Everdene House
Welcome to Everdene House
Welcome to our Dorset home, we very much hope you enjoy your stay and thank you for choosing to visit Dorset and stay here at Everdene House!
We thought it might be useful for you to have some information on how to operate a few things in the house, where some bits and pieces are and a couple of things we’d like to you pay special attention to whilst you are our guests.
Key Safe and Keys
The Key Safe is to the left of the back door under the oak loggia. The number for the Key Safe is 2019; please return the key to the key safe when you leave the house at the end of your stay. There is a key for the back door in the key safe, all the other external doors have keys in them, if you do take them out and about please return them to their relevant locks when you leave.
Parking
Everdene House shares a driveway with Everdene Lodge. There is plentiful parking for a number of cars in the driveway. Please park your car safely, showing consideration for any other guests who may be staying at Everdene Lodge - they are asked to park their car in the bay behind the Lodge next to the log store.
Washing Machine and Tumble Dryer
There is a washing machine and tumble dryer available at Everdene House. Instructions for use are left next to them.
Iron and Ironing Board
These are located in the utility room.
Kitchen Sundries
The bottom kitchen drawer underneath the sink in the kitchen contains cleaning materials including washing up liquid, dishcloths and scourer. There are further cleaning materials available in the drawers under the sink in the utility room.
Dishwasher
There is a dishwasher available at Everdene House. Dishwasher tablets are kept in the cupboard underneath the kitchen sink.
Oven
Everdene House has a dual fuel Falcon Deluxe range cooker with an LPG hob, plus two electric ovens (one fan oven) and grill. It is pretty self-explanatory to use. There is also a built-in microwave oven in the island unit.
Fuses and Fuse Box
The fuse box is located in the cloakroom cupboard close to downstairs WC and study. As Everdene House is a new building, it is unlikely that you will have any problems. Nevertheless, if you do have something go, all the fuses are on trip switches, so can easily be reset.
Stop Cock
In the unlikely event that you have a problem with water, the stop cock is under the sink in the utility room.
WiFi
There is a wireless network running around the house, with WAPs (Wireless Access Points) in bedrooms 1 and 3, and next to the TV in the snug.
As we are in rural Dorset, we are connected to broadband via line-of-sight microwave rather than a physical fibre connection. The network is Everdene and the WiFi code is Genevieve12.
Mobile Signal
Despite being in a rural area, signal for most mobile networks is pretty good.
Telephone
There is no landline at Everdene House.
Television and DVD
The TVs are connected to WiFi and there is a Netflix subscription service that guests are free to use, as well as access to normal terrestrial services and BBC, ITV and C4 on-demand services - select ‘Apps’ on the TV to access these services. There is no DVD available.
CCTV
There is no CCTV at Everdene House.
Games
A selection of laying cards and games can be found in the painted trunk in the study.
Piano
There is a Brodmann baby grand piano in the study. You are very welcome to play it, but please bear in mind that it is a professional quality instrument and we therefore ask that you treat it with respect and comply with the instructions provided.
Wood Burners
If you wish to use the fire during your stay, we supply unlimited logs, kindling and firelighters. There are wood burners in both the snug and the living room. Please keep in mind, however, that this is an extremely well insulated, airtight house that also has an MVHR (Mechanical Ventilation and Heat Recovery) system running constantly. As such, it takes almost no heating and you will find that a traditional ‘roaring fire’ quickly results in the house becoming unbearably hot! In other words, lighting a fire should be more about creating an atmosphere rather than about any need for heat. Instructions for using the wood burners are placed in the log baskets.
Heating and Hot Water
The heating and hot water are both controlled via a series of wireless roomstats linked to a central timer. Furthermore there is an MVHR system that changes the air in the entire house every 3 hours, warming the cold fresh air coming in with the warm stale air being pumped out via a heat exchanger. It is quite a complex but highly efficient system and there should be no need to over-ride the system as it is optimised already to maintain a comfortable temperature round the clock. The hot water system is pressurised, on-demand with no header tank, so hot water should be available whenever you turn on the hot water tap.
Linen and Towels
Linen and towels are provided and your beds will be made up and the towels laid out for you, as will a hand towel in each bathroom and drying up towels and a hand towel and an apron for the kitchen. We do not provide beach towels.
