This period house was the perfect stay for our family celebration. There were 6 of us and we had so much choice of rooms to be together, either playing pool on the full size table, reading books in the lounge, or fun and games in the music room. Elaine and Carl seem to have thought of everything. In particular I liked the way each room seemed to have a selection of books with different themes, one of which I liked so much, I have bought a copy to read at home, it will remind me of the great time we had. Swanage is a great place to visit too, I think we tried every eatery as recommended by Elaine and Carl and would fully endorse the recommendations. We absolutely loved the ambience of all the town with its quirky shops and welcoming bars. Also appreciated the hills to climb up home every night to burn off the calories. I measured the walk to be 0.3 miles and it took me 7 minutes to yomp up, my poor mother in law slightly longer! We also enjoyed Monkey World, Lulworth Castle and the walk along the coast through Durlston park. All this beauty just 2 hours from where we live, we will be back. In summary, you cannot go wrong staying here, you will have perfect hosts, in a perfect place to stay and be surrounded by great things to do.
Dear Elaine, Carl and family, what a lovely welcome you gave us all. Many thanks for your thoughtful note, flowers and gift of Prosecco – that was so kind of you and much appreciated. We love your beautiful house and gardens and it was a pleasure to stay. We have loved every minute. Take care and best regards.
Wonderful house and super-friendly and helpful host. Thank you so much Elaine for helping make our family celebration so enjoyable. Everything was just as it should be: The Mount is welcoming and comfortable but still retains its air of former times. All of us, from sixty to six months, had a great time and hopefully we’ll be able to return again in the future. Can’t recommend it too highly.
The Mount was a great place to spend New Year for our group of 14. It was beautiful, exceptionally well equipped and comfortable. Despite howling wind and rain it felt warm and cosy. The kitchen had everything we needed, all the bedrooms were spacious and the beds were sooo comfortable! Elaine was great – really helpful leading up to our visit and really accommodating whilst we were there.
We highly recommend a stay at this lovely home.
This was a wonderful stay for all our family. Everyone really enjoyed the experience – whatever age, it did not matter at all. The playroom was excellent for providing a focal point for the younger group and the kitchen area was wonderful for the older groups. Thank you.
The Mount is very quaint and beautiful. It has a great atmosphere – with large rooms, lots of space and something for everyone. We had an amazing time and ALL loved the billiard table. The house is in a great location with plenty of parking and we would recommend it to anyone. We would love to go back. Thank you for all the little touches. The children wanted to stay forever!
This is a fabulous house and was ideal for the whole family to be away for a few days. We were four generations – from great-grandparents, at 89 years old, down to a three-month baby. The pool table ended up being at the centre of the entertainment, there was a lovely open fire and The Mount was spacious enough for everyone to do their own thing…a key plus!!! Thanks so much for your help and support with our stay Elaine and for your clear directions. We are now thinking about making it an annual jaunt!
We had an incredible stay at Elaine’s beautiful house for my husband's 40th. A quick walk into Swanage and beautiful Purbeck walks on the doorstep. Elaine was very responsive and friendly throughout and both adults and kids found the house a joy to stay in. She went the extra mile and I would recommend her beautiful home to anyone looking for a family get together. Thanks again 😊
This beautiful house was the perfect stay for our family reunion. We had 12 people and plenty of space to be together and private comfy accommodation for all of us. Plenty of outdoor space for croquet, frisbee and doing cartwheels! Ideal location for hiking and exploring Dorset~ beautiful views to the sea, close stroll to the beaches, town, pubs, bakeries and restaurants. I would go back in a heartbeat and would recommend this place for everyone looking for a peaceful, tranquil and private gathering space and an ideal setting . . .and Elaine is a very hospitable and attentive host :)
We are a group of seven girlfriends and our visit to The Mount was our fourth long weekend away together. We all absolutely loved the house - it felt like we were being enveloped in a big warm hug when we walked through the front door! Elaine was a delight to deal with through the booking process and checked in by text whilst we were there. The rooms were all very comfortable and the house was extremely well equipped with everything we needed and more. We hired a chef to cook for us on the Saturday night and he was very happy with the kitchen facilities. We wouldn't hesitate to recommend The Mount for any type of group gathering. We can also recommend Tawny's Wine Bar for dinner, along with Love Cake cafe for the obvious.
We stayed at The Mount whilst walking the final section of the South West Coast Path. We have been walking it for 25 years (!!!), for one weekend a year and only had 7.5 miles to go. We are a group of seven ladies and for the finale our husbands joined us. It was an easy walk from The Mount to South Haven Point, and we took the Purbeck Breezer bus back to Swanage afterwards and celebrated with bubbly and a special meal at The Mount. Over the weekend we also enjoyed a cream tea and barbecue in the garden. The house is beautiful and made a wonderful base for us. It is very comfortable and was a memorable place to stay for the end of our adventure. Thank you for having us!
