5.0★
Dream Cottages rating
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6 Guests
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3 Bedrooms
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2 Bathrooms
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Pets Yes
Features
- Off road parking
- Open fire
- Garden / Patio
- Cot available
- Highchair available
- Pub/shop < 1 mile
- Washing machine
- Dishwasher
- Broadband / WiFi
Reviews & Ratings
* Based on a combined average customer score
57 Customer Review(s)
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Trevor 
“Lovely well appointed comfortable holiday cottage, located in a quiet North Dorset village.”
Plenty of space for 3 couples, great kitchen and lounge.
Plenty of space for 3 couples, great kitchen and lounge.
- Trevor, February 2025 -
Robert “This is a really good cottage, kitchen was well equipped and warm, the only thing we found was the hot water wasn't very hot, other than that it is a really good place to stay.”
- Robert, November 2024We are so glad you enjoyed your stay, despite some very suspect weather!!! Thank you for letting us know about the water temperature, we will deal with that straight away. Property Owner
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Fiona “The cottage was as described, excellent living space for our three generation group and dog.”
We found everything we could need ( especially a electric beater for breakfast pancakes) . Nice to have radio in kitchen, felt homely. Beware the stairs are very steep !! There is underfloor heating downstairs but clearer instructions needed for upstairs heating . sadly too early in year for lig burner which looked lovely in kitchen. Mella and Christine are welcoming hosts ; the cottage is cosy and quiet, well placed for both village pubs and good base for exploring the area. Highly recommend a visit
- Fiona, September 2024 -
Sarah “We absolutely loved our stay at Tick Tock Cottage.”
The cottage was clean, comfortable & just beautiful. My boys rated it a ‘million stars!’
- Sarah, July 2024Sarah - what a fantastic review - thank you so much and pleased the rather suspect weather didn’t spoil your stay. Property Owner
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Blake “We had a lovely stay, the house had everything we needed.”
Easy to find and collect the key. Great for families.
- Blake, May 2024Blake - thank you for your feedback and so pleased you had a great stay at Tick Tock. Glad we could help with the electric car charging issues! Chris & Mella Property Owner
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Paul “Lovely cottage beautifully furnished and very comfortable.”
The location is excellent for exploring the Dorset countryside.
- Paul, May 2024Paul - thank you for your lovely comments and so glad you found Marnhull to be a great venue for exploring Dorset. Chris & Mella Property Owner
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Melany “Cottage was lovely and warm on arrival and clean.”
Spacious and comfortable beds. Great water pressure and shower was lovely in the morning. Easy to find and a parking space right outside. A nice friendly pub 2 minute walk away. The sofa was not the most comfortable and to deep but otherwise a great cottage. Could do with a griddle and some non stick pans and salad tongs, but otherwise very well equipped. Owners very friendly and relaxed. Would stay again.
- Melany, January 2024 -
Sue “Beautiful cottage, very comfortable and equipped with everything you could possibly need.”
Enjoyed our stay very much and would highly recommend to others who would like a quiet get away with beautiful countryside and villages to visit. This time of year though it was just nice to snuggle up with a good book after braving the cold to visit the beautiful Sherborne and interesting Shaftesbury. In warmer climes we eould have done more but this cottage is a fabulous base . Be aware of the stairs though, very quirky and twisty not suitable for everyone .
- Sue, January 2024Sue - thank you for your comments- it makes it all worthwhile when we read a review from a satisfied guest. Chris & Mella Property Owner
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Susan “Lovely cottage with very unexpected green space which we very much enjoyed.”
- Susan, October 2023 -
Joanna “Superb cottage, so well kept and equipped.”
Lovely hosts. Perfect for 2 couples with 2 dogs, we had a great stay. As in the description, the stairs are steep so take care!
- Joanna, September 2023 -
Erica “We had a lovely week at Tick Tock Cottage, which was beautiful and as described.”
