Samstone in Donhead St. Mary near Ludwell | Stunning Dorset Group Cottage

About Samstone

Samstone is a detached cottage in Ludwell, Shaftesbury, Dorset that sleeps 8 guests across 4 bedrooms. This spacious property offers outstanding countryside views across Dorset and Wiltshire from its conservation area location. Groups love the ground floor bedroom for accessibility and the open fire for cosy evenings together.

The village setting provides peaceful surroundings with scenic walks starting from your doorstep. Rolling hills and meadows stretch to the horizon, creating picture-perfect backdrops for group photos.

Accommodation includes one ground floor super-king bedroom with a neighbouring shower room, plus three first floor bedrooms: two king-size rooms (one with en-suite) and one twin room. The family bathroom features a bath with hand-held shower. A well-equipped kitchen/diner with a double and a single oven makes group catering easy, while the dining room and sitting room provide ample social space.

Stourhead gardens lie 8 miles away (15 minutes drive), while Stonehenge sits 20 miles distant (30 minutes). Shaftesbury's famous Gold Hill is just 3.5 miles away (8 minutes). Local pubs including The Foresters Arms offer traditional meals within walking distance.

This property combines space, comfort and spectacular views making it perfect for family reunions and group celebrations. Book Samstone for an unforgettable Dorset escape.

Check Prices & Availability »

At Sykes Cottages

Need To Know

✓Oil central heating, underfloor heating and open fire
✓One double and one single electric oven and electric hob, microwave, washing machine, dishwasher
✓Tv and dvd player, wifi
✓Fuel and power included in rent
✓Bed linen and towels included in rent
✓Highchair available on request
✓Off-road parking for two cars only
✓Garden with lawned area, patio, dining seating and a pond
✓Two well-behaved dogs welcome, please be advised the garden is not fully enclosed
✓Sorry, no smoking
✓Shop 1.4 miles, pub 1.3 miles
✓Note: dogs are not allowed upstairs or on furniture
✓Note: there is pond at this property but this is always covered
✓Please note: all bedding at the property contains feather and down fillings
✓Guests with feather allergies should take this into consideration before booking

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What Guests Love

What do previous guests think about their group stay at Samstone

Spacious rooms for large groups

Four bedrooms and multiple living areas provide ample space for eight guests to spread out comfortably.

Outstanding countryside views

Stunning panoramic views across Dorset and Wiltshire countryside from windows and garden terrace.

Ground floor accessibility

Ground floor bedroom with a neighbouring shower room perfect for guests with limited mobility needs.

Well-equipped kitchen

Two ovens and comprehensive cooking facilities make self-catering easy for larger groups.

Beautiful peaceful location

Conservation area setting offers tranquil surroundings with scenic walks starting from the doorstep.

Perfect for family reunions

Multiple bedrooms and social spaces ideal for bringing families and friends together comfortably.

Getting To Samstone

Find your way to your perfect countryside retreat

By Car

To reach Samstone by car, take the A30 towards Shaftesbury and follow signs to Ludwell village. The cottage is easily accessible with convenient off-road parking for two cars upon arrival.

By Train

For those travelling by rail, the nearest station is Gillingham, approximately 8 miles away from the accommodation. From there, it's a scenic taxi journey through the Dorset countryside to your destination.

Off-road parking for two cars

Gillingham station (8 miles)

Easily accessible from the A30

Group Attractions & More Nearby

Stuff for larger groups and families to try!

Shaftesbury Abbey

Distance: 3.8 miles (8 min drive)

SP7 8JT

Gartell Light Railway

Distance: 14.6 miles (27 min drive)

BA8 0NB

Stonehenge

Distance: 22.9 miles (33 min drive)

SP4 7DE

Wessex Ridgeway

Distance: 1.1 miles (3 min drive)

Win Green

Distance: 3.2 miles (10 min drive)

SP7 0ES

Cranborne Chase & West Wiltshire Downs National Landscape

Distance: 3.3 miles (10 min drive)

SP7 0EX

Greenacre Farm Shop

Distance: 1.6 miles (4 min drive)

SP7 9ND

Lidl

Distance: 3.9 miles (8 min drive)

SP7 8TL

Cranbornes

Distance: 3.9 miles (8 min drive)

SP7 8JE

Tisbury Station

Distance: 6.5 miles (16 min drive)

