Apartment

Fern is a unique eco retreat constructed to the highest standards

Photo gallery for Fern is a unique eco retreat constructed to the highest standards

Fern, Ansty, near Dorchester: With its lovely wild flower bank
Fern, Ansty, near Dorchester: The open-plan living area with wood burning stove
Fern, Ansty, near Dorchester: The spacious modern kitchen
Fern, Ansty, near Dorchester: Bright open-plan dining area
Fern, Ansty, near Dorchester: Bedroom one with a king-size bed and en-suite shower room

Reviews

9.8 out of 10

Exceptional

3 bedrooms3 bathroomsSleeps 610.8 sq ft

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
    Parking available
  • Hot tub
    Hot tub
  • Washer
    Washer
  • Barbecue grill
    Barbecue grill
  • Fireplace
    Fireplace
  • Outdoor space
    Outdoor space

Explore the area

Map
Ansty, Dorchester, Dorset
    Tolpuddle Martyrs Museum
    25 min drive
    Cerne Abbas Giant
    28 min drive
    Monkey World Ape Rescue Center
    31 min drive
    Yeovilton (YEO-Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton)
    67 min drive

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 6)

Bedroom 1

1 King Bed

Bedroom 2

2 Single Beds

Bedroom 3

1 King Bed

3 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Bathtub · Shower only

Bathroom 2

Bathtub · Shower only

Bathroom 3

Bathtub · Shower only

Spaces

About this property

Fern is a unique eco retreat constructed to the highest standards

One of three unique, detached eco retreats, Fern and its neighbours Bracken and Bramble have been constructed in 2020 to the highest standards and enjoy far-reaching views and a decadent wood fired hot tub.

This detached, three bedroom property has been beautifully and thoughtfully designed with everything you could wish for to enjoy an escape to North Dorset's rural splendour. Situated on a working farm, Fern boasts extensive views of Bulbarrow and The Blackmore Vale and enjoys peace and quiet all around.

Inside Fern, the single-storey, open-plan accommodation is light and spacious with cosy under-floor heating throughout, provided by an eco-friendly ground source heat pump. Cook up a delicious meal made with fresh, local ingredients in the modern and well-equipped kitchen, and then snuggle up around the wood burning stove. Open the bi-folding doors and relax in your very own wood fired hot tub. Outside, along with the hot tub is the terrace and garden where you can soak up the sunshine and take in those wonderful views.

Sleeping up to six guests in three bedrooms (two with king-size beds and a third with twin single beds), each with their own en-suite shower room, Fern is an ideal choice for a wonderful Dorset break with family or friends.

All Ground Floor Accommodation with underfloor heating throughout:
Open-plan kitchen, sitting room and dining room
Kitchen area
With electric oven and hob, fridge, freezer, microwave and dishwasher.
Utility room
With washing machine.
Sitting room area
With a wood burning stove, generous comfortable seating, television with Netflix and bi-fold doors to terrace.
Dining room area
With seating for six guests.
Bedroom one
With a king-size bed.
En-suite shower room
With shower, wash basin and WC.
Bedroom two
With a king-size bed.
En-suite shower room
With shower, wash basin and WC.
Bedroom three
With twin single 3' beds.
En-suite shower room
With shower, wash basin and WC.

Outside:
Terrace and garden with far-reaching rural views.
Wood fired hot tub - please see Additional Information and refer to the house notes in the property.
A charcoal barbecue with an initial supply of a small charcoal pack is provided
Parking for up to three cars.

With the Wessex Ridgeway on your doorstep, walking opportunities are endless. If you feel inclined, wander into the village of Ansty via a quiet lane and across a bridleway, where you will find a charming farm shop, post office and good local pub. Ansty can be reached in around 15 minutes on foot, otherwise around 3 minutes by car.
Fern's neighbours Bracken (sleeps six guests) and Bramble (sleeps four guests) are also available to book, subject to availability. All three properties can be booked as a combination in Dorset Eco Retreats, subject to availability.

Additional Information:
Travel cot and highchair available on request.
Sorry, no pets.
A barbecue with initial supply of a small charcoal pack is provided during the summer months.
You will have use of your own private wood fired hot tub with logs provided. Please read full instructions on the operation and safety of the hot tub which can be found in the house folder. Please do not use detergents or toiletries in the hot tub. Please supervise children at all times around the hot tub when the cover is off and be aware that the firebox will be hot when lit and the water can also get very hot without supervision.
Please note that internet access is offered at this property for recreational purposes only and is not meant for business use. The speed/service may vary from time to time. Should guests experience difficulties or loss of use, neither the owner nor the Dorset Hideaways will be held responsible.
Arrival time at this property is strictly 5pm.