The stairs were quirky and care is needed. The courtyard area was small and was always wet while we were there, I think due to being enclosed and not getting much sunshine, I could see it would be a pretty place in the sun. Apart from a small shop and post office and one pub The Crown there was not a lot to see the other PH which is closest to the cottage was not open during our visit and looked a bit run down from outside. There are plenty of walks and the whole area is very pretty but you do have to walk in lanes with no footpath some of the lanes are very narrow. We did lots of exploring Stonehenge, Cheddar Gorge, Swannage, Burley, Lymington, Weston Supermare, Dorchester, the cottage was a perfect base. Would advise anyone visiting Cheddar Gorge to take a picnic I cant believe we were charged £20 for a cheese and ham toastie, a small bowl of chips and a coke.
- Erica, August 2023Erica - we are so pleased you enjoyed your stay in Tick Tock. The cottage is over 200 years old and so does have its quirkiness, which we feel is part of its charm. Whilst the courtyard is small, guests do have the option of using the one acre paddock around the back of the cottage, which provides ample space for children and dogs to play and relax outside. We share your disappointment that the Blackmore Vale PH is closed, but we have heard new people will be opening the pub shortly - fingers crossed! Chris & Mella Property Owner
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Mike “A well equipped, immaculate and characterful property, located in a beautiful village ideal for exploring north Dorset and Somerset.”
We had a wonderful holiday and the hosts and other neighbours were all lovely. Ideal for dog owners like us, with every thought for making sure our four legged friend had a great holiday too. We will certainly be back again soon. Thank you.
- Mike, June 2023 -
Judith “Lovely property.”
So comfortable and well equipped. The village was really interesting. Everyone very friendly and helpful. I can't think of a single thing that could be improved or changed. Perfect.
- Judith, May 2023Judith - we are so pleased you had an enjoyable stay and thank you for your comments. Chris & Mella Property Owner
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S “This is a lovely cottage to use as a base to visit this part of Dorset.”
We originally visited in 2020 and came back because we couldn’t find anything to match it. It is beautifully clean and has good parking in a lovely village.
- S, April 2023Susanna - Thank you for your lovely review and we were delighted that you decided to make a return visit to Tick Tock. Your comments mean a great deal to us and we hope you might make a return visit again soon. Property Owner
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Gloria “Beautiful cottage it has everything you could ask for a real home from home.”
Owners lovely and helpful
- Gloria, March 2023 -
Peter “Very enjoyable stay in a lovely, very well presented cottage with excellent facilities.”
Would highly recommend to anyone wishing to explore this region of Dorset.
- Peter, February 2023 -
Jon “We loved our stay at Ticktock Cottage”
- Jon, October 2022Thank you Jon Property Owner
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Joanne “A beautiful and cosy cottage in a lovely little village.”
We really loved our time at the cottage, it was peaceful yet equally there were ample places of interest to visit.
- Joanne, August 2022 -
Alison “Beautiful place to stay .”
Very well equipped and comfortable . Also very dog friendly . Enjoyed the accommodation and will be back. The owners were also extremely welcoming and a pleasure to talk to but certainly unobtrusive.
- Alison, August 2022Alison - thank you so much for your lovely comments - we are so glad you enjoyed your stay and look forward to seeing you again soon. Chris and Mella Property Owner
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Caroline “Absolutely lovely cottage set in a pretty little village with a shop and pub both very close by.”
The owners Chris and Mella were so welcoming and are only next door so on hand if you need any help. We had a wonderful week exploring the area and particularly enjoyed visiting Stourhead, Kingston Lacey and Compton Acres.
- Caroline, June 2022 -
Janet “A beautiful, comfortable, high quality cottage throughout.”
Situated in a lovely village with miles of footpaths, pubs and shops for the essentials (the general store/post office is one minute away and has long opening hours, local produce, and I even picked up 2 jigsaw puzzles which they sell for a donation towards the village hall!). We have stayed before and will stay again. The owners are delightful - very welcoming and caring.