SP3 6JT

Gillingham Station

Distance: 7.9 miles (17 min drive)

SP8 4JL

Bournemouth Airport

Distance: 24.8 miles (53 min drive)

BH23 6ED

Shaftesbury Abbey

Distance: 3.8 miles (8 min drive)

SP7 8JT

Gartell Light Railway

Distance: 14.6 miles (27 min drive)

BA8 0NB

Stonehenge

Distance: 22.9 miles (33 min drive)

SP4 7DE

Wessex Ridgeway

Distance: 1.1 miles (3 min drive)

Win Green

Distance: 3.2 miles (10 min drive)

SP7 0ES

Cranborne Chase & West Wiltshire Downs National Landscape

Distance: 3.3 miles (10 min drive)

SP7 0EX

Greenacre Farm Shop

Distance: 1.6 miles (4 min drive)

SP7 9ND

Lidl

Distance: 3.9 miles (8 min drive)

SP7 8TL

Cranbornes

Distance: 3.9 miles (8 min drive)

SP7 8JE

Tisbury Station

Distance: 6.5 miles (16 min drive)

SP3 6JT

Gillingham Station

Distance: 7.9 miles (17 min drive)

SP8 4JL

Bournemouth Airport

Distance: 24.8 miles (53 min drive)

BH23 6ED

Is Samstone Right For Your Group

Discover why this cottage is the one for your party or family reunion...

For Families

Samstone offers a large lawned garden perfect for outdoor games and activities. The spacious rooms provide plenty of space for children to play safely indoors. However, parents should note the garden has a slope requiring supervision for toddlers and there's a covered pond on the property.

Groups Will Love...

The kitchen with a double oven and a single oven makes Samstone exceptional for group catering. Combined with comprehensive cooking equipment including dishwasher, microwave and two fridges, preparing meals for eight guests becomes effortless. The separate dining room provides comfortable seating for everyone.

Pet Friendly

Samstone welcomes up to two well-behaved dogs with some house rules. Dogs must stay downstairs and off furniture throughout their stay. The large garden provides excellent exercise space, while countryside walks start directly from the property offering perfect exploration opportunities for four-legged guests.

Dining & Cafes

Taste the local flavours during your stay at Samstone

The Foresters Arms

Located 1 mile from your accommodation.

Postcode: SP7 9EE

The Benett Arms

Located 2 miles from your accommodation.

Postcode: SP7 9AS

The Beckford Arms

Located 8 miles from your accommodation.

Postcode: BA12 7PP

Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers to our most common questions about Samstone

How many people does Samstone sleep?

Samstone sleeps 8 guests across 4 bedrooms including one ground floor super-king room and three first floor rooms. The property has 3 bathrooms including 1 en-suite, a ground floor shower room and a family bathroom.

Is Samstone pet friendly?

Yes, Samstone welcomes up to 2 well-behaved dogs with some restrictions. Dogs are not allowed upstairs or on furniture throughout the property.

What cooking facilities are available?

The kitchen features one double and one single electric oven, electric hob, microwave, dishwasher, washing machine, fridge and freezer. There's also a separate dining room with seating and garden views through French doors.

How many cars can park at the property?

Samstone provides off-road parking for 2 cars as standard. Reviews mention there's space for up to 3 larger vehicles if needed.

What's the local area like for groups?

The property sits in peaceful countryside with scenic walks from the doorstep and local pubs within walking distance. Shaftesbury is 3.5 miles away with shops and attractions, while major sites like Stonehenge are 30 minutes drive.

Are there good group activities nearby?

Yes, Stourhead gardens (8 miles), Stonehenge (20 miles) and Shaftesbury's Gold Hill (3.5 miles) offer excellent group days out. Local golf courses and countryside walks provide outdoor activities for all ages.

What makes this property good for accessibility?

The ground floor bedroom with a neighbouring shower room provides accessible accommodation. The property also features underfloor heating and oil central heating throughout for comfort.

What outdoor space is available?

Samstone has a lawned garden area with patio dining seating and outstanding countryside views. The garden includes a covered pond and offers space for outdoor games and relaxation.

Popular Stays Near This Cottage

Samstone Reviews

Kathryn

Our stay at Samstone was fantastic. The house was an absolutely wonderful place to spend time together to celebrate my parents Diamond wedding anniversary. We really enjoyed everything about the place, particularly the layout of the house and the feeling of it as a home and not just an empty space, made it extra special. We loved the decor and interesting books to enjoy. Everything we needed was there. The view from the house is really lovely and the village is also extremely pretty. We felt really appreciative towards the owners for creating such a sanctuary and hope to return someday! Many thanks.

