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Beautiful rural cottage on Dorset/Wiltshire border

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Property grounds
Sitting room with sunny window seat. Open plan with dining area.
Sitting room, log burner and Samsung TV in front of sofa
Super king sized bed with 2000 spring mattress in master bedroom
Dining table

Reviews

8.8 out of 10
Excellent
2 bedrooms1 bathroomSleeps 5114.3 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Kitchen
  • Washing machine
  • Pet-friendly
  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Outdoor space
  • Parking available

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 5)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 2

2 Single Bunk Beds

1 bathroom

Bathroom 1

Spaces

Kitchen
Garden
Dining area

About this property

Beautiful rural cottage on Dorset/Wiltshire border

Wise Cottage is a 250 year old cottage with a boutique feel and sweeping views over fields, situated in a beautiful village near Shaftesbury, Dorset. A few yards from the shop is an excellent playground and our award winning village shop.
The cottage has been furnished with antiques, carefully chosen pieces from our travels abroad, soft rugs and comfortable furniture to make a stay as wonderful as possible. The cottage is close to Longleat, Stone Henge, the Georgian City of Bath and the beautiful Dorset coast. We are happy to accept well behaved dogs.

The cottage sleeps four comfortably and five cozily, 2 bedrooms, 1 large master bedroom with a super kingsize bed and a small bedroom with adult bunks. A guest bed can be put up in the main bedroom or the sitting room for a fifth guest (there is not room in the bunk room for the extra bed).
The cottage includes a wood burner, super fast Wifi and garden. There is a cosy sitting room with oak dining table and chairs, a well fitted kitchen with washing machine, dishwasher and fridge/freezer.
The main bedroom has an upholstered Super kingsize bed with high quality Vi Spring mattress, high quality duvets and bed linens. The second bedroom has full size bunk beds. Polished wooden floors and carpets make up the flooring. The bathroom has an in bath shower and bath. There are plenty of towels provided as well as a wonderful organic shampoo, bodywash and handwash.. The bathroom is situated downstairs opposite the kitchen.

The garden is situated up steps from the cottage, it is probably not easily accessed by anyone disabled or infirm. It is a cottage garden, not highly manicured but with wonderful views over fields.. A table and chairs and a barbecue and tongs are also provided. There is a side access to the garden and it is fenced, so will contain a not overly ambitious dog.
The cottage has a Samsung 32" smart TV with the channel apps, super fast broad band, a small office with desk. Mobile reception is good, but patchy in the downstairs rooms.
There is a wood burner and logs are supplied in the winter for the first night (extra logs can be bought from the village shop).
The kitchen is fully equipped with all china and cutlery, pans, casserole dishes, salad bowls, a Nespresso coffee maker (with coffee capsules!) and there is a supply of tea bags, coffee, sugar, olive oil and salt and pepper to start you off. We always leave a welcome pack of fresh local bread, jam, butter and milk.

There is a local deli where you can buy excellent home cooked meals - Compton McRae in Semley.
https://www.comptonmcrae.com

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House Rules

Check in after 3:00 PM
Check out before 11:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
Children welcome
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

Pets allowed
Pets considered
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
Non smoking only

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit

We should mention

A car is required for transport to and from this property

About the area

Salisbury

Located in Salisbury, this cottage is in a rural area and by the sea. Some of the area's popular attractions include Center Parcs Longleat Forest and Longleat Safari and Adventure Park. Shaftesbury Arts Centre and Messums Wiltshire are also worth visiting. Discover the area's water adventures with nearby swimming, or enjoy the great outdoors with hiking and ecotours.
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Map
East Knoyle, England

What's nearby

  • Cranborne Chase and the West Wiltshire Downs - 1 min walk - 0.0 km
  • Center Parcs Longleat Forest - 17 min drive - 22.2 km
  • Longleat Safari and Adventure Park - 22 min drive - 26.9 km
  • Stonehenge - 25 min drive - 35.7 km
  • New Forest National Park - 48 min drive - 60.8 km

Getting around

  • Gillingham Dorset Station - 15 min drive
  • Bournemouth (BOH-Bournemouth Intl.) - 50 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Starbucks - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪The George Inn - ‬9 min drive
  • ‪Tisbury Fish and Chip Shop - ‬10 min drive
  • ‪The John Peel - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪The Walnut Tree - ‬10 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Beautiful rural cottage on Dorset/Wiltshire border pet-friendly?