Hairdryer
There is a hairdryer in the top of the chest of drawers in each bedroom.
Bathroom Sundries
We have supplied plentiful toilet rolls and bathroom cleaner.
Travel Cot and High Chair
We have a travel cot and high chair available on request in advance from guests when they book.
Pets
No pets are allowed at Everdene House.
Dustbins and Refuse Collection Days
Our bin day is WEDNESDAY. Please put the bin out before 7.00am on the day of collection.
Our grey bin is for normal household waste, the green one is for recycling. The bins go on alternate weeks, so the best plan is to put both out each week but only expect one to be emptied. The bins are shared with Everdene House and are located to the left of the main entrance gate.
Gardener
The gardener (Lindsey) calls in for a couple of hours every week on either Monday or Tuesday (weather dependent) to do a light weed and water the plants. She usually comes late afternoon or early evening but will do her best not to disturb you.
Fire Pit
There is a large reconditioned Indian ‘Kadai’ firebowl in the centre of the raised beds in the rear garden. There is an initial supply of logs kept under the overhang by the living room French doors, but more logs are available along the fence behind the log store. Please do not use the seasoned hardwood logs in the log store - these are for the wood burners only. To light the firebowl, please use the same initial method as outlined on the wood burner instructions, i.e. stack some kindling ‘Jenga/Topple Blocks’-style with a firefighter at the base, light, then carefully place a ‘wigwam’ of 3 or 4 small/thin logs on top. Please do not overfill the firebowl with logs or it will soon get too hot to be able to sit around on the raised beds - 3 or 4 logs burning at any one time should be plenty enough.
Pond
There is a large wildlife pond with an oak jetty for viewing up close (or sitting/reading/daydreaming). It is teeming with pond life including pond skaters, water boatmen, great diving beetles, newts, frogs, toads, damsel flies, dragonflies…and we’ve even had a kingfisher visit, though he never stays long as there’s no fish in there (they eat the newts)! It is planted with a selection of native species including flag iris, marsh marigold, lily, pondweed, primulas, water mint, water solders, chives and sedge.
Children will love it for pond dipping, but please return anything they find back into the pond. Please also take great care with children and do not allow under 10s to play unsupervised near the pond as it is deep (almost 2m in the centre by the lily pads). The estate railings and gate have been fitted to enable you to keep young children enclosed within the wall of the rear garden and safely away from the pond - please therefore keep the gate shut at all times if you have young children in your group.
Fishtank
There is a small ‘lead’ tank (actually it’s fibreglass) underneath the outside staircase in the rear garden, containing a selection of unusual aquatic plants and goldfish. Please do feel free to feed the fish (they usually get quite excited and come out to play) - there is a pot of fish flakes behind the left hand post next to the tank. They don’t need much - one or two good pinches between your thumb and index finger is plenty enough. By the same token, they’re not reliant on you feeding them either as they do also eat the vegetation in the tank, so won’t go hungry.
Herb Garden
There is a small herb garden on your left underneath the outside staircase in the rear garden with a selection of herbs suitable for cooking, including: rosemary, lemon balm, thyme, sage, pineapple sage, red veined sorrel, lovage, pennycress, bronze fennel and wild marjoram. They are all labelled, so please make sensible use of them but do leave some for the next guests!
There is also a selection of summer herbs for your use in the pots just outside the dining room French doors, including: oregano, flat parsley, rocket, coriander, basil, lovage, peppermint and garden mint. Again, please help yourself but leave some for the next guests!
BBQ
During the summer months, a BBQ is provided at the property for which guests must supply their own charcoal. Please ensure that it has been thoroughly cleaned after use for the enjoyment of future guests. This will avoid extra cleaning costs on your departure.
No Smoking Policy
Sorry, smoking is strictly prohibited at Everdene House. Should it be found that someone has been smoking within the house, then charges will be made for a ‘deep clean’. Please remove any cigarette butts from outside areas before you leave.
Before You Leave!
Just a bit of official stuff to be aware of before you leave – thankfully, we almost never have to charge any of our guests because you are all so lovely; but the property must be left clean and tidy, all equipment and utensils etc must be clean and put away at the end of the hire period. Should the property be found to require significant extra cleaning as a result of the condition in which it is left then these additional costs will be sought from yourself.
