Updown Cottage

  The Detail...

If you remember the good old days with a wistful longing then your eyes will light up when you arrive at Updown Cottage. Huddled in a cobbled street amongst a characterful row of houses, it is a picture-perfect home in a sought after location. Famous for featuring in the classic Hovis advert, Gold Hill in Shaftesbury has a charming antiquity. Ancient thatched roof cottages adorn its steep, uneven slopes, while King Alfred the Great’s Shaftesbury Abbey sits on the opposite side of the road.

The 16th century cottage has a quaint, white façade framed by terracotta roof tiles and pretty window shutters. A swinging candle lantern helps to light the way in and hangs beside the ever-creeping ivy and the wooden, country door. Inside, you’ll be overwhelmed by a rich sense of history, where every nook or cranny tells its own forgotten story.

A wealth of rustic features wait beyond the brick hallway and include exposed beams, low passageways and quirky, little alcoves. Its steep, narrow stairways will take you in every direction as you find your way across its eclectic four stories. Wherever possible the rooms have remained unchanged and have been furnished with reclaimed antiques that have been beautifully maintained. Modern home comforts are the only addition and showcase thoughtful, personal touches and luxury extras.

The living accommodation is split into a number of cosy rooms with a sitting room, a music room and a spacious dining area. Look out for the baby grand piano or for the vintage school table, before lighting the wood burner in the inglenook fireplace. A well-equipped kitchen is also hidden downstairs and is complete with a state of the art Aga range and welcome hamper.

Upstairs, you’ll find four characterful bedrooms, including two comfortable single rooms and two lovely doubles. Each of the rooms is finished to an exceptional standard and has sumptuous linens and sink-in mattresses. Sleigh beds and canopies add to their historic charm, while fluffy robes and thick towels will keep you toasty and warm.

When you’re well rested and want to explore, the centre of Shaftesbury is just a minute’s walk. Home to a myriad of tiny lanes and traditional, little shops, it is a gorgeous place and one of Britain’s oldest towns. The secluded Dorset landscapes are also a joy to uncover and have a wild romance and a dramatic atmosphere. Discover the flourishing Blackmore Vale or the stunning Jurassic Coast, or the nearby counties of Somerset and Wiltshire.