- Janet, June 2022Janet - many thanks for your lovely review and we are so glad that you enjoyed your stay. I know it was a very special weekend for you with Charlotte’s wedding in the village on the Saturday so you had a full house with friends and family! We look forward to welcoming you back for another celebration, or maybe just a relaxing week with Dave and the dogs! Property Owner
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Ann “Tick Tock Cottage is beautiful.”
It is in the heart of a rural setting but with a post office and general store almost next door, together with two pubs. We had everything we could possibly want in the house and the welcome hamper contained one of the best carrot cakes I have ever had! It is ideally situate for getting to many lovely towns and to the sea. I cannot recommend it highly enough. Thank you so much to Christine and Mella for the care they take to make sure it is perfect.
- Ann, May 2022Ann - thank you for your lovely review and so pleased the carrot cake hit the spot - it’s our favourite as well!! Chris & Mella Property Owner
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Susue “What a lovely cottage.”
It has everything you need. The owners are so friendly. There is lots to do on the doorstep. We had a great family holiday.
- Susue, April 2022 -
Mary “A beautiful cottage in an idilic location with everything you need and fabulous hosts.”
Perfect
- Mary, March 2022 -
Rita “I think it’s the best cottage we’ve stayed in.”
Everything we needed was provided and the owners were lovely.
- Rita, July 2021 -
Kevin “Having booked this holiday in 2019 and finally arriving in 2021.”
We were not disappointed. We were greeted with a warm and friendly welcome, cottage was clean and had all the modern appliances, was a good location for exploring Dorset.
- Kevin, June 2021 -
Janet “Tick Tock Cottage has been renovated and furnished to an incredibly high standard.”
The owners have gone to great lengths to provide a comfortable and welcoming home from home. I didn't want to leave!
- Janet, June 2021 -
Pravina “Lovely cottage and great setting”
- Pravina, May 2021 -
Lyn “Spotlessly clean, well equipped cottage.”
A lot of thought about the needs of the guests has gone into this cottage. Lovely village.
- Lyn, May 2021 -
Allison “On top of everything else (location, facilities, cleanliness etc) we loved the welcome cake; the woodburning stove and the Christmas Tree!”
The kitchen was well-equipped which was a bonus as we mostly cooked for ourselves although the food at the Crown Inn was also excellent. We would definitely stay here again and would recommend to friends looking for a Dorset getaway.
- Allison, December 2020 -
Louisa “We had a wonderful weekend in Tick Tock cottage.”
It’s a beautiful cottage with good sized bedrooms and was wonderfully clean. We all slept very well. The village is very pretty and is well located for trips all over Dorset. Would definitely recommend the cottage and we hope to return !
- Louisa, October 2020 -
Wendy “Tick Tock cottage is ideally placed in a quiet off road location yet a very useful corner shop lies just round the corner.”
From Marnhull we could explore a beautiful part of Dorset and made use of the unexpectedly sunny weather autumn set in. The owners,who were on site, were extremely pleasant and helpful on arrival and made us feel welcome.All in all we had a very enjoyable week.
- Wendy, September 2020 -
Dave “Very nice cottage in a quiet village.”
Good walking. Nice pubs.
- Dave, September 2020 -
Colin “The cottage was superb, what a shame the service and customer relations at Sykes Cottages was not the same!”
! If I could book the same cottage through another agency in future I would do so.
- Colin, September 2020 -
Tanya “What a stunning cottage and we felt so welcomed by the hamper of delicious cake and apples.”
The cottage has everything you could need, is cosy yet spacious and truly dog friendly. The beds were really comfortable and there was plenty of hot water. The owners lived in the cottage for a time and perhaps that is why it is so well equipped and is really home from home.There was even a selection of herbs and ketchup in the pull out pantry. We loved the recommended walks for dogs. The little shop just around the corner was extremely handy when we decided we needed cream for our pudding. We would love to return to Tick Tock Cottage for longer and will definitely be recommending it to family and friends - thank you for having us - and for being so kind and patient when our Labrador invited himself into your house next door!
- Tanya, August 2020 -
William Noel “Beautiful cottage in a great location.”
