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Chalet

Hardy Chalet Scandinavian style chalet on working dairy farm

Photo gallery for Hardy Chalet Scandinavian style chalet on working dairy farm

A wooden building with a gravel driveway and flower pots.
A living room with two brown leather sofas, a television on a wooden stand, and a fireplace.
A dining area with a wooden table and chairs, a vase with flowers, and a sofa in the background.
A living room with a leather sofa, a dining area with wooden chairs, a kitchen with blue tiles, and a wooden ceiling.
A bedroom with a sloped ceiling, a bed with striped bedding, two bedside lamps, a wooden nightstand, and a view of the outdoors through a window with curtains.

Reviews

9.8 out of 10
Exceptional

Highlights

  • Room to spread out
    Enjoy spacious layout that give everyone more room to relax.
  • Arcade/game room
    A rare find - fun for all ages with on-site arcade/game room.
  • Centrally-located
    You're never far from where you need to be with this convenient location.
3 bedrooms1+ bathroomSleeps 6

Popular amenities

  • Onsite parking available
  • Kitchen
  • Washing machine
  • Barbecue grill
  • Balcony
  • Free Wi-Fi

Explore the area

View in a map
Gillingham, England
  • Place, Gold Hill Museum
    ‪13 min drive‬
  • Place, Shaftesbury Arts Centre
    ‪13 min drive‬
  • Place, Cranborne Chase and the West Wiltshire Downs
    ‪16 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 6)

Bedroom 1

1 Double Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Double Bed

Master Bedroom

2 Single Beds

1 bathroom, 2 half bathrooms

Ground floor

Soap · Towels provided · Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Master En-suite

Soap · Towels provided · Bathtub or shower · Toilet · Shower only

Twin en-suite

Soap · Towels provided · Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Balcony
Garden
Dining area

About this property

Hardy Chalet Scandinavian style chalet on working dairy farm

Hardy is a Scandinavian style timber framed chalet in the grounds of a working dairy farm surrounded by Blue Spruce trees.
Hardy (aptly named after the author Thomas Hardy) has three en-suite bedrooms.


We are happy for any visitors to watch the milking in the afternoons. It is a fasinating process to watch.

North Dorset Location: Hardy chalet at Stour Cross Farm sits on top of a hill just outside West Stour village.

It is centrally placed for many attractions which can be reached easily by car. The village itself is very friendly and hosts many fun fund raising events. The local free house pub boasts excellent cuisine and fine ales.

Within the grounds of Hardy are three other chalets. Duncliffe, Melbury and Wessex. All sleeping six with their own parking and surrounded by Blue Spruce Fir trees.

Our games room is available for our guests.. It consists of a table tennis table, Table football, large connect 4 and air hockey. For the little ones they can play on the car mat with a selection of cars.

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Check out before 10:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

No pets allowed
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Important information

You need to know

Property # 10136320
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 are no carbon monoxide detectors or gas appliances on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios and terraces, which may not be suitable for children; if you have any concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm that they can accommodate you in a suitable room

About the area

Gillingham

Located in Gillingham, this chalet is in a rural area. Melbury Vale Winery and Rushmore Golf Club are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those looking for area attractions can visit Riversmeet Leisure Centre and Gartell Light Railway. Travelling with kids? Consider Shaftesbury Arts Centre and Sturminster Newton Leisure Centre. Discover the area's water adventures with fishing and swimming nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with hiking/biking trails and cycling.
View more Chalets in GillinghamOpens in a new window
Map
Gillingham, England

What's nearby

  • Gold Hill Museum - 13 min drive - 10.0 km
  • Shaftesbury Arts Centre - 13 min drive - 10.0 km
  • Gartell Light Railway - 14 min drive - 12.1 km
  • Shaftesbury Abbey Museum and Garden - 14 min drive - 10.6 km
  • Cranborne Chase and the West Wiltshire Downs - 16 min drive - 12.6 km

Getting around

  • Templecombe Station - 10 min drive
  • Bournemouth (BOH-Bournemouth Intl.) - 70 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Cale Park Cafe - ‬16 min drive
  • ‪Hunters Lodge Inn - ‬11 min drive
  • ‪Meaders - ‬10 min drive
  • ‪Wagtail - ‬14 min drive
  • ‪McDonald's - ‬14 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Hardy Chalet Scandinavian style chalet on working dairy farm pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much is parking at Hardy Chalet Scandinavian style chalet on working dairy farm?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Hardy Chalet Scandinavian style chalet on working dairy farm?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Hardy Chalet Scandinavian style chalet on working dairy farm?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Hardy Chalet Scandinavian style chalet on working dairy farm located?