Property manager

Dorset Hideaways
Premier Host

Languages

English

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Hot tub
Washer
Outdoor space
Parking available
Barbecue grill
Fireplace

Similar properties

House Rules

Check in after 5:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 21
Check out before 10:00 AM

Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17

Events

No events allowed

Pets

No pets allowed

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

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 not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property

About the area

Dorchester

Dorchester is home to this apartment. Shillingstone Railway Project and Hardy's Cottage are local landmarks, and the area's natural beauty can be seen at Dorset Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and Cranborne Chase and the West Wiltshire Downs. Badger Watch Dorset and Kingston Maurward Park and Gardens are also worth visiting. Take the opportunity to explore the area for outdoor excitement like cycling and other activities like birdwatching.
Map
Ansty, Dorchester, Dorset

What's nearby

  • Monkey World Ape Rescue Center - 31 min drive
  • The Tank Museum - 33 min drive
  • Weymouth Beach - 37 min drive
  • Lulworth Cove - 39 min drive
  • Durdle Door - 40 min drive

Getting around

  • Dorchester South Station - 28 min drive
  • Bournemouth (BOH-Bournemouth Intl.) - 64 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪The Thimble Inn - ‬22 min drive
  • ‪Royal Oak Inn - ‬18 min drive
  • ‪The Antelope Inn Pidney - ‬17 min drive
  • ‪Gaggle of Geese - ‬26 min drive
  • ‪Hambro Arms - ‬13 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Fern is a unique eco retreat constructed to the highest standards pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Fern is a unique eco retreat constructed to the highest standards?

Check-in begins at 5:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Fern is a unique eco retreat constructed to the highest standards?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Fern is a unique eco retreat constructed to the highest standards located?

Situated in Dorchester, this apartment building is 2.9 mi (4.7 km) from Dorset Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and within 9 miles (15 km) of Shillingstone Railway Project and Tolpuddle Martyrs Museum. Badger Watch Dorset and Cerne Abbas Giant are also within 12 miles (20 km).

Reviews

9.8

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
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Rating 10 - Excellent. 15 out of 18 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 3 out of 18 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 18 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 18 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 18 reviews" "

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Amenities

10/10

Property conditions & facilities

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

8/10 Good

Amazing Views
Getting to the lodge was a little heart pounding, as it is down loads of very narrow single lane roads. So if you come across traffic it can be a tight squeeze into the bushes/passing points. The location is lovely with amazing views when you get there. I have 2 teenagers, so they got a room each. They loved having their own bathroom and chill out space. The beds were really comfy, with clean towels and bedding. The open plan kitchen/dinner/lounge are is a vast space. The kitchen is lovely with everything you need to get going. The oven was a challenge though to work out, even when we did find the guide book, but we got there in the end. The downside for us were mostly the sofas. You have one large marsh mallow feather soft one, where the cushions continually kept needing to be moved back or the 2 side small seats which were the most uncomfortable creations ever. I think wooden benches would have been more comfy. The other issue for us was the hot-tub I am afraid. We followed the instructions but only got it going one night to bath temperature. After that we just could not get it hot and my other half gave in, I felt bad as thought this would be a novel idea when booking. In all, a lovely break for a few days. It was very relaxing hearing the rain on the roof. However, we would not go back again.
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

john p.

Tranquil and relaxing
Lovely lodge with excellent views. Lodge was spotless, well equipped and comfortable. The Fox is an easy walk and does great food. Weather wasn't great but the lodge didn't disappoint with huge patio doors which provided a great view of the rain rolling in
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Fabulous lodge
This is certainly a year round holiday destination. Beautiful views, cosy lodge. I only gave 3 for comfort because my old bones couldn’t get comfortable on the settees (assuming I could get to them, the children spent a lot of down time on them), a minor matter for the young! Lovely hosts who clearly adore the area and views despite having farmed there for a long time. It would be an amazing place to be snowed in! Great for family reunions if renting all three lodges together.

