"The places Hardy roamed as a boy, and later enshrined as rustic Wessex . . ."

Lying in the picturesque Piddle Valley in West Dorset are the twelve acres of glorious rolling countryside in which these holiday cottages are set. No longer a working farm, Doles Ash Farm now has an established vineyard producing English wines. The splendid range of barns here have been sympathetically converted to form a group of very comfortable cottages, interestingly clustered around a grass courtyard with the owners’ 18th-century house. Facilities include an indoor heated swimming pool, sauna, games barn with table tennis, snooker and table football, and tennis court. An alternative property in Piddletrenthide village (1 mile) is The School House (ref DRV) which can have the use of the leisure facilities at Doles Ash Farm. Outside, there is a pond, vineyard, sheep and chickens to visit and plenty of space for walking, playing, exploring and relaxing in the shared grounds.
Doles Ash Farm is the ideal venue for group get togethers, giving guests the benefit of families and friends being in the same place while still enjoying some personal space in individual cottages. Four of the holiday cottages have enclosed gardens, ideal for dogs, with the remaining four having individual patios. The indoor heated swimming poolis open daily all year round and the building has full changing facilities, as well as a coin-operated sauna. The tennis court is also available all year round. The cottages, facilities and grounds enjoy an outstandingly peaceful setting with magnificent walks on the doorstep. Riding, golf, clay-shooting and fishing are all available locally.
Good shops can be found 8 miles away in Dorchester and 10 miles away in Sherborne. There is a host of local attractions and a long sandy beach within a half hour’s drive at Weymouth. Studland beaches and Swanage are also firm favourites with visitors.
The Piddle Valley is a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty which boasts some of the prettiest villages in England and has a wealth of excellent family-friendly pubs to dine and relax in with the village of Godmanstone boasting the smallest pub in England. The beautiful village of Cerne Abbas, overseen by the legendary Cerne Giant, also lies just 3 miles from Doles Ash Farm. This is Thomas Hardy country with many of Hardy’s venues have changed little since his time. At Higher Bockhampton, standing among soaring beech trees, is the thatched cottage where the novelist was born.
Lovely cottages in a fabulous setting, what more could holidaymakers want. Shops 1 mile.

• Wood-burning stove (except Keeper’s Cottage) – initial supply inc, thereafter at cost
• Elec and full elec CH (oil CH in Keeper’s Cottage DFM) inc (during Oct - May, a fuel charge applies - see individual cottage)
• Bed linen and towels inc
• T/cot and h/chair by arr
• TV
• DVD
• M/wave
• Shared laundry room with w/machine and coin-operated t/dryer
• Payphone
• Shared 12-acre grounds
• BBQ
• Parking
• Indoor heated swimming pool(36ft x 18ft) – avail daily all year round
• Sauna (coin-operated)
• Sharedgames barnwith table tennis, table football and small snooker table
• Large grassed play area with swing, climbing frame, slide and badminton/volleyball net
• Owners’ hard tennis court
• NB: Fenced pond in grounds

Properties DGA, DGG, DFM, DFX, DGH, DGJ can be booked together for larger groups and family get-togethers

WINTER BREAKS AND OFF-SEASON HOLIDAYS
Doles Ash Farm is perfect for holidays in late Autumn, Winter and early Spring. All cottages are cosily heated with wood-burning stove (not Keeper’s Cottage) and electric central heating (oil in Keeper’s Cottage). And, of course, the indoor heated swimming pool is open all year round.

A very comfortable split-level barn conversion providing spacious accommodation with French doors leading to enclosed garden. Entrance into well-equipped modern kitchen with dining area. Steps up to sitting room with wood-burning stove and French doors to patio and garden. Twin bedroom with view to garden. Second twin bedroom. Up steps to attractive double bedroom with en-suite toilet and wash basin. Separate bathroom with over-bath shower and toilet.

• Fuel charge (Oct - May) £30pw (£20 per short break)
• W/machine
• D/washer
• F/freezer
• Garden with
  furniture