Brilliant stay in a lovely house. Found out the day before we arrived that no gate so dogs were not secure In fact as the owner explained we were quite a way from the very quiet road and our dogs were fine We did bring a long dog gate with us that gave us some peace of mind. I do think it would take very little effort to put a gate on both sides of the house to increase security for most dog owners? New broom please Great house Great location Host very accommodating and very quick to reply Will come back

Samantha

We had a great holiday and it truly is a lovely cottage but there were a few issues that spoilt it personally for us. Both myself and my daughter have a feather allergy and all of the pillows, cushions and quilts in the property are feather filled. Due to this we had to remove the cushions from the sofa so we could use it and purchase new pillows so we could sleep at night luckily it was warm enough at night that we could dispose of the quilts. We appreciate that you probably use feather as its a sign of luxury like the cottage in general but perhaps having a notification on the booking page that feather pillows etc are used or having synthetic pillows onsite as an option would be useful. Also, perhaps a new 3 piece suite thats more comfortable would be nice as would a bbq to really enjoy the lovely garden and its views. To clarify we had a lovely time and its a lovely place just a few comments that stopped it being 5 stars personally for us.

Shirley

We spent a very enjoyable week in Samstone. Lovely house, lovely garden, lovely views, lovely area and lovely locals would gladly recommend a stay here.

Rosemary

The accomodation was perfect for our group. The kitchen is very well equipped with everything we needed, including 2 fridges & plenty of china & glassware. The rooms are charming & we were very comfortable. We stayed during the heatwave & appreciated the fans & advice for keeping the house cool. A peaceful location, in beautiful countryside, with great walks from the door.

We had a wonderful stay in Samstone a homely, attractive property, which is clearly loved by many in such a pretty location. It was a perfect setting to celebrate my dad's birthday with plenty of space for a couple of relatives to join us. Unfortunately we were having such a good time that I forgot our departure date was on Friday and not Saturday so we were a bit surprised when the cleaners arrived totally my fault. It would have been helpful to have a reminder about the leaving date and time in your email correspondence if possible in future. Also a small point couple of cloths to wipe the worktops in the kitchen would have been helpful, I forgot to tell the cleaners and a BIG thank you to them as they so patient and polite with us on the final day. Best wishes and thank you for a lovely holiday experience. Julia

Lauren Rooke

Really lovely house and position, in a very quiet small village. Lots of great walks from the door and Shaftesbury is only 10mins away. Salisbury is ca. 35 mins drive lovely city and there are loads of local NT and EH sites to visit, lots of quiet villages and good pubs locally plus the Lido at Shaftesbury. All rooms are comfortable and the kitchen is very wellequipped we always appreciate salt, pepper, oil, bin bags etc!There's lots of storage and dining space it doesn't feel cramped for the maximum of 8 people. N.B. No barbecue or sun loungers but there's a patio dining set and plenty of normal outdoor chairs. We had a lovely holiday and would definitely come back.

This is our fourth visit to the house in the spring and we have have enjoyed every visit. We will be back again next year

We stayed at Samstone late May, early June 2026. At that time the surrounding countryside was in its full breathtaking glory. Samstone sits in an elevated position over looking this wonderful countryside. Donhead St. Mary is a small, quaint and tranquil village, and is a very good place to relax and unwind. The house was very comfortable, and well catered for. There were many interesting places to visit nearby, and the local country walks were top rate. Over all I can highly recommend Samstone as a holiday location, as there are so many tourist attractions to visit nearby, including castles, abbeys, churches, gardens, historic houses, museums and quaint villages and small market towns. You could say that the surrounding area is an area that is often over looked by holiday makers, but in truth is a hidden secret, that will never fail to delight. Highly recommend ! .

Stuart

A wonderful family house spacious and well equipped, in a great area to explore.

Lovely property, great for a multigenerational group of adults. Only improvement to make would be to supply larger cups.

Joanna

Fabulous cottage! Beautifully presented, spotless, quality bedding, comfortable beds. Amazing views over open countryside, location perfect, great dog walks from the cottage. Plenty of things to do in the local area. We hope to return soon.

