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Stoneleigh Barn - Sherborne

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Comfy, cosy Dorset B&B

For a country break with a bit of class, you can’t beat the Dorset town of Sherborne or, for that matter, lovely Stoneleigh Barn B&B. Both are historic, both are supremely attractive, yet both have the kind of understated tranquility you need in a rural weekend bolthole.

Stoneleigh Barn, an 18th century stone barn brilliantly converted into a family home and B&B, actually sits two miles from the centre of town in the pretty hamlet of North Wootton. The rolling patchwork of the Blackmore Vale - prime Thomas Hardy country - stretches out for miles to the east, while the barn’s own gardens offer an idyll of their own, right on your doorstep (complete with heated outdoor pool for a relaxing evening swim). Three big guest rooms with beamed ceilings have huge, comfy beds, shiny en-suite bathrooms, lovingly-chosen antique furniture and a whole range of ‘little touches’ to make you feel special - bathrobes, chocolates, footspas and complimentary sherry, for example!

Weekenders-plus-kids will more than appreciate the Family four-poster suite, with its adjacent twin room, big family bathroom, cot on standby and seemingly endless supply of toys, games and baby kit. But the best room in the house is undoubtedly reserved for couples looking for a total escape - the romantic Four Poster Suite has a stunning canopied bed, a big squidgy sofa, and great views out across the Blackmore Vale.

Where is it?

Tiny North Wootton sits in lovely Dorset countryside, within spitting distance of the fantastic Abbey town of Sherborne. It’s perfectly placed for long weekend walks, some great pubs and even a trip to the seaside - Weymouth and the lovely Jurassic coastline are just a 45-minute drive away.

But it’s Sherborne that’s the real local draw - a medieval market town built in honeyed Dorset stone, with a gorgeous, bustling main street - Cheap Street - two castles and, right in the middle, stunning Sherborne Abbey. Originally a Saxon Cathedral, then a Benedictine Monastery, the Abbey was re-built in the 15th century as a jaw-dropping parish church - voted one of the most beautiful in England. As well as a great place to wander around, the Abbey is also home to its own Music Festival each May, with top names in classical music making the most of the great acoustics the cavernous interior provides. Log on to www.sherborneabbey.org for details of this year’s event.

Sherborne Castle (www.sherbornecastle.com Tel: 01935 813182) is the town’s other claim to fame. Built in 1594 by Sir Walter Raleigh, the handsome Elizabethan castle sits in 40 acres of glorious Capability Brown gardens and next to its own enormous lake. Perfect for aimless wandering and summer picnics, the castle and its grounds also play host to some great events throughout the year - open air theatre, concerts, fireworks and classic car shows. It’s also the venue for the famous Ironman UK Triathlon (www.ironmanuk.com) in September. Take an enormous picnic and relax, while hundreds of uber-fit lunatics run circles around you. Literally. Romantic weekenders (with an anorak) will love Sherborne’s Old Castle (www.english-heritage.org.uk Tel: 01935 812730) - the tumbling ruins of a 12th century palace, which later became an important Royalist stronghold in the Civil War. With stunning views across the town and the Dorset countryside beyond, it’s also a great base for walkers. For starters, the stroll through the castle grounds towards the pretty village of Goathill, just over a mile away, is especially pretty.

Sherborne itself is a potterer’s paradise, with a maze of little alleys, stunning Georgian facades and the Abbey grounds to explore, plus great shops and places to eat (one of our favourite places to browse aimlessly is Walkabout Books (www.walkaboutbooks.co.uk Tel: 01935 817 451), a tiny bookshop specialising in all things travel-related). It’s also a great jumping-off point for some of Dorset’s loveliest attractions. The very pretty 18th century village of Milton Abbas - considered to be the first ever planned town or village in England - is just 15 miles away, while the infamous, and extremely well-endowed, Cerne Abbas Giant (www.nationaltrust.org.uk) is carved into a chalk hill 10 miles from North Wootton. According to folklore, women who want to conceive should spend a night on the Giant’s, well, ‘magic wand’, or couples can make love on the same spot for the same effect. If the thought of having kids scares you senseless, but you’re still keen to see an enormous, sexually-aroused, club-weilding giant, there are plenty of good vantage points well away from the fertility zone.

Where can I eat?

Sherborne is full of lovely cafes and delis - perfect for brunch, lunch and tea. Olivers (Tel: 01935 815005) on Cheap Street is a great place to chill out, read the paper and neck endless cups of coffee, while The Pear Tree (Tel: 01935 812828) on Half Moon Street, close to the Abbey, is a fantastic deli-cum-cafe serving fab lunches. But if it’s dinner you’re after, The Green (Tel: 01935 813821) is the best restaurant in town, serving Modern European dishes made with the freshest local and seasonal produce.

If you don’t mind venturing a little further afield, our favourite place to eat in the area is The Queen’s Arms (www.thequeensarms.com Tel: 01963 220317) in the pretty village of Corton Denham, 7 miles from North Wootton. A lovely country pub, with a chic modern twist, it offers way-above-average pub-grub, from homemade pork pies stacked on the bar, to elegant and colourful takes on British classics. Delicious.

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For a country break with a bit of class, you can’t beat the Dorset town of Sherborne or, for that matter, lovely Stoneleigh Barn B&B.