needs replacing and a consideration of the privacy of the down stairs and upstairs toilets should be looked at."

  ..... could be an issue if I was cooking breakfast and my mother in law was showering.......

  Reviewed by Richard3.1★Oct 2018

• "Sofa and chairs uncomfortable."

  Bed okay, pillows like sleeping with your head on a sack of new potatoes. Toilets do not flush properly. All dishes and pans needed washing before use. Garden is not secure as owner has picture framing business within the same building and although we were told we could shut the gates the owner and customers would open them and not make sure they were closed behind them.

  Owner Response: Many thanks for your feedback, I take feedback very seriously, All plumbing issues have been rectified and all toilets flush as they should, the pillows have been changed and there is now a choice of firm or soft. Whilst I cannot guarantee a full-time invigilation of the front gates, the garden (being originally a Victorian School) is exceptionally safe for both dogs and children. With regard to my sofa, I have run a survey of visitors over a period of a couple of months, and not one has suggested it needs replacing but I do take your feedback on board, but we think that the sofa is very comfy and homely, All items in the kitchen have been reviewed and some replaced with new items, also The downstairs bath/shower room has now an extra blind (over the frosted panels in the door) so is perfectly private. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Sheila1.3★Sep 2018

• "Great location central to everything, quiet relaxing cottage with good pubs a short drive away."

  Reviewed by Nathan3.8★Aug 2018

• "Quirky cottage,didn't suit us as regards to privacy within the bathrooms and open plan bedroom."

  Toilets did not flush properly and sofa uncomfortable. Owners friendly and approachable. The cottage was close to attractions and plenty of places to eat.

  Reviewed by Christine2.8★Aug 2018

• "Fabulous place to stay."

  Owner and her dog Sheeba were wonderful hosts, an absolute pleasure to meet them both. Eould highly reccomend staying in this beautiful little cottage., in such a tranquil setting. Billy and i loved every minute of our stay, with beautiful walks and the river frome on the doorstep . We loved it here, and it was central to everywhere we wanted to go.

  Reviewed by Maxine5.0★Jul 2018

• "This was the second time we have stayed at this cottage and we would consider booking again."

  I always judge my holidays by asking myself would I go back and the answer is yes.

  Reviewed by Kevin3.8★Jun 2018

• "Chairs and settee most uncomfortable On suite lavatory kept blocking and water pressure very poor"

  Thank you for your feed back. I'm sorry to hear about the issues you had during your stay. We was not aware of a water pressure issue, this is now rectified. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Yvonne2.5★May 2018

• "Toilets dont' flush properly."

  It often took 3 to 4 flushes to clear the toilet. Didn't find the toilets as clean as I would have expected on arrival. The sofa is totally worn out and not at all comfortable. It was cold at night as the heating is switched off by the owner. I don't like it hot at night, but it was that cold, it woke me up. On the plus side, nice location.

  Reviewed by M2.8★Apr 2018

• "Very hospitable owner."

  Great venue for my 2 small dogs. Am looking forward to returning!

  Reviewed by Judith4.7★Mar 2018

• "The cottage suited our needs, particularly as pets were welcome, and the owner was very friendly and hospitable."

  Reviewed by Charles3.8★Feb 2018

• "Really enjoyed our stay at the Old School Cottage."

  Lovely and cosy with a woodburner that was perfect for the evenings. The owner was really friendly and her dog was adorable. Would love to have stayed longer as there is lots to do and see nearby.

  Reviewed by Lyndsey4.4★Feb 2018

• "Very comfortable cottage in a very quiet area, perfect for Thomas Hardy fans with his birthplace and final home minutes away."

  Lots of other places to visit nearby as well.

  Reviewed by Anthony5.0★Jul 2017

• "Great place, so peaceful and relaxing, very central to visit great places."

  Reviewed by Karen4.2★Feb 2017

• "Very relaxing quiet break, just what I needed"

  Reviewed by Paul4.8★Dec 2016

• "Owner is very friendly and the cottage is very comfortable also is central to go anywhere."

  Reviewed by Alfred5.0★Oct 2016

• There are no reviews featuring this term Show all reviews