The Garden House at Holway Mill gallery Gallery

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The Garden House at Holway Mill nestled in beautiful flowers in Dorset, England

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The Garden House at Holway Mill

Sherborne, Dorset
Self-catering
+44 (0)1963 220442
Visit owner's website

Per night
£160 - £200

Per week
£1120 - £1400

3 beds

2 bedrooms

Sleeps 4

Children welcome

Babies welcome

A beautiful little house in a corner of the garden: walk for miles or just to the local pub, barbecue on the deck with its rural views

Per night
£160 - £200

Per week
£1120 - £1400

Visit the owner's site and book direct with them. No fees or fuss from us.

Use our quick form to drop the owner a line asking anything you need to know.

Ask a question

The Experience

Tucked away in Andrew and Susan’s garden, a wooden clad retreat with uninterrupted views. You’re in the middle of a tiny hamlet on the side of a hill that feels like the middle of nowhere, but is just three miles from Sherborne.Inside is spacious and light-filled with a double height living room. Susan leaves you a basket of breakfast goodies and home cooked dishes and local produce can also be ordered in advance. There’s a stack of books and games for rainy days and a piano should you feel inspired; ask Susan about borrowing bikes, and you can use the swimming pool and tennis court.Hop into the car for Sherborne and its lovely abbey, and NT properties: Montacute House and Tintinhull are within half an hour’s drive. Stroll across the fields to The Mitre Pub, return to light the coal barbecue – watch the alpacas in their paddock from the back deck, and the swallows on a summer’s evening.

We think you'll love

The feeling of calm
Your welcoming and enthusiastic host
The beautiful Dorset countryside and wildlife, especially in May and June

The Garden House at Holway Mill - Gallery

You should know

The lanes are narrow – you’ll need good reversing skills
No dishwasher

Essentials

EV charger
Self check-in
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
Central heating
Limited mobility
Wheelchair access
Mobile reception
Hob
Barbecue
Paid parking nearby
Air conditioning
Relaxation areas
Washing machine
Tennis court
Microwave oven
No smoking
Credit cards
Working farm
Owner has pets
Electricity included
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

Nightly price: from £160
Weekly price: from £1120

1 House for 4: From £1603 beds2 bedrooms

Information

Booking information

Check in: from 4pm
Check out: by 10am
Other details: Minimum stay: 3 nights.
Closed: Rarely.
No smoking: Smoking not permitted anywhere in the property.
Owner has pets: Animals living on the property
Meals: Pubs/restaurants 5-minute walk.

Reviews

Clare, Coventry Jul 2024

The Garden House is a truly special place to stay. A generous & lovely light filled space with, at its heart, an eclectic & beautiful collection of artwork by Susan's mother. Susan & Andrew welcomed us warmly & ensured that there simply could not have been a better place to spend a special birthday. Delicious breakfast & birthday treats too were very kindly provided. All four of us had a great time. Very good local pubs, & we loved The Story Pig for coffee & breakfast. We packed in a lot- Sherborne Abbey, Glenholme Herbs & The Fabric Barn- all highly recommended.

Gretta & Max, London May 2024

So lovely to be back for another idyllic weekend away at the gorgeous Garden House. It’s a fantastic haven to escape to. Beautiful views, walks, places to visit, and Sue and Andrew are wonderful hosts.

Eleanor, Oxford Apr 2023

We had an absolutely magical time at the Garden House. We couldn't have felt more warmly welcomed by Susan, Andrew and their family and had a wonderful week. We loved the animals (the girls were particularly fond of the gorgeous dogs), the trampoline, and the fabulous tennis court. Despite a wet week we loved our wet walks in the beautiful surrounding countryside and cosy pub meals. The welcome pack was brilliant and very much appreciated. A huge thank you from us all for an amazing week and we hope to be back.

Magda, Antwerp, Belgium Jul 2022

Holway Mill: a little bit of heaven on earth! A place to cherish for its peace, beauty and authenticity. The host family did everything possible to make us feel welcome. Susan brought us both delicacies and gave excellent tips on what to do. The Garden House has a beautiful view of the rural surroundings that you will never get tired of. The interior is very cosy, full of light, with interesting books and decorated with fine art, created by Susan's talented Chinese mother. This made the location very unique and special. A place to return to!

Nicola, Brighton Jun 2021

Utterly glorious experience from start to finish, with the kindest hosts we have ever met. The approach down a secret, tree-arched lane, the magical gardens and meditative views - all these wonderful things surround an inspiring and tranquil garden house that we could visit time and time again. Lots to do in the area and very friendly locals. Thank you Susan and Andrew for sharing such a special place, the whole week felt like a much-needed hug.

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Location

The neighbourhood

You’re surrounded by unspoilt countryside, including woods that are part of the Dorset Wildlife Trust. Set off for walks or wander over to the next door dairy farm to see the cows; a short stroll across the fields gets you to The Mitre Pub in Sandford Orcas. If you want a longer walk, the Kings Arms in Charlton Horethorne is about an hour away; stock up with local produce at the excellent village store while you’re there. The nearest town is Sherborne, where there is a good selection of independent shops, restaurants, pubs and cafes and two supermarkets.

Local points of interest from Susan Spink

WALKS GALORE - our tiny hamlet lies at the foot of an ancient hollow or sunken path - with footpaths criss-crossing the area, including the Macmillan & Monarch Ways. Named by The Times as the no.1 destination for winter walks (equally good in all seasons).
COUNTRY HEAVEN - There’s something special to see around Holway throughout the year: masses of wildflowers; bluebells galore; our resident swallows and an abundance of wildlife such as bats, badgers, deer, foxes, hares, buzzards and owls.
HISTORIC SHERBORNE – A mix of historic buildings, shops, cafes, two castles (an ‘old Castle’ plus the ‘new Castle’ built by Sir Walter Raleigh) and stunning Sherborne Abbey with its fan-vaulted ceiling; regular markets, antique fairs and vintage bazaars.
GREAT PUBS - It’s an easy walk to The Mitre in Sandford Orcas, where Sunday lunches are a treat. Try out the The Kings’ Arms at Charlton Horethorne, The Queens’ Arms at Corton Denham or The Rose & Crown in Trent – all award-winning foodie destinations.
CONTEMPORARY ART - Don’t miss the Messum Gallery housed in the oldest tithe barn in the country, worth the 40 minute drive particularly when combined with lunch at nearby Pythouse Café. Visit the nationally acclaimed Hauser & Wirth Gallery in Bruton.
HOUSES & GARDENS – Dorset & Somerset are rich in NT properties: the world famous neo-classical gardens at Stourhead; Montacute House with its beautiful Elizabethan Renaissance architecture & gardens; the gardens of Tintinhull & Lytes Cary Manor.

Introducing

Susan Spink

Susan is so full of joie de vivre that it's infectious, and she's passionate about the house, garden and surrounding countryside. She and her husband Andrew have lived in Holway Mill for over 18 years, having moved out of London when their family began to grow. Today, their three children, now at boarding school and university, return on a regular basis. Family pets include a very friendly black Labrador, two cats and two alpacas, combined with a handful of chickens.