Departure Time
Please also be aware that you do need to be ready to leave the property at 10.00am on the day of departure.
Closest Shop
The closest shops for basics are situated in Leigh and Yetminster villages. Leigh has a village store and Post Office that opens 9am-5pm (closed for lunch 1-2.30pm) Mon-Fri and 9am-1pm Sat. Yetminster has a larger village Spar convenience store that opens 9am-7pm Mon-Sat and 9am-5pm Sun. Sherborne then has larger stores - a Sainsburys and a Waitrose - for doing bigger shops.
Our Favourite Places To Visit
There is no shortage of interesting places to visit within a short drive for a day trip, including world-famous gardens, country houses, art galleries and quirky shops. Here’s a list of our personal favourites:
Local Towns & Villages
Cerne Abbas (6.1 mi) - idyllic English village which, for its tiny size, seems to have more than its fair share of pubs, including one of our favourites, The New Inn. Also famous for its famous, but rather phallic, chalk hill sculpture The Cerne Giant - which you and your children can view from a safe distance at the viewing point’s car park. Our daughter, as a child, used to affectionately describe it as ‘the man with the big willy’!
Sherborne (6.2 mi) - an ancient and quintessentially English market town watched over by a stunning 8th century Abbey (with arguably the finest fan vaulted ceiling in Europe), a 12th century ‘old castle’ and a 16th century ‘new castle’, as well a cluster of famous public schools and full of quirky little shops and cafes
Beaminster (15.5 mi) - you pass through Beaminster en route to Bridport and it’s worth a short stop. Beaminster is known for its architectural heritage and being home to some wonderfully talented artists such as internationally acclaimed furniture designer John Makepeace - as you drive into Beaminster, see if you can spot his home by the yew hedge clipped into a table and chairs! A couple of our favourite restaurants are also in Beaminster - Brassica (on the square) and The Ollerod (by the bridge).
Castle Cary (18.3 mi) - a small, attractive country town with a handful of interesting shops, ambitious delis and cafes, hoping to turn it into the next Bruton!
Bridport (18.9 mi) - a vibrant historic market town built on a long history of rope-making, an impressive thatched brewery (Palmers) and a vast array of cafes (our favourites are the Soulshine Cafe, The Bull and Symondsbury Kitchen), bars, restaurants and boutique shops, including an antiques centre that’s a rabbit warren of interesting antiques concessions from early furniture to Asian sculpture, from early electronic instruments to hats!
Bruton (20.6 mi) - in the last few years, this tiny market town has become an unexpectedly cool place thanks to an influx of art galleries (see Hauser & Wirth below), fancy shops (our favourites are Caro for homewares, Godminster for cheese, Swan Vintage for, well, vintage stuff and Lunaria for all things plant), and hip places to eat (our favourites are Roth Bar & Grill and At The Chapel)
Shepton Mallet (29.6 mi) - a small market town dominated by its cider makers (Thatchers and Brothers) and a former leather goods factory - Mulberry. Whilst Mulberry retains a factory outlet store (but don’t expect a bargain - handbags start at around £1,000!), its former factory is now converted into a chic outlet village (Kilver Court) with lots of well-known and emerging designer labels
Historic Houses & Gardens
Minterne House & Gardens (3.9 mi) - 20 acres of wild and romantic Himalayan woodland garden
Sherborne New Castle (5.8 mi) - completed by Sir Walter Raleigh in 1594 with Capability Brown landscaped grounds and lake
Sherborne Old Castle (5.8 mi) - a romantic 12th century ruin set in beautiful grounds next to Sherborne New Castle (English Heritage)
Montacute (15.1 mi) - a masterpiece of Elizabeth Renaissance architecture and design, with towering walls of glass, glowing hamstone and surrounding garden and parkland. (National Trust)
Mapperton House & Gardens (15.8 mi) - home to the Earl and Countess of Sandwich, dating back to the 1540s with later 17th century additions, Mapperton has been described as ‘the nation’s finest manor house’ by Country Life magazine and its gardens (Grade II* listed in their own right) are among the most important and distinctive in the south west