Geraldine

The property exceeded our expectations in terms of the comfortable space and the equipment provided was much more than just the minimum. The bedrooms were enormous and the beds extremely comfortable. The fridgefreezer plus an additional fridge, and the washing machine were all in good order. The chocolate, wine and coffee on arrival were a nice touch. Very welcoming. It is in a peaceful location, with a good garden and wonderful views. Good for quiet time books, jigsaws, cards, games, etc all available for walking the many footpaths good selection of maps nearby and for visiting Stourhead, Salisbury, Bournemouth, Shaftesbury, Compton Abbas airfield, Win Green hilltop and Old Wardour Castle. All enjoyable and within a reasonable distance. Despite the previous reviews, there was not a problem with the temperature of the showers and the iron and ironing board looked new. We would happily stay here again.

Our party of 8 thoroughly enjoyed our stay in Samstone 5 nights. The view from the patio over rolling hills was beautiful, with glorious sunsets every night. The en suite bedroom upstairs was particularly comfortable with the same gorgeous views. The family of four were well catered for in the twin bedded and double bedroom with a shared bathroom. The downstairs bedroom was perfectly comfortable but without the beautiful decoration and soft furnishings of upstairs. Outdoor furniture with cushions was good. The kitchen was well equipped and had everything we needed. We would highly recommend this property with its easy access to Salisbury, Bath, Shaftesbury and Stourhead.

Trevor

Great property with bags of character and space in a lovely rural and quiet setting. Everything we could have needed was provided.

Jerome

Exceeded our expectations, lovely property.

Anthony

We had a fantastic stay here. 4 adults, 5 kids and 2 dogs...plenty of space for everyone and more to spare. Beautiful location with some lovely walks and a nice pub near by. Highly recommended

The cottage was lovely, homely and comfortable. The only gripe was the showers. The downstairs shower was far too hot or anyone to use and no way of altering the temperature. The upstairs shower was marginally better but again minimal temperature control and too hot for most of us. it resulted in us sitting in the bath and showering ourselves with the hand held shower which sometimes soaked the bathroom carpet not a good idea! We realise that this is an ongoing problem so can probably only be rectified by a new tap in the bathrooms. Other than this we thoroughly enjoyed our stay and felt very at home in a lovely house.

Beautiful location and a lovely house. We had a family reunion with 8 adults and there was ample room for all. The bedrooms are spacious and the views are picturepostcode. The kitchen is well equiped for self catering, with a lovely dining area.

Superb, comfortable cottage in a beautiful village.

Lovely house in a beautiful location very peaceful. A few maintenance issues need to be addressed. 1. Downstairs shower temperature uncontrollable too hot! 2. Downstairs toilet seat needs attention. 3. Water temperature very hot. Lots of feather bedding and soft furnishings feathers are coming out! Not good if you have allergies! Overall cleanliness is not good in some areas. Basins & toilets, etc. Need a mirror and waste bin in downstairs bedroom. However we enjoyed our stay very much, Henrietta was very kind and considerate. We would certainly consider staying again.

Home from home, a comfortable cottage for a family gathering in a beautiful location.

Lovely stay. Spacious home with lovely views. Everything you need for a great stay

Very comfortable and spacious house in a lovely location, ideal for walking and cycling in the area could only be improved by enclosing the garden.

Elaine

It is a beautiful home in a great location. For Christmas it was so well equippedlunch for 12 people! Thank you for the decorations and panettone Elaine xx

Jeremy

We had a fantastic stay at Samstone. The property exceeded our expectations in terms of the space on offer and the location which was just lovely. We hope to stay again sometime.

Teresa

We had a lovely holiday, it had everything we needed. Lots to see in the local area, some short walks from the house. Two family's came together and had a wonderful werk.

Anne ie

This cottage is in a lovely location and with great access to some lovely walks and pubs. Its really well equipped and had a lovely clean but cozy feel about it, felt more like a family home than a holiday rental which was lovely. The views were great and the rooms large. A cake and cider on arrival which went down nicely! We enjoyed the Forester as a local supper but wider a field we found the Beckford Arms which was lovely. Had everything we wanted and great and pleasant communications with the owners. Instructions to find it were really good and despite icey conditions it was an easy journey from both directions to the cottage some of us came from the Bath direction and some from the London and Winchester direction. We really enjoyed our stay here.