Somewhere to relax and get away from the normal pressures of working life yet central enough to explore the various towns and villages in the area and enjoy the numerous walks from the doorstep. Mella and Christine were excellent hosts and couldn't have been more helpful. We wouldn't hesitate to stay here again and would highly recommend Tick Tock Cottage for a great holiday. Thanks again Mella & Christine
- William Noel, August 2020 -
Rebecca “This lovely holiday cottage was very well equipped with everything needed for a comfortable self catering break.”
It is situated in a lovely village with a local shop within a minute's walk for any essentials. There is a beautiful, large green space within the grounds where you can sit and enjoy the peace and tranquillity of the local area. It's an ideal base for a walking holiday.
- Rebecca, August 2020 -
Rebecca “This was a really lovely cottage and the owners went the extra mile to provide everything that you’d need, especially in the kitchen.”
We would definitely want to return.
- Rebecca, July 2020 -
Ninette “The property is an absolute delight and whilst it is a listed building no effort has been spared to ensure that the facilities are modern and comfortable.”
The rooms are all of a generous size, particularly the kitchen/diner which can accommodate six people and the dog with ease. There is an antique salt box on the wall but that is the only thing antique article in the room with modern appliances of the highest quality. The washer and tumble drier are in the downstairs cloakroom/utility room so that their operation does not intrude. The sitting room is comfortable with two contemporary but in period sofas and the thoughtful addition of a small Pembroke table and chairs in a separate corner. A pair of French doors lead out to an enclosed courtyard area with outdoor metal furniture. The smart TV is not hindered by the speed of the broadband connection and there is sufficient bandwidth for streaming and the operation of other devices. The bathrooms are spacious and well equipped There is one designated parking space and a spacious paddock where a dog may be exercised. This property is eminently suitable for winter holidays where you might expect to spend more time there than in the summer. I would suggest that the central heating timer control be available to renters and that a motion sensor switches the system off in the event that the property is vacated by the forgetful or the inconsiderate.
- Ninette, November 2019 -
Robert “Very quiet and relaxing.”
Marnhull is a lovely village two great pubs and shop
- Robert, October 2019 -
Ann “No the cottage was lovely, the only concern is the stairs if you are uneasy on your feet.”
- Ann, October 2019 -
Robert “The cottage is exceptionally well equipped, especially the kitchen.”
The furniture was comfortable and the whole space was uncluttered, the master bedroom being exceptionally large. The standard of cleaning was quite outstanding. The position of the cottage away from the road and with good parking was a bonus as was the shop and post office less than a minute away being great for the morning papers. The many walks around this large village were pleasant and accessibility to the various National Trust Properties and small local towns meant we found plenty to do without long journeys. The Crown pub as you enter the village was busy and friendly and the food was of a good standard and like Tick Tock Cottage is very dog friendly. We had a very good week, we would not normally book a cottage where the owners live adjacent but this proved not to be a problem, they offered us information made sure we were happy and left us in peace. I am sure that in the future a return visit to Tick Tock or odd nights in The Clock House B&B will be on the agenda.
- Robert, August 2019 -
Elaine “Dorset is a beautiful part of the country.”
Stunning coastline and quaint villages. Lots of attractions around like longest air museum country houses. So something for everyone.
- Elaine, August 2019 -
Lawrence “The cottage is beautifully fitted out and the owners are very kind and helpful.”
There’s a very useful exercise paddock for the dog complete with dog shower and poo bin. The cottage is in a lovely village with a village shop and two pubs. It is well placed for visiting Dorset’s many attractions.
- Lawrence, July 2019 -
Alan “The cottage is furnished to a very high standard, with top class equipment.”
It is a lovely village - very peaceful and quiet, and very friendly. It is very well positioned to visit lota of interesting places. Highly recommended.
- Alan, May 2019 -
Hilary “Very comfortable stay in lovely we’ll equipped cottage.”
Quiet village but set in beautiful countryside, with lots of local walks. Unfortunately the directions on the Sykes site were completely wrong making for a frustrating end to our journey there. Good restaurants in local towns, nearest eating in the local pub, 15 mins walk.