Thank you so much for letting us stay in your beautiful house. We are a group of friends who have been going away together for about 20 years and this is the one house we said we would like to return to. We all loved it and felt very comfortable. We couldn't think of one thing that we needed that wasn't there.
The Mount provided a perfect venue for our multi-generational family celebration. The comfortable but spacious house has been lovingly restored and is beautifully decorated and furnished. The house is supplied with everything we could need – and more, including: pool table, range of musical instruments, barbecue and children's swing. All were pressed into service! The garden provides various areas for relaxing and dining and has plenty of outdoor furniture. For us the location was perfect – a 10 minute walk from Swanage town with cliff top walks just around the corner. Highly recommended.
You will feel totally at home here because the house has everything you need and more – books and games, musical instruments, comfy beds, lovely art works, amazingly well-equipped kitchen and sea views. Elaine is really helpful and communicative. I can’t recommend it enough.
This was our first stay at The Mount and we can’t wait to go back. Perfect location with sea views, amazing walks on your doorstep, lovely home and garden, great communication from the owner. Would highly recommend to anyone…..really felt like home from home.
The Mount is the perfect property for a large family get together. Elaine was very helpful and kept us informed at every stage. The house was superbly laid out for dining and relaxing for a large group with lots of comfy settees and a large open fire in the main lounge. The children had lots of fun in the music/tv lounge playing the many guitars and piano and with the toys that were provided. The whole house was very warm and the showers had good pressure when all in use – which can be a bit hit and miss in rentals. The kitchen and dining room is equipped with just about everything you could wish for. All bedrooms are larger than average with comfortable mattresses and crisp cotton linen. The house has a fully enclosed, lovely, wrap-around garden for the children to enjoy and lots of patio seating. The location was beautiful with sea views and some great coastal paths for the walkers and runners in our family. Durlston Castle and country park was a lovely, close-by walk from the house with fantastic sea views. The Swanage steam railway was only a 10 minute walk away for a trip to Corfe Castle and 30 mins in the car to Poole Harbour for a boat trip to N/ trust island of Brownsea. We would highly recommend the house and the area for a stay with so much to do, another week or two would have been perfect in every way.
The house was fabulous, well fitted out and nice and warm on a cold and windy weekend. The different large comfortable lounges were great – enabling our three generations space to play music, pool, games or just stop for a quiet read. The kitchen was easily able to cope with 14 people and well fitted out with equipment, cookers and fridges of good quality. All the bedrooms were excellently kitted out and the separate bathrooms and ensuites were bright and clean with powerful showers and lashings of hot water. The garden was well protected and ideal for our little spaniel and the location was perfect for walking with easy access to the South West Coast path, Durlston Country Park and Swanage town. Thanks for letting us use your wonderful house.
This was a great house for a large gathering. Twelve of us stayed here to celebrate my husband’s birthday. It was just brilliant for our celebration and everyone loved the house. There was plenty of space and it never felt crowded. It’s an old house with character so you can relax here and not be frightened of putting your mug down. It's dog friendly with fantastic walks five minutes from the house. You can see the sea from the bedrooms, there is easy parking and an enclosed garden. The pool table was a big hit and the sound system was great. A house to have family fun in!!
Thank you for letting my family stay in your incredible home. Absolute amazing house and location! Honestly couldn’t have asked for more and the entire family loved it and didn’t want to leave. It was absolute perfection as we hadn’t been able to see each other for two years… everyone has already asked when will we be going back!!
The Mount is a one of a kind gem. The rooms, the fire places, the kitchen, the grounds, and the access to gorgeous coastal footpaths were just magical. Elaine’s communication, recommendations and general assistance were top notch. Everyone had a blast! We will be back!
We have had the most wonderful time in your beautiful house. Thank you. Everything is so wonderfully well-equipped and we look forward to coming to stay again soon, We can't wait!
Thank you so much for a wonderful week at the Mount, we all loved it! Such a beautiful house inside and out with a lovely large garden which was perfect for us (with two young children and a dog to keep happy!). It's also in a great location with Swanage just down the hill and cliff top coastal walks around the corner.
