The Old Rectory Lodge

We found ourselves far from the madding crowd in this obscure corner of Dorset resting up from the rigours of London. Everyone is so happy here from Mapperton to Beaminster and back from Bridport we were only met by joyous smiles. We even had a lovely time on Chesil Beach! After walks or tennis, a cool down in the river was perfect, followed by a hot shower! A slice of home-made cake and dinner with home grown runner beans! Thank you very much

The Old Rectory Lodge is a beautiful house in a stunning location, the surrounding gardens are so lovely and with a young family were perfect for games. The house is very comfortable and well equipped and as hosts Vanessa and David are extremely helpful and accommodating. We had a perfect sunny week with lots of visits to nearby beaches and would love to return.

Thank you for having us in your wonderful, quiet, relaxing cottage. Everything was perfect. We loved meeting your beautiful dogs. All your food recommendations were spot on, but the Crab House Café was outstanding. We learnt a lot about Thomas Hardy, had some fabulous walks and hope to visit again one day. Many thanks.

We have loved our stay. Nessie and David are extremely helpful and welcoming hosts and have really thought through everything carefully. The house is so well equipped and homely too with fresh cut roses, plenty of books, an amazing kitchen, a hamper of local goodies and so many beautiful throws, cushions and paintings. It’s a lovely home - big, clean and in an idyllic setting. We loved our stay and would love to come back. Thank you for having us!

Thank you for a truly wonderful stay in this superb cottage. It is so comfortable, spacious, well-furnished and meals outside overlooking the garden in the warm sunshine are a delight. We have so enjoyed the surrounding areas – inland walks, coastal paths and local walks as well. We had lovely meals in the Acorn Inn, Fox and Hounds and many happy coffees and cakes in the garden at Cilla and Camilla in Beaminster. We are so sad to be leaving and look forward to returning in the future. It is a fantastic cottage and we have been made so welcome here.

Nessie and David are such kind and welcoming hosts. We have had a wonderful fortnight based in this beautiful and comfortable cottage - it has everything we could possibly need and is so peaceful and pretty - a great base for exploring Dorset. We have left no stone unturned - from Brownsea Island and Portland Bill to Lyme Regis - so much to explore and learn about. Thank you to you both for your generous hospitality and for superb eatery recommendations!

After having lived in the UK for three years and bound to be back in Germany this summer, we took several trips, but this very last one was one of the best! Thank you so much for your hospitality (also during preparation, it was so useful!), for pampering us with local and homemade goods, the beautiful cottage and garden - we also loved the Jurassic Coast (and the books we found here!). All this made the long weekend, (even without Daddy!) so very perfect and we’ll sure be back for a longer stay in the future. Leaving with big smiles- thank you! Inka (and Bogi) with Jesko, Thekla, Kamilla

We had such a lovely few days here and wish we could stay longer. Thank you so much for everything and for providing such a gorgeous holiday home! What a delicious chocolate-banana cake! We love it here!

Thank you for a wonderful halfterm break at The Old Rectory Lodge. It has such a homely feel, we felt very relaxed there. Our boys loved hitting balls around on your tennis court. It was also a great base to explore Dorset - the tank museum and Seaton beach fossils being particular highlights. Thank you also for being so friendly and helpful. We had a lovely time.

We spent 3 memorable weeks here with our elderly Border Terrier whilst in between house moves. Everything about The Old Rectory Lodge was perfect. It is set in the most tranquil part of rural Dorset and sits alongside the charming hosts Nessie and David's gorgeous Rectory. The Lodge was extremely well equiped throughout with a very comfortable super king bed in the main bedroom and very large bathroom. All the linens and towels were of excellent quality. Nessie made the most delicious fruit cake we have ever tasted. We very much hope to return.

The Old Rectory Lodge is a gorgeous spacious and comfortable cottage, with the best ever kitchen fully kitted out for preparing a feast and beds comfier that any boutique hotel! It was a true joy to spend time there and even to entertain friends and family. We loved having use of the tennis court and exploring the river and surrounding hills and beautiful valleys. It’s an idyllic spot. Nessie and David made us feel extremely welcome. Nessie’s homemade pie and lasagne were to die for - the best we’ve ever tasted - and made our holiday even more of a relaxing treat. We’d love to come back.

What a beautiful place to stay. My father and I had lovely time. The house is wonderful and has everything you could possibly want. Nessa gave us wonderful suggestions for walks and nice local pubs to go to. If you have nice weather, make sure to take the valley walk recommended in the binder. It is stunning. We were sad to leave and will definitely be coming again.

We had a wonderful mini break at Nessie and David’s cottage this week. The cottage itself is absolutely gorgeous -very homely and beautifully done. It was also far bigger than we expected. The beds were super comfy and the kitchen had everything that you could wish for. The cottage was set in the most beautiful gardens, that we were able to use and we also enjoyed playing tennis on the tennis courts. Our dog Maisie had a great time too and loved pottering around the gardens. Nessie and David were great hosts and very friendly and helpful. The welcome h

We had a fantastic stay at this gorgeous cottage. The weather was great which meant we spent a lot of time sitting on the lovely patio area enjoying the view of the garden and surrounding countryside. This was definitely a highlight as it is such a peaceful location. The cottage itself had everything we could need and was very spacious, cosy and comfortable. There are many lovely beaches within 30 minutes drive and some pretty walks in the immediate vicinity. Nessie was friendly and helpful and was able to recommend good places to visit. We would definitely stay here again!

This is the most delightful cottage - really well located, but also in a peaceful part of Dorset. The cottage is decorated and furnished in a gorgeous traditional style, making it feel quite opulent, but at the same time very homely. It is very spacious, but remains really cosy. The garden and grounds are great in the good weather. Nessie provided us with great recommendations for eateries and beaches, and with David, they were friendly and accessible hosts. The countryside and villages are wonderful and it is possible to start walks straight from the cottage. We really wanted more time here.

Nessie is the most wonderful host, clearly wanting the best for her guests. The suite is situated in the most picturesque Dorset village surrounded by lush water meadows and rolling hills. So many places nearby to visit particularly if you are a lover of everything Thomas Hardy. Not too far to the beach at West Bexington and to the fabulous Chesil Beach. Dorset at it's best!

This was the perfect post-lockdown escape that we'd been dreaming of. The Old Rectory is in a stunning part of Dorset and the cottage itself is in a serenely peaceful garden which looks onto fields and the rolling countryside. The cottage is so comfortable, homely, and beautifully decorated. Nessie was a truly delightful host - so welcoming and friendly! She baked us a delicious fruit cake and tailored our breakfasts depending on what we wanted each day. We absolutely loved our stay here and can't wait to come back!

We had an absolutely wonderful stay at the Old Rectory Lodge and would definitely recommend it. The countryside around it is stunning, with beautiful walks along the Dorset coast or inland among the hills and valleys both an easy distance from the Old Rectory. Nessie was the most perfect host. She provided us with delicious breakfasts, a homemade cake on arrival and fantastic information on where to walk, eat and visit. We had the best time possible and were very grateful for the experience.

We were lucky enough to be Nessie and David’s first guests post lockdown in their lovely new accommodation in the lodge in their garden. It was a beautiful location, our hosts were lovely and welcoming offering useful advice and information about local area.Their COVID safe set up worked well. We look forward to returning soon to further explore this lovely part of the country.

A glorious part of Dorset for wonderful walks inland or at the coast. Birdlife is prolific too.