- Hilary, May 2019 -
Sanya “We thoroughly enjoyed our week in this lovely cottage.”
It was extremely well equipped, clean, comfortable and in a lovely location. Yes, the staircase is a bit of a challenge but the careful positioning of handrails eased that. Fantastic area for days out. A big thank you to the attentive hosts.
- Sanya, May 2019 -
Anita “Very good cottage clean and tidy good parking and our dog loved it”
- Anita, March 2019 -
Amanda “Tick tock cottage is absolutely perfect in every way .”
..my friend and I tried our best to find fault , but it was impossible ...perfect in ever way .. we will go back in a heart beat .
- Amanda, March 2019 -
Margaret “This is undoubtedly the best cottage we have ever stayed in.”
No expense has been spared on the fittings and equipment, we didn't want for anything and yet it had a comfy and cozy feel. Our dog was welcomed by the owner's two spaniels and appreciated the dog biscuits, water bowl, towel, and especially the under floor heating! We were encouraged to allow him supervised exercise in the large garden and we soon found a lovely footpath through countryside a few metres from the front entrance. The log burner was a joy, heating the whole cottage. We were delighted by the home-made scones, cream and jam that greeted us upon arrival. There was a few basic provisions in the larder and a pint of milk for the fridge. A very warm welcome! We ate at The Crown in the villages several times as their food was lovely and very good value. Our visits to Stourhead, Montacute House, Shaftesbury and Sherborne were also very enjoyable and can be recommended.
- Margaret, January 2019 -
Sue “A beautiful cottage which exceeded our expectations.”
The provision of thoughtful ‘extras’ such as kitchen and bathroom essentials was most welcome and a lovely surprise. We received a warm welcome from the owners and it was reassuring to know they were available if we had any queries. The comprehensive information brochure was interesting informative and extremely helpful. The location was perfect with many places of interest within easy reach and the village shop round the corner! We had a fabulous time and would definitely stay again! We would recommend a visit to Longleaf , The Tank Museum and a drive to Bath (for the Xmas market -Nov/Dec period) and a trip to the local Farm Shop-'Udder' and 'Crown Inn' both serve local food which was excellent too
- Sue, November 2018 -
Jill “Best equipped cottage ever!”
Excellent in all respects
- Jill, October 2018 -
Carolyn “A beautiful cottage which exceeded our expectations.”
The provision of thoughtful ‘extras’ such as kitchen and bathroom essentials was most welcome and a lovely surprise. We received a warm welcome from the owner and it was reassuring to know she was available if we had any queries. The comprehensive information brochure was interesting informative and extremely helpful. The location was perfect with many places of interest within easy reach and the village shop round the corner! We had a fabulous time and would definitely stay again!
- Carolyn, August 2018 -
Peter “A very well converted historic building.”
Excellent furnishings and decor. Easy access and secure off road parking. Great kitchen and bathrooms. The welcome gift of homemade cake, marmalade and jam was perfect and thoughtful. Cool in the recent very hot weather and I look forward to visiting when I can enjoy the wood burning stove.
- Peter, July 2018 -
Denise “We stayed at this cottage for 3 weeks and didn't want to leave.”
Everything spot on and nothing was too much trouble making our stay memorable.
- Denise, July 2018 -
Alan “This is a very tastefully decorated cottage with all the mod cons you could ask for - it felt like a true home from home !”
Only open since Easter 2018, it is in perfect condition and has a wonderful kitchen as well as comfy living room and bedrooms. As a family we wanted to sit around a table in the evening over dinner and we would do that without fumbling for utensils, plates or missing appliances. The cottage sits in the quiet village of Marnhull - about 15 minutes from Shaftesbury and 50 minutes from the coast. We combined trips to the sea and countryside excursions with ease. Thoroughly recommended to anyone !
- Alan, May 2018 -
Tara “We had a lovely stay at Tick Tock Cottage.”
