Eastbury Cottage

Everything you need for a lovely cottage holiday is here: a roomy modern kitchen with all the gear, a sitting room with a big Inglenook fireplace and a wood-burner, books, games and Netflix for rainy days and Alexa to play you music. There’s a dining room for candle lit dinners, a utility room for muddy boots and big bedrooms, all with robes, slippers and en suite bathrooms.

French doors lead out to the garden for al fresco suppers or a barbecue: four can simmer away in the hot tub while the others do the work. It’s a generous place with a hamper for you (biscuits, homemade fudge, fresh bread, crisps, nuts, cereals, sloe gin and wine) and one for your dog (toy, bowl, treats, bed and welcome letter) but if you’d rather not fend for yourselves just nip up the road for breakfast, lunch and supper, or to use the spa.

Stock up at the Gourmet Food Store, amble through the deer park to Sherborne Castle, pick up some fine antiques.