Hackeridge Farm is a 1707, Grade II* listed farmhouse of significant architectural interest in a beautiful, unspoiled, rural setting. It stands in 30 acres with a garden, a pond, an orchard containing a children's tree house and three large fields. The property was restored to a very high and modern standard in the 1990s, with care taken to maintain its historic character. It is built of Ham stone, mainly thatched, and with original stone flooring throughout the ground level. Plenty of original wooden beams and panelling have also been preserved.
The joys of Hackeridge lie in its peaceful setting, the gently undulating Dorset countryside on the doorstep, the proximity to gorgeous beaches, the oil paintings and antiques and the proliferation of local foodie producers, markets and pubs.
Hackeridge Farm is traditionally decorated, and is full of valuable oil paintings (mostly 19thC landscapes, all lit) and antique furniture.
The ground floor consists of a large front hall, a dining room with a formal round yew table which seats 10 comfortably, a back hall, a drawing room, a study, a utility room, a library/TV room and a large kitchen. The kitchen has a rectangular oak refectory table and two long oak benches seating 12. This is a large and cosy room with an Aga, and most guests find dining here together is easy and very convenient.
The house sleeps up to 12 in six bedrooms, five of which are on the first floor. They include two ensuite doubles, both with large sleigh beds; two double bedrooms with large beds; and a children's room with two single beds. Also on this floor are an additional bathroom and an upstairs sitting/TV room with Sky TV.
The second floor has a large double bedroom with a four poster bed, a changing room and an ensuite bathroom.
2 flat screen TVs – one large with Sky HD, the other with regular Sky
PC with Internet access
Aga and additional gas hob
3 hi-fi systems (one with iPod dock)
Washing machine and tumble dryer
Children's tree house – attractive and well built
Pond (protected by solid fence)
4 bicycles for guests' use
A remote and peaceful location, with its own drive and 30 acres of private land, half a mile from the hamlet of Pilsdon. It is ¼ mile to the Shave Cross Inn which is a 15thC destination pub with excellent accommodation and good food. There are many other country pubs in the area. The Jurassic Coast is five miles away.
There is a village shop in Broadwindsor (3 miles). The delightful market town of Bridport is 5 miles away which has Morrisons and Waitrose supermarkets as well as a famous pannier market that takes place each week on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Beaminster, another charming and historical town, is 6 miles from Hackeridge.
The house is 3 to 3½ hours' drive from London.
Airport: Bournemouth (50 miles); Exeter (33 miles); Southampton (76 miles) Station: Crewkerne (10 miles); Dorchester South (22 miles)
Ferry: Poole (46 miles)
This is real Thomas Hardy country, notable for its picture-perfect villages and single-track, hedged lanes.
The house enjoys magnificent views of the famous Marshwood Vale in a designated Area of Outstanding Beauty. It is in a very remote and peaceful location with no light or noise pollution. It sits beneath Pilsdon Pen (an ancient British fort overlooking the sea) and Lewesdon, which are the two highest hills in Dorset and are both owned by the National Trust.
The closest towns/villages are Bridport, Broadwindsor and Beaminster. Dorchester and Abbotsbury are within half an hour's drive. The house is five miles inland from the Jurassic Coast.
From £1,800 per week, self-catering