The Old Stone House Swanage

The Old Stone House is in Swanage. It's an old 17th century building. It was a stone cutter's yard originally, then it was the police station. The kitchen used to be a cell.

It sleeps seven in three bedrooms. There are two bathrooms. It's got a 4 Star rating. We refurbished it in 2022 but kept the old bits, like the beams and the fireplaces. The stairs are stone and a bit uneven in places, because it's old.

You come straight into the living room. There's an open fireplace and a smart TV. The kitchen has a Belfast sink. Upstairs, two bedrooms have king size beds, one has an ensuite. The family bathroom has a shower over the bath. The top floor has a big room with a double and a single bed. From there you can see Ballard Down and sometimes the Isle of Wight.

There's a garden out the back that gets the evening sun. It's enclosed. You can store bikes in the summer house.

You're about a five minute walk from the beach in Swanage. The town has a museum about the Jurassic Coast and the war. The steam railway goes from Swanage to Corfe Castle. That's a National Trust site.

For walking, you've got the Southwest Coastal Path right there. Studland Nature Reserve is nearby. Durlston Country Park is good too. Lulworth Cove and Durdle Door are about half an hour's drive.

If you want to be on the water, you can book fishing or diving trips locally. For cycling, the Rempstone Ride is a 12-mile off-road track. You can get the ferry across Poole Harbour from there.

Other places within half an hour include Corfe Castle, Brownsea Island, Monkey World, and the Tank Museum at Bovington.

Facilities wise: there's a washing machine, dishwasher, wifi, and a woodburning stove. Bedding and towels are included. There's a cot and a highchair. We take up to two dogs. There's parking on the street outside.

Useful links: National Trust Dorset and Dorset Coastal.