Marren gallery Gallery
Marren
Holworth,
Dorset
Bed & Breakfast
+44 (0)1305 851503
Visit owner's website
£100 - £135
per night
Weymouth Bay and Portland views, the sound of breaking waves… this wild remote place will blow your cobwebs away and restore your psyche
2 rooms
Rooms sleep 2
Your enquiry details
2 Guests 05 Dec 24 - 05 Dec 24
Direct with the owner
Visit the owner’s chosen website for availability, online booking or contact details.
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What part does Sawday’s play?
£100 - £135 per night
The Experience
The house is set in four acres of terraced gardens with Italianate overtones, designed by Wendy and featured in Gardeners World. Find strong structured evergreen ‘cloud’ pruned and clipped shrubs, exotic plants, swaying grasses, huge terracotta pots bursting with colour… a complete wildlife sanctuary. Bedrooms always have flowers too; one has a door onto the garden, while from the other you can watch the sun setting over the sea.
A Full English with homemade bread, marmalade and jams and seasonal fruit salad is served in the dining room but if you’re staying in the suite you can have a continental breakfast delivered to your door.
Above the house is an area of woodland awash with wild flowers in spring and summer. There’s a Wendy house here too and it’s a grand spot for an evening drink and to watch the sunset. Join the Coast Path nearby, or a ten-minute walk downhill will take you to a secluded beach for picnics and swimming.
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We think you'll love
- Wandering around the beautiful garden and finding a quiet spot to sit, perhaps with a book or just to listen to the birds
- The outstanding views from just about everywhere
- Being able to join the Coast Path, or walk down to the beach for a swim
You should know
- The last half mile to the house is a very potholed and bumpy track - not for low slung cars
- Dogs are accepted but not allowed in the bedrooms. They must sleep in the boot room
- The garden has many different levels and steps
Essentials
- EV charger
- Swimming pool
- Hot tub
- Garden
- Open fire / woodburner
- Breakfast included
- Breakfast available
- Meals available
- Vegetarian meals
- Oven
- Parking on premises
- Free parking nearby
- Accessible by public transport
- WiFi
- Television
- Spa
- Central heating
- Limited mobility
- Wheelchair access
- Mobile reception
- Hob
- Bar
- Barbecue
- Licensed premises
- Paid parking nearby
- Air conditioning
- Relaxation areas
- Washing machine
- Tennis court
- Microwave oven
- No smoking
- Credit cards
- Working farm
- Owner has pets
- Dishwasher
- Pets welcome
Family friendly
- Baby monitor
- Books and toys
- Children welcome
- Babies welcome
- Stair gates
- High chair
- Fire guard
- Cot available
Nearby
- Pub/bar within 3 miles
- Restaurant within 3 miles
- Shop within 3 miles
Activities
- Bikes available
- Food courses
- Kayaking
- Other courses
- Sailing
- Surfing
- Wild swimming
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Accommodation
Pricing
- Nightly price
- from £100
- 2 Doubles
- From £100
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Information
Booking information
- Check in
- Flexible
- Check out
- By 10.45am
- Other details
- Minimum stay: 2 nights at weekends.
- Closed
- Rarely.
- Meals
- Pub 1 mile.
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Reviews
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Sitting with Wendy and Peter, enjoying their beautiful Italianate gardens and the superb sea views, it felt more South of France than Dorset! This is an isolated spot, but one so worth a visit. Walkers will be in their element as the south coast path so near. The house oozes comfort and informality and Peter cooks a delicious breakfast.
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Marren is a wonderful home, in an amazing setting.. Not only is the garden a delight, but we never tired of looking out at the sea, from our bedroom window. A thoroughly lovely place to stay.
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Our second visit in successive years. Wonderful setting, fabulous gardens and distant views towards Portland. Delightful short walk via a meandering path down to Ringstead Bay, usually quite deserted at the eastern end. The house is elegant , the furnishings comforting, the leisurely breakfasts start the day superbly and Wendy and Peter are welcoming and friendly hosts who readily provide advice about walks in the neighbourhood and places to eat in the evenings (we recommend the Wise Man and the Sailors Return) A lovely peaceful place where we always sleep soundly and wake refreshed.