Philip

Lovely location near the top of the hill with farreaching views to the rear of the property. All the rooms were generously sized with a practical layout and more than enough room for a party of 6 people to spread out and be comfortable. Property gave off the vibe of a family home rather than a holiday let, the advantage of this being it was welcoming and homely. A couple of the older seats in the living room will need replacing soon, and we used the cushions from there to bolster the height of the dining chairs as they seemed a little low. Well equipped kitchen, with 2 fridges which we found useful to store drinks in the heatwave. Personally we would have found pasta bowls useful, but that is a preference for our family for some meals. Parking for 2 cars easily, 3 at a pinch, to the side of the building. We'd recommend visiting Compton Airfield Runway Cafe to watch the small planes come and go as seen from the patio at the house yummy traybakes and hot chocolate! Plenty of walks from the front door eg. to Donhead St Andrew, or through the fields at the back of the house. Good selection of maps in particular the waterproof local area ones in the kitchen yellow in colour. Thoroughly enjoyed our time there and would happily return.

Samstone is a lovely, spacious and very clean property. It was also very well placed during the heatwave as its location meant we had a perfect cooling through draught with windows open front and back. The garden was a lovely bonus as it was the perfect place to sit and read and enjoy the compete peace and quiet broken only by the occasional squabbling crow! I would highly recommend this property.

Frances

A wonderful cottage set in peaceful and beautiful surroundings. Plenty of space and well kept garden. Very helpful owners giving us useful upfront information. A great area with plenty of walks which our little dog enjoyed. It felt like a very comfortable home.

This was a perfect home for 6 friends to share and explore the walking in a beautiful part of the country. The house was warm and welcoming and had all the facilities we needed. Local information was a great help. Thank you.

It was a very smart and comfortable accommodation . Each room had a beautiful view. The kitchen was a good size and the living room was very spacious. We spent some time out in the garden. We visited a lot of interesting places in the vicinity like Stourhead at Mere, gold hill,shaftesbury cathedral, Kingston lacey, durdle dor, lulwoth cove, sandbanks etc

Alison

We highly recommend this beautiful, peaceful cottage. It was very clean with lovely large rooms, a well equipped kitchen and a beautiful garden with amazing views, where we had lovely evenings playing Badminton. We visited NT Stourhead, Kingston Lacy and Stonehenge and even had a race up the famous Gold Hill in Shaftesbury. There are loads of lovely countryside walks to go on nearby. We had a marvellous week enjoyed by six adults and one dog! Thank You!

The house was as big as we expected and set in a on beautiful location with views to the hills of Cranbourne Chase. We enjoyed a glass of wine sat on the terrace looking at the view and deer spoting ! We played golf and can recommend the nearby Rushmore Park course which is a great course in a wonderful country setting. The house and location exceeded our expectations . we had a wonderful week.

Micheal

Cottage was great, only downfall was little things like ironing board, very old. But other than that place was fantastic, would stay there again, thinking of booking again soon

Sheila

Comfortable and well equipped house in beautiful, peaceful surroundings. Perfect for a family gettogether.

This was an absolute winner! We've stayed in lots of rentals, but the combination of the amount of space in the house and the view from the windows and terrace out onto the pretty garden, across the meadows and over to the hills beyond made it a perfect place to stay. It was so quiet and peaceful, you could hear and watch the birds soaring overhead, & lay on the lawn and watch the clouds go by. We walked locally, visited NT Stourhead & Montacute, Abbotsbury Subtropical gardens fabulous, and art galleries and shops in Salisbury, Shaftesbury & Dorchester. A lovely meal eaten at The Forester in Donhead St Andrew, the staff were very friendly and covidsafe. A great place to celebrate a special birthday. Many thanks!

Leave a Review

Samstone, Donhead St. Mary

About Samstone

Need To Know

More Group Cottages You May Like

What Guests Love

Spacious rooms for large groups

Outstanding countryside views

Ground floor accessibility

Well-equipped kitchen

Beautiful peaceful location

Perfect for family reunions

Getting To Samstone

By Car

By Train

Group Attractions & More Nearby

Is Samstone Right For Your Group

For Families

Groups Will Love...

Pet Friendly

Dining & Cafes

The Foresters Arms

The Benett Arms

The Beckford Arms

Frequently Asked Questions

Location Name

Popular Stays Near This Cottage

Samstone Reviews