Photo credit: Tucked Away

Belview Holiday Cottage Access Statement

Introduction

We have tried to provide as much information as possible in this statement. All measurements are approximate. If you have any queries, please do call. We look forward to welcoming you.

Pre-Arrival

The nearest train stations are Gillingham (Dorset) or Templecombe (Somerset), both about half an hour away by car/taxi.

The nearest bus stop is about 0.75 miles from the cottage.

You can order shopping online to be delivered to the cottage from Waitrose or Asda (Gillingham), Tesco (Yeovil) or Sainsburys (Sherborne). Please let us know when your delivery is due so we can make sure the gates are left open. We cannot guarantee to be here to receive your delivery before you arrive, but we may be able to do so if you give us advance notice (NB some deliveries arrive before the scheduled delivery slot and you may be delayed on your journey here, so please choose a later time slot).

In Sturminster Newton (about 3 miles away) there is a small Co-Op supermarket, a Boots chemist, butcher/delicatessen, greengrocer and Post Office dounter (situated inside One Stop convenience store). There are no banks in town, but there is an ATM outside the Co-op and another one inside One Stop. The town also has a medical centre, two dental practices and two veterinary practices (more details are given in the information folder in the cottage).

In Stalbridge, about 15 minutes by car, there is Dikes, an independent supermarket which stocks local produce as well as the bigger brand names. If you need a bigger supermarket, there is Waitrose, Asda and Aldi in Gillingham, Tesco in Shaftesbury, Blandford has Marks & Spencer, Tesco, Morrisons and Lidl, and Sainsburys and a smaller Waitrose are in Sherborne – they are all about 25 minutes from the cottage by car.

We can provide information in large print on request.

Approach

Belview Cottage, Dorset is a detached cottage situated in the grounds of the owners’ house, in unlit countryside on the edge of the hamlet of Fifehead Neville. It is approached via a tarmac entrance onto a Cotswold stone driveway off the narrow lane which runs through the hamlet. The ground rises quite steeply from the lane up the driveway for a few metres, then more gently towards the cottage, which is situated in front of and to the left of the owners’ house.

Parking

There is space for two cars immediately outside the front of the cottage. The parking area is Cotswold stone, which is level.

There is an outside light for the parking area – it is activated by a PIR sensor.

Approach to front door

The front door is approached from the parking area (which is immediately outside the front of the cottage) across Cotswold stone. There is a step 18cm high, 118cm wide and 55cm deep outside the front door, which leads straight into the kitchen. The front doorway is 74cm wide and 190cm high.

There is an outside light beside the front door, which can be switched on/off from both inside and outside the door.

The keysafe is to the right of the front door, above the flower tub, 64 cm from the ground.

Belview Cottage Kitchen from front door

Belview Cottage kitchen from far end

Belview Cottage kitchen from living room

Kitchen

The kitchen has two windows providing plenty of daylight. There are recessed downlights in the ceiling, making it well lit at all times. The floor is smooth oak floorboards. There are non-slip mats inside the front door, at the foot of the stairs and along the work surfaces where the sink, cooker, washing machine (front-loading) and dishwasher are located.

A step stool is provided to reach higher shelves/cupboards. There is a torch for emergency use opposite the foot of the stairs, 115cm from the floor. This torch is also a night light. There is also a torch for general use just inside the front door, on the lowest shelf. There is a fire blanket (110cm from the floor) and fire extinguisher (100cm from the floor) behind the front door.

Belview Cottage living room

Belview Cottage lounge area

Belview Cottage dining area

Living Room

This is accessed via an open doorway (70cm wide 202cm high) from the kitchen. The floor is the same smooth oak floorboards.

A window and a double French door provide daylight and there are several wall mounted and ceiling mounted lights, as well as two movable reading lamps. The doorway is 107cm wide and 176cm high when fully open and opens outwards onto parking area. The step over the lintel is 12cm high from the inside going out and 18cm from the outside coming in. There is a step outside down to the parking area which is 17cm high, 180cm wide and 60cm deep.

One three-seater and one two-seater sofa, both with arms and one footstool. Coffee table between sofas and woodburner-effect electric fire. Oval dining table with four legs. Four chairs with seat cushions (removable) and no arms. Two chairs with rush seats and no arms. Bookcase with drawers containing tourist information, maps, telephone directories etc

Panasonic 40" 4K Ultra HD Smart TV with various apps including Freeview Play, Netflix, Prime Video, Britbox etc (for use with own subscription login details), tuner/CD player, all with remote controls.

Wood-burner effect electric fire against back wall – controls 26cm from floor situated inside door (handle 35cm from floor).

Non-slip mat between coffee table and woodburner effect electric fire. Sofas, chairs and table can be moved.

Stairs and Landing

The staircase leads directly from the kitchen to a small landing outside the bedrooms, bathroom and airing cupboard. The 12 stairs are 22cm high and 24cm deep and there is a left turn of 90 degrees. There is a hand rail on the right. The stairs are carpeted with a light coloured carpet, which extends onto the landing and into both bedrooms.

The stairs and landing are lit by recessed downlights and there is a torch for emergency use above the skirting board on the landing (50cm from the floor). This torch is also a night light. The walls and ceiling are painted a light colour.

There is a fire extinguisher (120cm from the floor) at the top of the stairs on the right, outside the door to the twin bedroom.