Located in a rural location, this family-friendly chalet is within 6 mi (10 km) of Riversmeet Leisure Centre, Gartell Light Railway, and Shaftesbury Arts Centre. Sturminster Newton Leisure Centre and Shaftesbury Abbey Museum and Garden are also within 9 miles (15 km).

Reviews

9.8

Exceptional

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. 13 out of 16 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 3 out of 16 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 16 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 16 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 16 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Property conditions & facilities

9.6/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

9.6/10

Location

9.8/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Kenneth G.

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

Wonderful accommodation - all we could ask for!

Our family so enjoyed our stay in Dorset - beautiful walks and views, excellent hosts and wonderful proximity to all of the beauties of the surrounding area. We are so looking forward to returning!
Stayed 12 nights in Dec 2022
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Jenny H.

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

Beautiful property

I would highly recommend this property! Beautiful surroundings, plenty of space, extremely clea. Had no issues at all at this property and the host was lovely and helpful :) would definitely stay again!
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 3 Aug, 2025
Thank you Jennifer for your lovely comments and 5* rating. It was lovely to meet you and I hope you enjoyed the Rock and Ribs festival. Please do book again if you are down this way in the future. Best Wishes Christina
Archival

8/10 Good

alan w.

Very good

Nice cottage,Lovely cows in field,Nice welcome,cottage very clean and spacious
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2017
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Elizabeth H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We had a lovely time here, Christine was lovely! It was clean, well laid out and had all the amenities. It was ideally located for a friends wedding at The Old Milking Parlour 5 minutes down the road. The games room was good although we didn’t realise we needed so many 50ps for the pool table we would love to stay here again.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 3 Aug, 2025
Thank you Elizabeth for your 5* review and comments. I'm glad you enjoyed your stay in Hardy chalet. It was lovely to meet you and your family. Apologies for the charge to use the Pool table - you must have been expert Pool players to get though so many 50p's !! - so if you choose to stay again you can have free access to the Pool table. Hope we will see you again. Best Wishes Christina
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Jeff D.

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

Beautiful Location & Accommodation

We stayed at one of four lovely, spacious and well equipped villas in the heart of the Dorset countryside. The views are beautiful and the only noise is that of a working farm which we found very comforting. The villa was very roomy with comfortable beds and the en-suite bathrooms to each of the three bedrooms was a hit with our family. Chris (the host) was very helpful and looked after all our needs. The kitchen was very well equipped and we were able to cook very large meals with ease. The lounge had comfortable, leather sofas and theall important TV worked well. If anyone is looking for a restful, rural holiday you could not do better.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2021
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Paul A.

Liked: Cleanliness, communication, location, listing accuracy

Stour cross farm

We as a family had a wonderful 7 days at Stour cross farm the accomodation was excellent and Christina /trim was always very helpful even allowing my grandchildren to bottle feed a new born calf! The countryside was beautiful with lots of nice pubs serving lovely food!
Stayed 7 nights in Oct 2020
Response from VrboOwner on 24 Feb, 2021
Thank you for your 5* review. I am so pleased you enjoyed your stay and it is always a joy to involve guests in the farm activities including bottle feeding the calves. Dorset is certainly a beautiful county and I hope you will visit us again.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Dean G.

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

Relaxing Break

Had a great time here. Host was lovely and helpful, games room a nice bonus, seeing new born calves also a bonus. Location a bit away from things but not a real problem as that was the idea. Overall a great stay in a comfortable property.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2020
Response from VrboOwner on 24 Feb, 2021
Glad you enjoyed your stay in Hardy chalet. I am pleased the games room provided some enjoyment. I hope you will visit us again.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Barry G.

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

Excellent relaxing stay

We all really enjoyed our stay in Hardy cottage 15/8/20 - 22/8/20. Cottage had all amenities and instructions on how to use them. Beds were very comfortable and clean and all showers in en suites worked very well with constant hot water. Beautiful location and we enjoyed our first experience of staying on a working farm. We was lucky enough to witness lots of cows calving. Christina was very obliging and contact with her throughout our stay was very good. Would highly recommend staying here for location, amenities and although very rural, is only a drive away from many attractions. Would love to come back and stay here
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2020
Response from VrboOwner on 24 Feb, 2021
Thank you for 5* review. I am so pleased you enjoyed your stay in Hardy chalet. It was a pleasure to meet you all and I hope we may see you again.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Justin S.