Yes, pets are allowed at this property. Some restrictions may apply, so please contact the property for more details.

How much does it cost to stay at Beautiful rural cottage on Dorset/Wiltshire border?

As of 30 Mar 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Beautiful rural cottage on Dorset/Wiltshire border on 4 May 2026 start from AU$251, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.

How much is parking at Beautiful rural cottage on Dorset/Wiltshire border?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Beautiful rural cottage on Dorset/Wiltshire border?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Beautiful rural cottage on Dorset/Wiltshire border?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Beautiful rural cottage on Dorset/Wiltshire border located?

Situated by the sea, this cottage is 0.7 mi (1.2 km) from Cranborne Chase and the West Wiltshire Downs and within 6 miles (10 km) of Shaftesbury Arts Centre and Gold Hill Museum. Shaftesbury Abbey Museum and Garden and Messums Wiltshire are also within 9 miles (15 km).

Reviews

8.8

Excellent

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 14 out of 21 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 4 out of 21 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 21 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 1 out of 21 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 1 out of 21 reviews

8.4/10

Cleanliness

4.0/10

Amenities

7.0/10

Property conditions & facilities

10/10

Check-in

9.4/10

Communication

9.6/10

Location

9.6/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified

10/10 Excellent

Jacqueline

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, communication
Lovely cottage in a lovely village.
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Vicky W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful cottage & location.

We’ve had a lovely stay at the cottage. It was very clean and comfortable and the little extra’s that Vanessa left for us (bread, butter, jam etc) helped us settle in straight away. Beautiful location too. We will definitely visit again.
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Annie H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wise and cosy Cottage

Wise cottage is cosy and special. The host has created a lovely, warm and homely feel with beautiful touches that make you feel like you are being treated to an exclusive secret peek into old country life but with all the access to modern facilities that you need. We loved it!
Stayed 4 nights in May 2021
Verified

8/10 Good

Pauline R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

East Knoyle Cottage

Cosy,nicely furnished with a very pleasant atmosphere.Loved the dove carving on the landing wall and the back garden.Easy to manage kitchen.Good shower and bath.Beautiful Queen Ann bed and cotton sheets. The only area that needs improvement is a better fitting loo seat! Enjoyed our stay very much.Thank you.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Ed K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

A break with family

This is a charming cottage in a lovely village. The walking footbaths are delightful. The outdoor sitting area is private with fabulous country views. Easy on off A350, 5 miles north of Shaftsbury. Anyone over 68 inches tall, take care through the doors. Only downside was need to replace a few dead light bulbs!
Stayed 8 nights in May 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Josefina P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

beautiful cottage in wonderful countryside

Vanessa's cottage is beautifully interior-designed with the perfect balance of modern and classic. A well-equipped kitchen, a delightful living room with a fireplace and a very comfortable bedroom with a wonderful bed offers everything one needs for a happy stay. Walks into nature start directly from the house, no car needed. The village is something out of a picture book. The small village shop just 1 minute from the house provides all necessities. Vanessa is very responsive and goes out of her way to support. We cannot recommend her more highly.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2021
Verified

2/10 Terrible

Natalie M.

Liked: Check-in, location, listing accuracy
Disliked: Cleanliness

Extremely disappointing

The cottage is beautiful to look at in a lovely village, but our stay was ruined by the dirtiest home we’ve ever stayed in. On the surface it all looked pleasant, once we started to looking around to unpack we were truly shocked. Cobwebs everywhere with unclean windows, doors and floors. The bathroom was a disgrace with a used un flushed toilet, filthy bath……the list goes on. I immediately contacted the owner who told me she had cleaned the property herself and she offered to come and look. We were of course mortified that she thought it was clean. The whole house needed a deep professional clean. I wanted to leave but it was our one holiday. We cleaned the kitchen and bathroom which was a terrible way to start our trip. I felt uncomfortable for our entire stay as even showering was unpleasant standing in non draining water. We tried to stop paying attention to everything as it was so awful, we went out as much as possible. That also spoilt it for us as we love to relax and cook in the evenings. The facilities in the kitchen were useless, blunt knives, chipped crockery. Our feet were filthy from the unclean floors and carpets. An absolute disgrace.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2024
Verified

8/10 Good

Sue F.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

A lovely stay

A great location and the cottage was well equipped we would recommend a stay here.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2022
Verified