Belview Cottage double room

Double Bedroom

Doorway 70cm wide and 90cm high.

5 ft double bed provided. Bed can be accessed from both sides.

Non-feather duvet and pillows provided. Sheets, duvets covers and pillow cases are poly-cotton. Wool blankets and poly-cotton top sheets available if preferred.

2 bedside cabinets, wardrobe, chest of drawers with lamp and two wooden chairs with rush seats also provided, together with hairdryer, radio alarm clock and torch.

The bedroom has a low sloping ceiling at the front of the house, with a dormer window set into the ceiling. It is necessary to duck round this ceiling to get to the far side of the bedroom and the wardrobe via the foot of the bed, which faces the window.

The walls and ceiling are painted a light colour, with ceiling spotlights pointing in three directions and a wall-mounted spotlight above both sides of the bed, which can be angled to suit personal preference.

Belview Cottage twin room

Twin Bedroom

Doorway 70cm wide and 198cm high.

Two 3ft single beds provided. Beds can be accessed from both sides.

Non-feather duvets and pillows provided. Sheets, duvets covers and pillow cases are poly-cotton. Wool blankets and poly-cotton top sheets available if preferred.

2 bedside cabinets, wardrobe, chest of drawers with lamp and two wooden chairs with rush seats also provided, together with hairdryer, radio alarm clock and torch.

The bedroom has a low sloping ceiling at the back of the house, with a dormer window set into the ceiling. It is necessary to duck round this ceiling to get to the far side of the bedroom and the wardrobe via the foot of the beds, which face the window. This room is slightly smaller than the double room.

The walls and ceiling are painted a light colour, with ceiling spotlights pointing in three directions and a wall-mounted spotlight above each bed, which can be angled to suit personal preference.

Belview Cottage bath & toilet

Belview Cottage shower

Bathroom

Doorway 65cm wide and 198cm high.

Floor covered with oak effect vinyl. All sanitary ware is white. Walls painted a light colour; tiles around bath, shower and basin are slightly darker. Daylight from frosted window, recessed ceiling downlights also provide good light.

Bath with hand-held shower attachment. Bath height is 52cm . Integral grab handles on both sides of bath. Non-slip mat for use in bath or shower.

Distance between bath and toilet is 65cm

Wall-mounted heated towel rail. Wooden stool with towelling seat.

Toilet seat height is 43cm. Flush button is set into panel covering cistern. Toilet roll holder within easy reach of toilet. Pedal bin provided beside toilet.

Washbasin is set within vanity unit. Shaver light and socket above the mirror over the basin, 182cm from floor. Pedal bin provided beside vanity unit.

Distance between basin and shower cubicle is 54cm

Shower cubicle (82cm wide by 72cm deep) accessed via bi-fold door (66cm wide). Large grab handle near shower control.

Counter-top 88cm high running from end of bath round to back of toilet has sloping ceiling above it.

Release mechanism on outside of locked door.

Airing Cupboard

Five slatted shelves. Wool blankets and flat top sheets stored on these shelves.

Outside

The enclosed garden (approx 7m by 9m) is accessed via a wooden gate (117cm wide, with latch on inside 120cm from ground).

The same Cotswold stone as in the car parking area covers the path, which leads from the gate to the garden shed, (13cm over the lintel). This contains the dustbin, large food waste bin, dogs' water bowl, poop scoop, fire blanket (166cm from floor) and fire extinguisher (110cm from floor).

The garden contains a plastic table with parasol and cover, four chairs and a rotary washing line and cover, which is folded down when not in use. These are stored in the garden shed during the winter months.

Part of the garden is laid to grass, with a small herbaceous border and four climbing plants against the fence. There is a patio reached by paving stones set into the grass and two steps 14.5 cm high, 60 cm deep and 120 cm wide. The garden table and chairs are set up on the patio, which can also be used for barbecues.

There is an outside light above the kitchen window for the garden – the switch is inside the front door. There is an outside tap (65cm from the ground) below the kitchen window.

Additional Information

Information folder is provided in size 14 font and can be found in the kitchen next to the welcome tray on arrival. There is also a folder on the bookcase in the lounge which contains instruction manuals for appliances.

Some mobile phone reception inside the cottage – may be necessary to go outside to obtain better reception. There is no payphone nearby - please contact the Owners if you need to use their phone in an emergency situation.

Free Wi-Fi internet access is available (contact owners on arrival for password) - see Terms and Conditions for full details.

The cottage, garden and parking area are all no smoking areas.

Ceiling mounted audible smoke detectors in kitchen and on landing.

The lights in the bedrooms and the wall lights in the living room are low-energy and may take about 45 seconds to warm up to maximum output.

Belview Cottage is not suitable for wheelchair use.

Babies welcome – please inform us on booking. Travel cot, highchair, changing mat, baby bath, playmat and baby gym available. Roller blind safety gate fitted at top of stairs and expandable wooden swing gate fitted at bottom of stairs. Also soft padded bed rails can be fitted to one of the single beds in the twin room for very young children.

Dogs welcome – please inform us on booking. Dogs’ water bowl and poop scoop available. They are not allowed upstairs (expandable wooden swing gate at foot of stairs to prevent them going upstairs). Dogs must not be left unattended on the premises, unless they are securely contained in a transport crate.