Castleview Cottage is a Purbeck stone terraced cottage in the hamlet of Kingston, two miles south of Corfe Castle. Situated in a conservation area in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the cottage has stunning views over the castle and the Purbeck hills, and makes an ideal base for enjoying all that the local countryside has to offer. Coastal and countryside walks are on your doorstep a small secluded cove is just over a mile's walk away, while Studland Bay and Lulworth Cove are within easy reach.
Castleview is the middle of a terrace of three cottages that date back 200 years. It has been modernised with central heating, double-glazing and fitted carpets upstairs, while beamed ceilings, flag-stone floors and other original features remain. There are spectacular open views from the reception rooms and upstairs bedrooms. The cottage sleeps five/six and the upstairs has been recently refurbished to a high standard. There is a spacious double bedroom upstairs with a king-size bed, fitted wardrobe and en-suite shower and WC, and a further twin bedded room. Also upstairs is a tiled family bathroom with hand-shower, basin and a second WC. A travel cot and high chair are available if required.
Downstairs there is a compact bedroom with wardrobe and a 4ft 6ins bed. As this can only be accessed from one side, it is officially classified as a single although the bed is big enough for two. Downstairs the sitting room is furnished with two sofas and an armchair, and has an inglenook fireplace with wood burning stove and a bread oven, plus a flat-screen television, DVD player, iPod dock and digital radio. There is a separate dining room with a bureau full of books, games and puzzles for that odd rainy day. The well-equipped galley-style kitchen with fitted units has an electric cooker and hob, microwave, dishwasher and fridge-freezer. There is also a washer-dryer in the cottage.
Outside there is a good sized fenced garden with a large patio area with views across fields to the downs and of Corfe Castle (note this patio is unfenced with a 2ft 6ins drop to the lawn below). There is a summer house with a supply of garden tables and chairs. The cottage has its own dedicated parking space. Access to an electric charging point is available.
Kingston boasts a large parish church and a public house for meals, local ciders and beers - it is only a minutes walk from the cottage, while Corfe Castle (two miles) has a wider range of amenities including shops and restaurants. Swanage and Wareham (both four miles) have all the facilities you would expect from a medium-sized town, while Dorchester, Weymouth and Poole are all within reach. There is a regular bus service from the village.
The Isle of Purbeck is part of the Jurassic Coast which is a World Heritage Site stretching all the way from the Devon border. Outstanding scenery of rolling hills above impressive chalk cliffs with rocks coves and caves offers ample scope for holiday activities. Golf, sailing, riding, fishing and rock-climbing are all available locally and one can walk along the cliffs direct from the cottage, possibly taking in picturesque Chapman's Pool, a small south-facing cove a mile away. There are also safe sandy beaches at Studland (six miles) and Swanage should you want to go for a swim. The area offers a unique habitat to many species of wildlife. There is an RSPB reserve at Arne (five miles) and of particular interest to naturalists are the army ranges at Lulworth (four miles) which are open on frequent occasions throughout the summer, and where the flora and fauna have been largely undisturbed for sixty years. Fossils are frequently found on the local beaches, while Corfe Castle dating back to William the Conqueror, is one of the most spectacular ruined castles in England. Swanage offers more traditional seaside activities as well as its famous Steam railway and Toy Museum, while picturesque Lulworth and Abbotsbury are not too far away. The cottage has local maps and a good supply of brochures with a wide range of information on what's on in the area. WiFi internet is available.