Studland, Dorset - thinking of renting a property there

[Rhiannon]

Thinking of renting a property there called Vine Cottage in the summer. I don't suppose by some vain hope one of you lot has stayed there already and can recommend or slate it? R.

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Rhiannon, we stayed at Vine Cottage in November and we had a lovely time. It is extremely close to the beach and is a home from home. We had a really lovely stay. The only draw back is there is no garden but as I said the beach is a stones through away! Studland is one of my favourite beaches on the South Coast. It was the first beach I was ever taken to as a baby. I just wish they'd paint their beach huts!!

Isnt this site fantastic?!!

Theres always somebody out there who knows, or knows somebody who does!

Obviously I meant 'throw' not 'through'... hadn't had coffee at that point in the day!

Ems you are so right, this site is fantastic!

winnie, can't believe it! Please can you tell me all about it, I mean everything. I spoke to the owner and she wasn't awfully friendly and kind of put me off. Are the furnishings new, beds OK, how mod. is the kitchen and bathroom, do the carpets look clean?????? We are a bit concerned as we have allergies and she allows people to take dogs, what do you think about it's overall cleanliness?

My Mum is from Swanage and we always went to Studland when we were little and I remember admiring the cottages as we walked down to the beach. Small world! R.

Rhiannon, can't say anything about the cottage, but I went to Swanage every summer from aged 8 to 16 and always loved Studland too - it always seemed such an adventure going over on the little car ferry!

jodee, my Mum is from Swanage and her parents still lived in Harmans Cross (just outside) until they died. We stayed there every Summer and my Mum recently revealed to me that we went out all day every day because her parents didn't want us there! (A little something she's also inherited).

We used to go to Studland but have never been on the ferry, sounds great fun!

I remember being given a £1 in one pennys to spend on the machines and thinking it was brilliant, those were the days. R.

Rhiannon, that's such a shame about your Grandparents not wanting you all around, and also a pity your Mum has continued this.

Didn't one pound go a long way in those days!

Rhiannon, have to say that everything was perfectly clean IMHO. I didn't really consider whether beds were old or new. The kitchen and bathroom have terracotta tiled floors rather than carpets and the carpets are not deep pile. Obviously being an old cottage it is decorated in keeping and there are some older pieces of furniture (a bureau for example). There was certainly no evidence of dogs when we were there. I am surprised that you said the owner was unfriendly as she was extremely helpful with us, maybe it was questions of cleanliness(?) The only problem we had was that I kept hitting my head on the door frame of the second bedroom because it was so low and I kept forgetting! We would definately go again. Hope this helps.

winnie, thank you so much. Didn't ask her about cleanliness but did ask her if it was hard floors or carpets due to the dogs. Perhaps I offended her. When you've got asthma and allergies you have to be so careful, we can't even use feather pillows or duvets. R.

how did you find a cottage in swanage / studland? is there a local agency or a particular brochure you could suggest? would appreciate any suggestions... thanks

Moe, we had great problems finding self catering accom. in Studland. We ended up doing it all via the net. To be honest Vine Cottage was the only self catering place actually in Studland that we came up with... which might explain its prices! However, we really enjoyed it there.

You could try Poole tourist board.

Rhiannon, have you made a decision?

Maybe too late -I've only just seen this posting - we stayed at Vine Cottage last summer as well - Yes the place was clean but we were a bit disappointed about the standard of the fixures in relation to the price! We have stayed in many self-catering places and it did seem very expensive so we were expecting a bit more - but I supposed you're paying for the location - just a short walk to the beach - and the fact that there are so few other places to rent there. I think we paid extra in order to have towels and bed linen included but these were of very poor quality - pollycotton worn out sheets in rather alarming colours and patterns and thin grey towels...wish we'd taken our own!
Crockery and glasses poor but adequate.
The other thing that threw us was a note from the owner before we went saying we were welcome to help ourselves to anything from the store cupboard and then to please replace anything that we used up. This gave us the impression that there would be a well stocked cupboard, so we didn't take the absolute basic things with us - tea bags/ salt/ coffee etc...Possibly we were just very unlucky and people before us had plundered the stock but we found a couple of old teabags, no coffee, no sugar, few grains of salt etc etc. Not too much of a problem because we had planned to to a big shop on arrival but just misleading! Be warned. Other places we've stayed have not mentionned using well stocked store cupboard and we've usually found the basics there.
Apart from these reservations - the cottage was very nice! - we were just hoping for a little more luxury due to the price.
But it's great being just a short walk from the beach. Oh yes - if you can, check the tides if you're flexible about when you go...we went for a week and were really unlucky as the tide was in for most of the day for the whole week (June equinox or something). This was only really a problem over the weekend when the small area of sand got very crowded. When the tide is out - it goes out for miles - great for cricket! Do you mind seaweed??? There was masses when we were there!! I asked around - some people said it was a freak amount brought in by the high tides - other people said it was becoming a problem as the national trust had an eco-policy of not clearing it and it was getting worse every year. Take jelly shoes - if like me and my kids you hate the stuff!!
In spite of all this - we had a great week - and I would certainly go back - probably off season when it's a bit cheaper. Hope I haven't put you off!! Studland is a lovely place - fairly untouched by the usual sea-side trappings!
We didn't meet the owner - just spoke on the phone - but she seemed quite chatted and helpful - but obviously quite prim and proper!! (Hope she doesn't have a mum's-netting daughter!!)

I stayed here three years agon and the place us akin to a 1950s old peoples home. The kitchen equipment reminded me of woeful left overs from a jumble sale which I suppose were in keeping with the rest of the cottage. Broken tiles on the kitchen floor were covered with a matt and there wasn't so much as a dish clothe let alone any standard basics such as tea bags or salt etc. The electrics were also not up to standard, the lights in the front roomed dimmed if you had the oven on and there was a whole myriad of extensions leads, the cables on the standard lamps had the sort of woven flex not seen since the 60s. If you like below standard accommodation, a general lack of hygiene, candle wick bed spreads and an unsafe environment then this could fit the bill. The BBQ area, sorry while I take a moment to shudder at the memory, was a two foot gap between the wheely bin and the house wall standing room only on the neighbours drive. Take my advice book into the Banks Arms or one of the many great B&Bs. Please note this refers to 1/2 Vine Cottage not no 3 which is absolutely beautiful and everything you could ever wish for or expect from a summer rental, unfortunately it is already fully booked this year. Good luck with finding a place to stay as Studland is the most fantastic place in the world to take your kids on holiday we go every year.

Ugh - do NOT book into the Bankes Arms (sorry poster above!). We stayed there this year and while the setting is unbelievably perfect, the rooms are dated and the breakfast and breakfast room is horrendous. I think the setting has made the landlord complacent.

I have stayed in this cottage may times (right in front of Bankes Arms) and it is lurvely, though probabky pricey in summer, being NT.

www.nationaltrustcottages.co.uk/south_west/dorset/seaview/99

Please take note I think all these comments are for 2 Vine Cottage. We stayed at 1 Vine Cottage and were very pleased with everything. It certainly warranted the 4 star rating. All beddding and decor are fab, even a small pool table and lego !! we've booked again for this summer

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