Relax in Style at Blue Vale & Explore Dorset

Photos Courtesy Blue Vale

 

Contributor TMA Howe pays a visit to Dorset for a getaway stay at the charming Blue Vale luxury retreat

 

Dorset, tucked away in the south west corner of England, is often a county that people simply pass through on route to the counties of Devon and Cornwall. But stop in Dorset and you’ll find a county with wonderful countryside and a gorgeous coastline that’s become known as ‘The Jurassic Coast’, a World Heritage Site.

Tucked away in the north of the county, not far from the A303 – and just two-and-half hours from the capital city of London – and nestled in a quiet hamlet in the heart of the Blackmore Vale, lies Blue Vale, a beautifully built oak framed luxury retreat that’s ideal for a romantic getaway.

Upon arrival, you are greeted by Jayne Abbott in to the open plan living space, with comfortable seating and an elegant kitchen tucked away in the corner. The care that has gone into the finishing touches is obvious, the exposed oak frame throughout reveals the structure wonderfully, the oak doors and flooring finishing the room to perfection.

 
The Spectacular Views from Blue Vale

 

Walk into your bedroom and the comfortable looking king size bed simply cries out to be slept in. Explore further and you find a stunningly finished en-suite bathroom, with free standing bath and walk in shower.

Once you have explored the interior, look out through the full height windows onto the inviting deck. Looking west – with wonderful vistas of the sunset – the deck has two tempting sun loungers, a barbeque, and table and chairs, an ideal spot to spend the summer evenings watching the sun go down while enjoying some locally produced food. The peace and quiet of the Dorset countryside is only broken by chirping swallows darting above you, and the sound of buzzards calling whilst circling high above.

Blue Vale is a beautifully finished, compact property, ideal for a couple to get away from the busy hustle and bustle of the world. The finishing touches only add to the experience; a welcome hamper containing a bottle of bubbly and other local produce, the Neal’s Yard bathroom products, even the local milk and eggs awaiting you, all make this an ideal place to spend some time with your loved one.

 

Exploring Dorset from Blue Vale

 

If you can pull yourself away from those sun loungers long enough to explore this gorgeous part of Dorset, be sure to visit these popular local attractions:

 

  • Stourhead: Established in the 1740s, this beautiful landscape garden – famously described as a ‘living work of art’ – features a large lake surrounded by pretty temples and fascinating grottoes, as well as numerous species of exotic trees. Highlights include touring Stourhead house, notable for its unique Regency library, its large collection of Chippendale furniture, and many fine paintings. The Palladian house and its lawns serve as a great place for a picnic. To learn more, visit their website at nationaltrust.org.uk/stourhead.

 

  • Haynes International Motor Museum: Heralded as one of the UK’s largest collection of vehicles, this amazing museum includes over 400 cars and motorcycles from the earliest days of motoring right up to the 1960s, including a number of priceless Bentleys and Rolls Royces, as well as famous supercars such as the Jaguar XJ220. For details and further information, check out the website at haynesmotormuseum.com/.

 

Another easy trip from Blue Vale is to pay a visit to the gorgeous local towns of Shaftesbury and Sherborne. Shaftesbury is a small market town with a fascinating history that goes all the way back to Saxon times, and is the home of Gold Hill, made famous by the ‘Hovis’ advert.

From here there are magnificent views over Thomas Hardy’s Blackmore Vale. Sherborne is, one of the most beautiful towns in England, is a popular place to visit for its many well-preserved medieval buildings, its old abbey, and two castles.

 

_____________________

 

TMA Howe is Riley Media’s Automotive Editor… and a guy who travels a lot.

 

Luxuryengland - Sidebar logo