Over three floors. Five bedrooms: 1 x double with en-suite bath, basin and WC, 2 x second-floor double, 2 x double. Bathroom with bath, shower, basin and WC. Second-floor shower room with walk-in shower, basin and WC. Cloakroom with basin and WC. Kitchen/diner with TV. Utility. First-floor sitting room with woodburning stove. Snug
French Mill consists of a kitchen/diner with TV, range oven, hob, microwave, fridge & freezer and dishwasher, a utility with washing machine, a first-floor sitting room with woodburning stove, and a snug. The bedrooms consist of a double with en-suite bath, basin and WC, two second-floor doubles, two doubles. There is a bathroom with bath, shower, basin and WC, a second-floor shower room with walk-in shower, basin and WC, and a ground-floor cloakroom with basin and WC. The property benefits from oil-fired central heating with ground-floor underfloor heating, WiFi and TV. Fuel, power, and starter pack for woodburning stove inc. in rent. Bed linen and towels inc. in rent. Outside, there is ample off-road parking and extensive grounds extending, including lawns, a terrace, a pond, and outdoor furniture. Charcoal BBQ. One well-behaved pet welcome. Sorry, no smoking. Shop and pub 1.2 miles. French Mill is a splendid Dorset retreat, ideal for families and friends seeking a memorable countryside escape. Note: The grounds include a pond, river frontage and open pasture land; children and pets should be supervised. This property has a bond of 750 GBP. Note: Hot water is available throughout the property; due to the distance from the water heater, it may take up to 45 seconds for warm water to reach some taps. Note: The ensuite room may experience limited water due to where it travels from; please be mindful of continuous water usage
With nearly 90 miles of stunning coastline, vast areas of open heathlands, ancient woodlands, and chalk and limestone grassland, Dorset’s diverse habitats support a rich variety of birds and wildlife.
A visit to the RSPB’s Arne nature reserve situated on the banks of Poole Harbour and in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is a must. Mainly lowland heath, it’s home to breeding Dartford warblers, while in winter, large flocks of wading birds come to the mudflats including avocets, black-tailed godwits, and spoonbills. There’s also a herd of sika deer and seals can often be spotted along the shoreline. At the visitor centre you can hire binoculars and find out more about the wildlife you might spot.
Nearby, the lesser-known and quieter RSPB Lytchett Fields has been transformed from arable land into a wetland haven where you can see green sandpipers, wigeons, and teal. Peregrine falcons, and marsh and hen harriers can also be spotted in the skies above as they hunt for prey. You might also be lucky enough to see an osprey which have recently been reintroduced to the area.
In the heart of Poole Harbour is Brownsea Island manged by the Dorset Wildlife Trust in partnership with The National Trust where bird hides give excellent views of the wildlife on the lagoon and surrounding reedbeds. Look out for common terns, sandwich terns, and water rails, and it’s one of the few places in England where you can see find red squirrels.
With country lanes, unspoilt meadows, and winding rivers, Kingcombe Nature Reserve hidden away in the Dorset countryside is the perfect place to escape into nature. Resident woodland birds include nuthatches, great spotted woodpeckers, and chiffchaffs, while dippers and kingfishers can be spotted along the water’s edge. There are bird hides, an orchard, and wildlife-friendly gardens, all set on a working farm, as well as a café serving locally sourced food.
The open farmland and copses of Durlston Country Park near Swanage are important not only for breeding birds but also migrants passing through in spring and autumn. Breeding birds include yellowhammers, linnets, and skylarks, while the exposed sea cliffs provide nesting sites for shags, fulmars, and guillemots. The park also attracts some rarities blown off course during migration, and in autumn, huge flocks of swallows and sand martins fill the air.
Portland Bill is another great place for migrating birds including dunnocks, chaffinches, and thrushes, as well as a variety of seabirds including Manx shearwaters, Arctic skuas, and kittiwakes. It has an impressive rarity list and is one of the best places to spot hoopoes in early summer. The Bird Observatory is a good place to visit too, with bird feeders, and volunteers can sometimes be seen ringing birds.
Head to Christchurch Harbour where the muddy creeks, mudflats, and marshland are home to a huge range of birdlife including wheatears, little egrets, and gulls. It’s also a another good place to look out for rarities such as golden orioles, wrynecks, and tawny pipits.
For a truly unique experience take a trip to Abbotsbury Swannery located on the stunning Jurassic coast, and the only place in the world where you can get close to a colony of nesting mute swans. During breeding season, you can watch cygnets as they hatch and don’t miss the twice-daily feeds where you’ll have the chance to hand-feed over 600 swans.