The cottage has been refurbished to a very high standard, the kitchen is extremely nice and very well equipped. Upstairs is equally nice with two very modern bathrooms which a good degree of separation between the master bedroom and ensuite and the other two bedrooms and bathroom which was ideal for us as we were two generations staying together. The cottage is in a lovely village with the village shop just around the corner and local pub which is a few minutes drive away as well as an excellent farm shop a 10 minute drive away. We had not been to North Dorset before and absolutely loved the area, we would recommend visits to Shaftesbury, Stourhead and Sherborne.
- Tara, May 2018
Summary
- Over two floors with steps to further bedroom
- Three bedrooms: 1 x floor king-size with en-suite bath, basin and WC, 1 x double, 1 x twin
- Shower room with double walk-in shower, basin and WC
- Ground floor cloakroom with basin and WC
- Kitchen/diner with woodburning stove
- Sitting room.
- Gas central heating, woodburning stove
- Electric oven, gas hob, microwave, fridge/freezer, washing machine, tumble dryer, dishwasher, TV with Freeview, WiFi, selection of books, games
- Fuel, power and starter pack for stove inc. in rent
- Bed linen and towels inc. in rent
- Stairgate, travel cot and highchair available on request
- Off road parking for 2 cars
- Enclosed courtyard with furniture
- Two small to medium sized well-behaved dogs welcome
- There is a large paddock at the end of the drive for guest use
- Sorry, no smoking
- Shop 2 minute walk, pub 15 minute walk
- Note: The king-size bedroom is reached via four steps from the first floor
- Note: Property stairs not suited for people with limited mobility
- Note: This property is for holiday purposes only
- Please note: This property can only accommodate Monday and Friday changeovers with a minimum of 3 nights stay.
The property
Resting on the outskirts of the quaint village of Marnhull, between the majestic Dorset AONB and the Cranborne Chase AONB is this superb dwelling, Tick Tock Cottage.
The wing of the owner’s home is a wonderful base for a family seeking to explore the wonders of the coast and countryside of this part of England, with plenty of attractions and activities for a group of all ages and tastes.
After an action-packed day, be welcomed into the characterful interior, with a refreshing colour palette and carefully selected furnishings to ensure a wonderful stay.
The ground floor comprises of a sitting room with wonderful period features and a spacious kitchen/dining room where a woodburning stove housed by a redbrick fireplace takes centre stage before all the appliances you will require to cater your own delicious evening meals for the whole family.
After dinner, retire up the staircase to catch your rest in one of the well-presented bedrooms, comprising of a double bedroom and a twin bedroom which are served by a gleaming shower room and a further couple of steps takes you up to the master bedroom, featuring a king-size bed and a wonderful port hole from the original 1800s building.
During the summer months, head to the private courtyard where a spot of alfresco dining can be enjoyed or enjoyed or take a short stroll into Marnhull where you will find two pubs and a shop for picking up the essentials.
To keep you busy whilst here, head into the town of Shaftesbury or choose to walk many of the glorious paths upon the Cranborne Chase AONB or head to the coastline to soak up the spectacular scenery.
Note: This property has a Good Housekeeping bond of £250.
View on map
About the location
MARNHULL
Shaftesbury 5 miles; Sherborne 10 miles.
A charming, scattered North Dorset village, Marnhull is situated within the lush Blackmore Vale, the area used as a backdrop in Thomas Hardy’s “Tess of the D’Urbervilles”. The village is well served by two pubs and with lots of lovely rural walks and fishing in the nearby River Stour. There are royal connections - the local manor house was home to Katherine Parr, wife of Henry VIII. An easy drive takes you to the ancient hilltop town of Shaftesbury, well known for Gold Hill, of Hovis advert fame, whilst Sherborne, with its fascinating castle and Abbey, is just 10 miles away. Alternatively, explore the wonderful Dorset coastline - An ideal spot in a lovely region.
Note: The king-size bedroom is reached via four steps from the first floor.
Note: Property stairs not suited for people with limited mobility.
Note: This property is for holiday purposes only.
Please note: This property can only accommodate Monday and Friday changeovers.