10/10 Excellent

Sarah C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Holiday base
Amazing accommodation with a very well equipped kitchen. Hot tub was lovely but need to light early. Views were amazing and cows in the field was lovely, even saw a couple of hares and frogs
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Janice

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities, communication
A well tended property with excellent facilities and comfort. The owners should and do deserve highest merit for their hard work. Thank you.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

melissa stewart

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Idyllic place to stay
From the moment you walk in the door this place blows you away, from the amazing views to the very generous welcome pack of local groceries. We had a perfect Easter weekend, walked to the Fox Inn pub on the Saturday across fields, all really lovely. Barely any noise from the farm, we had a very peaceful time and will be back! Thank you so much!
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2023
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Modern eco-lodge with beautiful views
Fern and it’s neighbouring eco-lodges have been beautifully designed by the owners – they are spacious, pretty, wonderfully clean and kitted out with the highest-quality fittings. The kitchen fittings in particular are great, as are the wood-burning stove and hot tub! Fern does need a couple of new frying pans – at present there is only one, the Teflon coating of which flakes off into your food. The pictures on the Dorset Hideaways website don’t do justice to the beauty of the views and the surrounding area. Both the garden and house have amazing, completely unobstructed views for miles and miles over the Blackmore Vale, and the garden faces west so the sunsets are just spectacular. The only real drawback is that because the property is on farm land, the house gets quite a lot of flies. The owners have provided a swat in the house, though this is still a fairly unpleasant solution.
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Karen M.

A Wonderful Break in a Glorious Setting
We booked Fern for a family weekend celebration and were delighted with the accommodation. We were a party of 5. It was immaculate and very well furnished. The location was stunning and we had a mixture of rain, sun, and snow all in one weekend. The beds were very comfortable and it was lovely each bedroom having an en-suite bathroom. We didn't manage to try the hot tub unfortunately but we had enough logs to keep the wood burner going most of the weekend. We would definitely want to come back.
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Julie L.

Stunning location, fantastic property
Fern cottage is in a stunning location with views across the Dorset countryside. A fantastic property providing all you need for a relaxing break.
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Katie S.

We want to stay here every year for forever
Such a special place. It's calming, relaxing and a stunning location. I can't speak highly enough of it.
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

8/10 Good

Great quiet location
Quiet and peaceful location. Mixed info regarding the logs/kindling, some of the info reads: that they're provided and to help yourself. Some info reads: you have to provide your own and the local shop sells them, yes they do, but VERY expensive!! In my opinion, I think the lodge could've been cleaned (prior to our arrival) to a higher standard, the windows were dirty and the hot tub hadn't been cleaned.
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Outstanding
The views were stunning, the lodge beautifully furnished and everything was clean. Great to get good quality clean crockery , pans, cutlery etc. Really handy that there was a washing machine. Hot tub was brilliant once we got the hang of it, and between that the BBQ and views we didn’t want to leave! Loved the little touches like the Dorset based welcome goods, the volume of wood and charcoal provided and cleaning things. Near enough to the coast and lots to do in the area. We wouldn’t hesitate to return. Thank you
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

8/10 Good

Fern Eco Lodge
Terrific stay, great location (30 minutes drive to all local sightseeing areas and beaches) with a lovely pub and shop in the village. Lodge is great, wonderful views and very comfortable - just need some fly screens for the bifolding doors, when the cows are near it’s pretty bad! Otherwise highly recommended and we would come back for certain.
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Incredible views, owners very lovely and very welcoming, 100% go back, loved the hot tub
This was a fabulous stay, us girls turned 30 during lockdown and we really wanted to celebrate over a week, great value for money. Arranged for a private chef on the Saturday night and was perfect. The views are amazing, the hot tub is great (just be prepared to wait 4 hour plus for it to warm up, make sure you have enough logs etc. The local pub does AMAZING food Lovely local walks Definitely take a trip to Durdle door and swim through it, and walk around Lulworth Cove. The Langham vineyard is also great - definitely worth a visit.
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Peaceful break with family
The lodge was wonderful, everything you could need was available. Views were stunning as were the wildflower hedges. We enjoyed our family stay here
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Excellent accommodation
Excellent accommodation, with wonderful views, very child friendly with lots of space inside and out . Highly recommend.
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Timothy A.

Excellent countryside retreat
We had an excellent time at the ecolodge. It was clean and tidy, the owners were very helpful when we had queries and the location was fantastic, the views were amazing. This was all whilst we had the awful May weather, and we still had a great time - really shows how great a spot it is.
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Amazing, luxurious, remote retreat
Amazing place, of the highest standard. Scenery and views breathtaking. Just be aware it is on a fabulous farm, but quite remote and a 20 minute drive to the nearest shop, 7 minute drive to nearest pub. Facilities 5 star. I would say suitable for families, couples, elderly. Thank you for a wonderful holiday.

About the host

Hosted by Dorset Hideaways

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