Contemporary Gardens
The Newt in Somerset, nr Castle Cary (18.2 mi) - a brand new ‘destination’ with cafe, restaurant, cider press, deli, shop and gardens created in the grounds of the historic Hadspen House estate. An inspirational, ‘no expense spared’ venue (owned by a South African billionaire who also owns the world famous Babylonstoren in the Western Cape) - definitely worth a pilgrimage if you like gardens, great food or cider (they make their own wine-like ‘cyder’ and host daily tours of the cyder press). There is also a small but pretty impressive deli with a Himalayan salt meat cellar and a cheese room
Hauser & Wirth, nr Bruton (20.9 mi) - a pioneering world-class gallery and multi-purpose arts centre with regularly changing innovative exhibitions of contemporary art. Outside, there are courtyard and prairie gardens designed by internationally renowned landscape architect Piet Oudolf
Sculpture by the Lakes (21 mi) - 26 acres of contemporary sculpture gardens set around lakes and streams, created by renowned sculptor Simon Gudgeon and his wife, Monique Gudgeon. Please note, no children under 14 are allowed
Our Favourite Places To Eat and Drink
We enjoy very high quality local food and drink. Dorset is a bit of a foodie paradise, we are blessed with some amazing local growers and artisan producers, as well as super-fresh fish and seafood from the coast. As a result, there is plenty of choice in local area ranging from traditional pub grub and edgy modern British and vegan cafes, such as:
1. Very local (5-10 min drive)
The Chetnole Inn (2.1 mi) - simple pub grub
Yetminster Cafe & Art Gallery (3.1 mi) - nice little cafe in the next village
The New Inn, Cerne Abbas (6.1 mi) - 14th Century (nothing ‘New’ about it) coaching inn gastropub - beautiful building with courtyard beer garden, excellent local ales and Sunday roast
Sherborne (6.2 mi)
Plume of Feathers - smart Italian tapas-style pub food with lovely little courtyard garden, almost always busy on Half Moon Street opposite the Abbey
The Digby Tap - spit & sawdust real ale pub that also serves simple pub grub. Clientele from 18-80+ and always friendly atmosphere, on Cooks Lane
The George - the oldest pub (15th century) in Sherborne, good atmosphere, real ale and pub food, on Higher Cheap Street
The Green - very nice bistro run by a Russian chef/proprietor, Sasha Matkevich, formerly of Michelin-starred Charlton House in Shepton Mallet
Tamburino’s - ever popular Italian restaurant on Digby Road
D’Urbervilles - quirky cafe next to the ‘Conduit’ at the bottom of Cheap Street, located upstairs in a vintage/up-cycled furniture shop.
Ingredients - smart new deli towards the bottom of Cheap Street
Olivers - wonderful selection of homemade cakes and pastries, along with perfectly brewed coffee roasted just outside Sherborne by our friends, the Dick-Reads
Royal Thai Orchid - based at The Carpenters Arms, just off Bristol Road
Rajpoot - Indian restaurant on Half Moon Street
2. A little further afield (15-30 min drive)
The Clockspire, Milborne Port (7.9 mi) - newly opened bar & restaurant aiming for a Michelin star or two
The Greyhound Inn, Sydling St Nicholas (8.1 mi) - very nice gastropub in idyllic Dorset village
The Rose & Crown, Trent (9.6 mi) - smart pub food, almost always busy
The Queen’s Arms, Corton Denham (10.1 mi) - smart pub food with open fire in bar, covered beer garden and with nice walks out of the door. Wellies friendly
The Newt in Somerset, nr Castle Cary (18.2 mi) - a contemporary garden cafe/restaurant overlooking the walled garden. See above for more information about wider venue
The Cafe and The Roth Bar Grill @ Hauser & Wirth, Bruton (20.9 mi) - very funky bar and restaurant located within a modern art gallery based in old farm complex. Fire grill, Himalayan salt cellars and frequent celeb clientele complete the picture. Book ahead
At The Chapel, Bruton (21.0 mi) - wood-fired pizza oven and grill set in a huge converted chapel
3. Towards the Coast (30-45 min drive)
Brassica Restaurant, Beaminster (15.5 mi) - Danish inspired plant-based menu, served with great quality local fish and meat
