Shaftesbury
This Saxon hilltop town is as busy as any market town in Wessex. Shaftesbury stands surveying its domain from a hill over 700 feet above sea level. The views over the three surrounding counties are magnificent and the town itself a rich source of history.
The ruined Abbey is said to have been a gift by King Alfred to his daughter Ethelgiva, the first abbess. Investigations have revealed the plan of the building and many facinating relics have been unearthed, including the bones of Edward the Martyr, the murdered King of Wessex. Many Royal names are associated with the Abbey., none more famous than King Canute who, it is said, died here.
Many of the town's buildings are constructed from stone which has seen the passing of 1000 years on this hill. As the Abbey fell into ruin, so the townsfolk used it as a source of building material. The alleys and sidestreets of Shaftesbury conceal many interesting corners, none more so than the steep, twisting Gold Hill, made famous by the Hovis television advertisements.
Hideaways cottages in the surrounding area:
H301 - Butts Cottage, Shaftesbury. Sleeps: 4
This comfortable, white painted, stone and thatched town cottage (left in photo with porch) is situated at the entrance to Shaftesbury town centre - within a few minutes' walking distance from the town centre shops, pubs and restaurants.
Shaftesbury i...
H162 - Sparrow Cottage, Donhead St. Andrew. Sleeps: 6 + cot
Situated on the borders of Wiltshire and Dorset, some 4 miles to the east of Shaftesbury, Sparrow Cottage is a charming, 17th century, detached, thatched cottage which was once the coach house for the nearby pub, The Forester's Inn.
H305 - St. James' Cottage, Shaftesbury. Sleeps: 6 + cot
Situated in the small hamlet of St James's which lies at the foot of the Saxon hilltop town of Shaftesbury, this 17th century, Grade II listed cottage has been carefully refurbished and extensively modernised to provide family accommodation to particularly...
H151 - Spring Cottage, Underhill, nr. East Knoyle. Sleeps: 5/7 + cot
Peacefully situated on a south facing hillside with far reaching views across open country, this is a delightful 250 year old cottage of brick, stone and thatch which has been refurbished by its owner to a particularly high standard, its character and cha...
H160 - Manor Farm, West Knoyle, nr. Shaftesbury. Sleeps: 12/13 (max. 9 adults) + cot
Peacefully situated in a small country village on the borders of Wiltshire, Somerset and Dorset, Manor Farm is a Grade II listed, Tudor farmhouse of immense character, dating back to 1556.
The surrounding countryside offers some superb walking c...
H153 - The Old Coach House, Tisbury. Sleeps: 2/4 + cot
A lot of thought and care has gone into the conversion of this old stone coach house, which stands near the top of Tisbury's attractive village High Street. The accommodation has a particularly attractive and spacious 1st floor beamed sitting/din...
H140 - Swallow Cottage, Berwick St. John. Sleeps: 4 + cot
H141 - Pond Cottage, Berwick St. John. Sleeps: 3 + cot
H142 - Elm Cottage, Berwick St. John. Sleeps: 3/4 + cot
Three traditional stone cottages, situated on a working farm in some of the most unspoilt countryside in the South of England…
These three stone cottages are located in the small village of Berwick St. John, which is tucked i...
H314 - Carraway Cottage, Marnhull, nr. Sturminster Newton. Sleeps: 3 + cot
Situated down a very quiet and picturesque 'no through' lane, Carraway Cottage is on the edge of the small Dorset village of Marnhull, (known as Marlott in Hardy's novel Tess of the d'Urbervilles) in the heart of Dorset's Bl...
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