8/10 Good

Susan S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

liebenswertes, kleines Cottage mit netter Besitzerin

... auch die Betten waren gut, der Garten klein und fein mit tollem Blick über die Wiesen. Man hört die große Straße, aber uns hat es nicht gestört. Der kleine Lebensmittelladen mit Post war toll, auch der Spielplatz im Ort. Das Cottage ist alt, schön und gemütlich, eigentlich alles da, was man braucht. Ein paar Ecken waren etwas staubig, aber auch das tut unserem Gesamteindruck keinen Abbruch.
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2022
Verified

4/10 Poor

Ann

Disliked: Cleanliness, amenities
Property was very picturesque and set in a nice area. Unfortunately, dust and dog hair (which gathered on our socks) triggered 2 asthma sufferers. Very low doorways, which was a problem for my 6ft 2 inch husband! Would have liked access to a microwave and a hoover in the property.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Robert T.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Short Break

Beautiful little cottage, in a wonderful location, a great base for our weekend break
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2021
Verified

10/10 Excellent

paula garth h.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Cute cottage in lovely village

We had a lovely visit to East Knoyle..the cottage is very quaint and within easy access to the village and it's wonderful shop . Great views from the garden and the BBQ was handy!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2020
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Fleur C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Superb cottage!

We had a wonderful time staying in this beautiful cottage! The property is very pretty with lots of thoughtful touches included to make your stay enjoyable. The host was excellent - very helpful and always quick to reply to messages. We had a great time and hope to return in the future!
Verified

10/10 Excellent

James L.

amazing

we had a great time, thank you. Just realised I forgot to empty the BBQ of coals. sorry x
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2019
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Frank R.

Schönes Cottage mit Garten und Pool!

Schönes kleines Cottage mit Garten. Den Pool haben die Kinder sehr genossen. Idealer Ausgangsort für viele Ausflüge in der Nähe (Shaftesbury, Stonehenge und Longleat House sind sehr nah, aber auch Highclere Castle oder Durdle Door an der Jurrasic Coast sind gut zu erreichen). Das Pub Fox and Hounds haben wir mehrmals besucht. Alle waren sehr freundlich. Wir können das Cottage empfehlen!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2018
Verified

8/10 Good

Guy B.

Lovely and well appointed. Certainly recommended for a getaway.

What a lovely little cottage, in a glorious part of the Southwest. Hosts Vanessa and Bruce are helpful and charming. Spaces are small (but perfectly formed). We would’ve loved to stay longer!
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2018
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Adrian L.

A lovely and well set up cottage

This is a lovely little cottage and is well appointed and comfortable. It was a little chilly when we arrived but the log burner soon raised the temperature although we did get through quite a few logs over the weekend (typical bank holiday weather!). Vanessa was very helpful and we recommend this cottage if you're seeking a little rural charm.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2018
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Titus M.

Peacefull lovely warm house

The small cottage in East Knoyle felt like home. Outside it was very cold, but the cottage was cosy and warm, even the sleeping rooms. We found things for our first breakfast. There are boos, games, WiFi and a good tv. The owners are very kind and the people too
Stayed 7 nights in Feb 2018
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Jason rackham

A cosy weekend away

A great little property and perfect for a getaway.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2017
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Stewart Q.

Very comfortable cottage. Very friendly and helpful owner.

Sympathetic restoration and updating of a workers' cottage. Beds are warm and comfy. The people in the village are very welcoming.
Verified

6/10 Okay

nicolas b.

Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2025

About the host

Hosted by Vanessa

Host profile image
Hi! We are Vanessa and Bruce and we have two children. We live in the most stunning part of the English countryside, on the border of Wiltshire and Dorset. The area is typified by tight valleys, rolling hills and huge views. We moved here from London 10 years ago to bring up our family. Vanessa organises African safaris and Bruce is a motor racing journalist. We have a huge appetite for foreign travel and love interiors - hence our addiction of making the cottage the most idyllic and inspirational place to stay!

Why they chose this property

We bought Wise Cottage in March 2016 as a holiday let. It's origins date back probably about 300 years, it is typical of the small cottages found in this area, originally a tied cottage to the large estate in the village. The views from the cottage are gorgeous, the cottage space is charming and cozy and we just knew it would be a perfect place for rural holidays.

What makes this property unique

The location means that one is within easy reach of numerous places, the Georgian city of Bath, Stone Henge, Longleat (the finest Elizabethan house in England), the Dorset coast line, Lyme Regis, Roman hill forts, beautiful market towns and London is still only two hours away.
Walks from the cottage are beautiful.

Languages:

English
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