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

Lovely location and amazing hosts

We had a fantastic time in the Hardy cottage. They kids loved the playroom, and we saw a calf being born in the field behind us which amazed them (and they got to hand-feed the calves as well). Lovely hosting from Christina, and an amazing place to stay.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2019
Response from VrboOwner on 3 Apr, 2020
Thank you for your review Justin. Glad you enjoyed your stay and that you had an opportunity to witness a calf being born. Quite an eye opener for most guests.. We would welcome you and your family again
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Phil S.

Well appointed, clean and comfortable.

Great part of the country. Lovely property and owner. We really enjoyed our short visit.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2018
Archival

8/10 Good

benet c.

Overall friendly and welcoming

We had such a lovely stay here Large comfortable and well equipped cabins with good disabled access An excellent games room and my daughter loved bottle feeding the calves. The best thing about deepest dorset is Christina herself who is a friendly and accessible host who is there without intruding in any way. She always had time to talk to us and provided welcoming touches ofor our children. We wish her and her family well and our thanks
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2017
Response from VrboOwner on 3 Apr, 2020
Thank you for your kind words and it was lovely to meet you and your family. I'm so glad you enjoyed your week despite the weather having a couple of off days. I appreciated your daughter helping to bottle feed the calves as it's quite a handful when all 20 of them are hungry at once. Hope the photos came out ok. Do look us up if you are ever in Dorset again. Kind Regards Christina
Archival

8/10 Good

Julia R.

Spacious accommodation, well equipped

We stayed in the Hardy chalet for a week while attending the Chalke Valley History Festival. It was an excellent base - clean, spacious, comfortable and well equipped. Really appreciated having an ensuite for each bedroom. Lots of good pubs in the area, and plentiful provisions at the Udder farmshop nearby. Flies might have been a problem if we'd wanted to have the windows open, but it wasn't hot, so we didn't.
Archival

10/10 Excellent

James C.

Excellent accommodation in a great location

Hardy chalet was absolutely perfect. Everything you'd expect for a home away from home, clean, well equipped and within a short drive of Shaftesbury and Sherbourne. Can't wait to go back next year!
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2017
Archival

10/10 Excellent

tracy a.

Immaculate place in an amazing location

Christina's chalets are absolutely amazing. So clean and much bigger than the pics make you think. Great location too and the nearby Ship Inn pub has the best food. A wonderful stay thank you
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2015
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Hillary C.

Home from home chalet

Lovely chalet in peaceful location. Very welcoming owner, made to feel at home immediately. Watching the cows giving birth was a bonus, we managed to see 2 from the balcony. Chalet was spotlessly clean & nothing had been forgotten, very well equipped. Ideal for 6 adults( there are 3 bathrooms). We found Dorset to very pretty with Shaftsbury being very close a photo of Gold Hill with a loaf of bread in your hand is a must! There are lots of places to see including Cheddar Gorge & if it's raining the Haynes car museum is not far, even if you're not really interested in cars it's a very interesting place. All in all we enjoyed our stay & would recommend these chalets without hesitation.
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2015
Response from VrboOwner on 3 Apr, 2020
Thank you for your lovely review. It was a pleasure to meet you both and I'm glad you enjoyed your stay at Hardy chalet. If you decide to visit Dorset again please do look us up or pop in for a cup of tea. Best Wishes Christina
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Andrew

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, communication
Stayed 10 nights in Sep 2023

About the host

Hosted by Mrs Christina Trim

Host profile image
Hardy chalet at Stour Cross Farm is situated on a working dairy farm. We milk approx 140 black and white Freisian Holstein cows twice daily. During the summer months most of the calves are born of which a third are Freisian. These are hand reared by myself and often get spoilt with affection. They become very friendly and don't mind being groomed or cuddled. This seems to set them up right when they join the herd. The cows are housed in a barn over the winter and turned out to grass in spring until November. Hardy looks out onto some of the fields and guests are delighted when they wake up in the mornings, pull back the curtains and see all the girls grazing. Some guests have never seen cows before let alone stand within 2 ft of them. Don't worry, there is a fence and although they are very inquisitive they are quite harmless.

We are happy for any visitors to watch the milking in the afternoons. It is a fasinating process to watch.

What makes this property unique

Hardy chalet has recently been refurbished throughout with new wet room to the downstairs bedroom. The first floor has a double room with own balcony and newly refurbished en-suite with shower over bath. The twin room has en-suite shower room. The kitchen has had a bit of a revamp and apart from new appliances a new extended tiled floor allows the dining table more space. The open plan lounge has two brand new leather reclining sofa's and a stylish black glass fronted simulated coal fire.
Hardy chalet is situated on the borders of Somerset, Dorset and Wiltshire and allow easy access to many attractions.

Languages:

English

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