The Old School Cottage

The Old School Cottage is a barn conversion attached to a picture-framing workshop, in the grounds of the owner's Grade II listed 1840 school house in the hamlet of Tincleton. It lies in the valley of the River Frome, 5 miles from Dorchester, with the village of Moreton nearby. A small art gallery shares the site and is closed on weekdays.

Inside, the sitting room has a dining area and a woodburner, with a starter pack for it included in the rent alongside fuel, power, bed linen and towels. Stairs from the sitting room lead up to two eaves bedrooms, sleeping four: a double with an en-suite basin and WC, open to the staircase, and a twin where the sloping ceiling restricts head height. The only full bathroom is on the ground floor, with a bath, a shower over, a basin and a WC. Children need supervising near the open staircase.

The kitchen has an electric oven and hob, a microwave, a fridge/freezer, a dishwasher and a washing machine, and there is an outdoor drying area. Heating is oil-fired central heating. The shared lawned garden has a sitting area, a patio with furniture and a small BBQ/fire-pit. Off-road parking takes one car, and a Zappi charging point is there for cottage use, with modest charges applied at the end of the stay.

Two well-behaved dogs or other pets are welcome. Smoking is not allowed, and the O2 signal is good but some mobile signals may be intermittent. The shops are two convenience stores 2.5 miles away. Bookings need a minimum of three nights, and Monday arrivals must be checked with the owner first. It suits a couple or small family with dogs who want a rural base.