Antells Farm Barn Walton Elm

Antells Farm Barn is in Walton Elm, Dorset. It's a detached stone barn conversion we did a few years back. It's isolated, down a long track. Very quiet. You won't see another house from the windows.

It sleeps four. Two bedrooms, both doubles. They each have their own bathroom with a walk-in shower, which is handy. It's got a 5 Star rating. That means it's well-equipped and finished to a high standard. It's not cluttered though.

The main living space is all one room: kitchen, dining area, and sitting area. It feels big. There's underfloor heating. The doors open straight out onto a private patio and an enclosed lawn. The garden is fully fenced, so it's secure for dogs or kids.

There's a pub, The Crown Inn, about a mile's walk down the footpaths. It's a proper old pub, does food. The village shop in Sturminster Newton is just over a mile by car.

Sturminster Newton is a small market town, about two miles away. It's got a few shops, cafes, and a mill by the river. For a bigger supermarket, you'd go to Shaftesbury or Blandford Forum, both about a 15 minute drive.

If you like walking, you're right on the edge of the Blackmore Vale. It's all fields and quiet lanes. The famous "Tess's Cottage" from Thomas Hardy's book is a ten minute walk from the barn.

For a day out, Sherborne is about 20 minutes drive. It's got an abbey and two castles. The Jurassic Coast is within half an hour. You can be at West Bay or Burton Bradstock in no time. Blandford Forum is 15 minutes north, Shaftesbury with its Gold Hill is 15 minutes east.

The facilities are what you'd expect: good wifi, a TV, dishwasher, washing machine. Bedding and towels are included. You can bring up to two dogs. There's parking right outside.

Useful links: National Trust Dorset and Jurassic Coast Trust.