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Marren is like a secret slice of heaven. Wendy really looked after me, was helpful with maps and restaurant advice but never intrusive. I had the lovely large garden room and it was a joy to wander around the never ending garden. It feels remote in the best possible way, but only a short drive to all the things to see in the area and places to eat. I walked to Lulworth and back, incredible, bracing and well worth the slog! It's perfect.
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This was the first time we stayed at Marren and it exceeded our expectations. Our room was comfortable with our own access to the garden with fantastic views over the coast line. Indeed the garden(s) are impressive, beautiful and secluded, (make sure you leave time to explore), and Wendy and Peter are charming and excellent hosts. I cannot recommend this more highly and we are looking forward to our return.
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I can only echo the other comments on here. Wendy and Peter want you to enjoy your stay in their beautiful home and garden. In addition to all that others have said there were also the little touches that added to the experience: A jug of fresh milk in our room for tea/coffee, the home made jam and marmalade, information and maps. I can also recommend a local taxi firm DK Cars if you want a ride to get a meal.
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It took us three years to get back to Marren but we were so pleased we did. Arriving as the sun set over Ringstead Bay, we settled into the comfortable garden room, cosy on a chilly night. I ventured out into the garden as the sun came up and realised I had only seen the half of it on my last visit. Even with winter encroaching fast, I was delighted by ferns and grasses, the view from the top lawn, the quirky carved tree stumps (one definitely winked at me) and the fairy bower at the bottom. Such a magical place.
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I don't generally get round to writing reviews but Marren has made me feel that I should! Timeless, quintissentially English, full of dappled sunlight and shadow and entirely restorative. This is an entirely lovely place!
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An enchanting place to stay. No detail was overlooked, either in the house or garden. Very comfortable room, beautifully appointed, knowledgeable and friendly hosts and a good breakfast. Views of Weymouth Bay and Portland, and close to the South Coast path for exhilarating walks. The perfect place for a relaxing retreat. Looking forward to a return visit!
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Marvellous hideaway above Ringstead Bay, welcoming hosts, very comfortable rooms and bathrooms, excellent breakfast, and the beautiful garden might lure you away from exploring the Jurassic Coast! Follow their instructions for finding it not a sat nav.
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Marren is a beautiful house and garden, harmonious inside and out, with far reaching sea views . Wendy's garden design skills and artistic eye are evident, and the decor and furnishings display refined taste . Beds were deeply comfortable, and bathrooms well lit and equipped. Our hosts were charming and the delicious cooked breakfast sustained us for our clifftop walk. Dinner was at a jolly local pub nearby, the Sailors' Return. We were two couples staying for two nights while we walked the Jurassic Coast. and having found this idyllic spot we too want to return.
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Location
The neighbourhood
You're surrounded by National Trust land and 5 minutes from the Coast Path. Lulworth Cove is two hours walk by way of Bat's Head and Durdle Door and there are two good pubs for stops. The only sound is of the waves breaking, the occasional buzzard calling and the wind in the trees. It's within easy driving distance of the Jurassic Coast for beaches with fossils, formal gardens and country houses.
Local points of interest from Peter Cartwright
- On the Dorset Coast Path overlooking Portland and Weymouth Bay.
- 2 hours walk from Durdle Door and Lulworth Cove.
- 7 minutes walk from a safe and secluded beach.
- Close to a range of excellent restaurants in Weymouth and Dorchester.
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Introducing
Peter Cartwright
Wendy is a garden designer and a passionate gardener. Peter is retired and his hobby is print making and painting. They're busy with family and grandchildren and they like to share Marren's unique views and ambience with like-minded people, who are looking for peace and quiet and a touch of wildness.
We enjoyed a very relaxing four days at Marren. Wendy and Peter are perfect hosts, welcoming, friendly and gave us us lots of information on the locality. Delicious breakfast set us up for the day of walks on the coastal path and visits to the nearby beach. The house and garden are both amazing and in a wonderful position overlooking the sea. The approach road is rather bumpy but our Golf managed it without problem. Looking forward to another visit. .