The Granary, Mangerton
Bed & Breakfast
Bridport, Dorset DT6 3
01308 485518
A tiny lane threads its way from the main Bridport to Beaminster road, taking you in only a few minutes deep into the heart of hidden West Dorset, with its tiny, perfectly-formed conical hills and gentle valleys. Here you will find Mangerton- a working seventeenth century watermill, the granary, a few crumbly stone farm buildings and a scattering of cottages. You could easily be in rural France.
Dodging the glorious profusion of roses that cascades over the old stone walls, you arrive at the pretty porch of the converted granary to be warmly welcomed into a home that conjures a sense of deeply nostalgic rural bliss combined with the pleasure of the unexpected, from the pews on which you will sit for breakfast to the many works of art collected from Maggie and Don's travels in the Far East.
From the upstair dining room you can peep through the round window down onto the lovingly-cherished garden. Leading off the dining room is the owners' sitting room and you may be intrigued to see the original granary wheel astride the beams in the rafters, with the ropes and pulleys once used to haul the stacks of grain up from below for storage in the ganary barn.
Looking directly out onto the enchanting garden or courtyard are two downstair bedrooms, a twin and a double, each with its own "en suite" bathroom, charmingly furnished in country style.
Maggie and Don have led a richly varied life, including many years farming in Cornwall before settling in this little piece of Paradise that they have come to adore. They will thoroughly enjoy sharing their knowledge and enthusiasm with you.
Despite its apparently remote setting, Mangerton is well connected and in no time at all you can be in Bridport or Beaminster, or down onto the magnificent Jurassic Coast, or you may prefer to explore further along the valley of the tiny River Manger to discover a string of quintessentially English hamlets where time seems to have stood still and birdsong, wildflowers, and honey-coloured cottages abound. Just down the lane the peaceful old water mill and millpond offer trout fishing, a perfect setting for teas, a rural museum and delightful riverside walks.
To book, contact Maggie and Don Palmer on 01308 485518
or email
Tariff: £30 per head