The Soulshine Cafe, Bridport (20.6 mi) - super fresh, funky vegan/veggie cafe
Hive Beach Cafe, Burton Bradstock (22 mi) - renowned for its fresh fish & seafood, but great coffee too
The Seaside Boarding House, Burton Bradstock (22 mi) - from the creators of London’s internationally renowned Groucho Club, a smart but relaxed hotel, restaurant and bar on the Jurassic Coast, with a definite Edwardian feel about it
The Watch House Cafe, West Bay (20.4 mi) - sister cafe to Hive Beach Cafe. Wood-fired pizza oven on the beach
Rise, West Bay (20.4 mi) - relaxed casual dining restaurant overlooking the water
Hix Oyster & Fish House, Lyme Regis (31.2 mi) - cedar clad ‘Hansel & Gretel’-style cabin restaurant owned by renowned chef and restaurateur Mark Hix, looking out over the famous Cobb and serving super-fresh fish and seafood landed yards from the kitchen
The Crab House Cafe, Portland (25.9 mi) - inside and outside (under pink parasols) dining next door to the oyster farm on the freshwater ‘Fleet’ between the mainland and Chesil Beach
Symondsbury Kitchen, nr Bridport (20.5 mi) - lovely cafe/restaurant based on the ancient Symondsbury Estate
Our Favourite Beach
We are spoilt with good beaches within 30-40 mins drive of Everdene House. The Jurassic Coast is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, famous for its dinosaur fossils and unique geological features. It stretches for miles from Lyme Regis in the west to Swanage in the east. Our favourite beaches along the Jurassic Coast include:
West Bay - great beach cafe, shingle beach and bracing cliff edge walk
Lyme Regis - lovely sandy beach, iconic ‘cobb’ that featured in the film ‘The French Lieutenant’s Woman’, great selection of beachfront town cafes, restaurants and shops
Ringstead Bay - quiet, shingly beach with easy parking and beach shop
Burton Bradstock - great beach cafe, shingle beach and NT car park
Seatown - shingly beach, The Anchor Inn (great for whitebait and chips, and local ales) and the place to park for a bracing walk up The Golden Cap (the highest point on the south coast of England - well worth it for the view stretching along the coast from Portland to Lyme Regis)
Studland Bay - National Trust-owned beach, like the Caribbean on a hot day, stunning sandy beach. Has a fantastic choice of pubs (Bankes Arms) and restaurants - The Pig on the Beach (close to Middle Beach) and Shell Bay Seafood Restaurant (on the north side of Ferry Road with its own beach and overlooking Poole Harbour and Brownsea Island)
Our Favourite Walk
There is a simple circuit (20-30 mins) straight out of the front door, which tends to be our default daily walk. Turn left out of the main entrance gate, walk down the road into Totnell and then turn right after the last cottage on the right through a stile into a young copse of trees, then over another stile into a field. Follow the footpath down the field (approx 2 o’clock out of the stile), then down into the next field, through the trees and over the stile at the bottom of the field and into a farmyard. Turn left in front of the farm buildings and through the 5 bar gate at the end of the track. Turn left again and walk up their drive back onto the road from Totnell into Leigh. Turn left again onto the road and up the hill, left again at the junction at the top of the hill (signposted for Sherborne) and back along the road to Everdene on your right.
Of course, you will undoubtedly find your own favourites! We have created a guest website at http://everdenedorset.co.uk to enhance your stay further. We’re constantly adding new recommendations for places to eat, visit, walk or chill out. And you can add your own - it’s linked to our Instagram account @everdenedorset, so you can tag us, share your photos and your reviews of local places to visit etc..
Phew! We think that just about covers it. If you need us for anything during your stay just call us – Tony on 07836 215000 or Emma on 07831 288057.
We wish you a wonderful time at Everdene House. We love it. You hope you will too!
Enjoy Your Stay!
*** EMERGENCY CONTACT DETAILS ***
In the case of an emergency or if you need assistance during your stay please contact us directly in the first instance on (insert owner contact details)
Tony Cooke 07836 215000
Emma Cooke 07831 288057