Clearly a lot of thought has gone into every last detail of the house, even a very kind welcome gift, and we appreciated all of it. Both kids loved the ladybird wheelie toys and the garden swing in particular. The train set was also a huge hit. The weather was a bit variable during our visit and although we managed to get out and about every day, it was so nice to have such a great house to return to with games, musical instruments, Netflix and plenty of space. The bedrooms were also gorgeous and super comfy beds - the kids have barely ever slept better so we all got a lie in too!
We were very sad to leave the house and would love to visit again sometime.
We just wanted to write and express our delight with the lovely stay we have just had at The Mount. Everything we hoped for was provided for and this made for a lovely relaxing few days. You have thought of everything! We were all so impressed with all the little touches, the bathroom organic hand washes, super kitchen equipment, beautiful gifts, wood for the fire, games, children’s toys, musical instruments ( which were used by our very own musical youth) and the knitting ! Not to mention the very comfy beds. All in all it made our stay super comfy and a home from home - actually a bit nicer than home! It would be lovely to come back again.
Dear Elaine, I thought you'd like to hear a bit about our weekend at the Mount. Little Amelia, 18 months, travelled miles up and down the passage outside the kitchen on TYYYGRRR Wheely Bug and consequently slept very well. Toby, two, was content constructing and deconstructing toy train tracks, even at 5.30am. He and his brother Ben, five, found the torches very useful when chasing 'the baddies ' on their ladybird Wheely Bugs. Seven-year-old Mandy headed first for the piano and ukuleles then the bookshelf and sat knitting by the fire in the evenings. And Lucy, 11, would happily have taken the swing home with her. The adults weren't at a loss either. The pool table saw plenty of use and we had brought an archery set, with suction pads on arrows, so had a competition in the garden on Saturday. My sister, a chef, was very impressed with the equipment and kitchen layout – though she was banned from cooking this weekend as she always ends up in the kitchen. I revelled in all the reminders of a bygone era. So much of the furniture and decor was reminiscent of my grandparents’ home. The folder of knitting patterns was delightful and I could have stayed several months to enjoy the books. Quite delightfully invigorating and relaxing if you can have both at the same time! The weekend could not have been better. I hope all your 'residents' enjoy themselves as much as we did!
Perfect house with lots of large rooms. The children all loved the pool table and piano and fantastic garden. Durlston Country Park is at the end of the street and super for dog walks through the fields and along the coastal path. The host was extremely helpful and welcoming. Would highly recommend this house!
We had such a lovely time at The Mount. Thank you for all you did to make our stay so comfortable and enjoyable. We hope to return and will be recommending you to family and friends. We had a guided walk at Charmouth with ‘The Wobbly Fossiler’ with some great fossil finds. Would definitely recommend to anyone who would enjoy that sort of thing!
Upon arrival, we were delighted to find an amazing property, lovingly looked after and with attention to some of the smallest detail – for example the soaps in the rooms were locally made, loved that. Fourteen of us were getting together to celebrate my wife's birthday and all of the communication between Elaine and ourselves was superb. Speedy, really helpful responses and directions made arriving and settling into the beautiful house so simple and seamless. The rooms were clean, well-maintained and bright. The living areas were spacious and full of items to make life easy. Plenty of utilities and cookware made things so simple, with two dishwashers to assist in keeping things tidy during our stay. Some additional items which you wouldn't normally find, but which added to the overall quality of the experience, were: a piano, a selection of guitars and recorders and a full-sized pool table which doubled up as a dining table - great idea. The garden was large and spacious. We played garden games, including badminton and croquet, which were provided. We took a walk across the coastal paths with two dogs and small children, a great experience. We also visited a local café / bar – The Salt-Pig 2 – for a Sunday lunch which was delightful with local ciders and superb food. The celebration of my wife's 50th birthday could not have gone better. She had a great time, thank you. We will visit for our 60ths in a decade or so :-). 10/10.
We thoroughly enjoyed our time at The Mount. It is ideally situated, beautifully furnished and fully equipped with everything one might need. Every room is a delight. It is worth visiting just to see the many hundreds of books available to borrow.
Thank you Elaine and Carl for a wonderful week at The Mount. It was perfect for our extended family – eight adults (ourselves, and three married children) and four small grandchildren, with room to find some quiet space too. The kitchen is superbly laid out and equipped, and thinking of the little but important things, like having on arrival sufficient loo paper, soap, washing up liquid, tea bags etc for the whole of our stay, really made us feel welcome (as well as your very kind welcome pack!). It makes such a difference not having to go off immediately to buy 'essentials' when you know you're only going to use half of them. It was great having the drying room for washing and wet beach things and we really enjoyed the garden too, which the children loved and was very safe for them. We would certainly recommend The Mount for any large family group like ours. Thank you so much. Charles, Sheila and family
Our family spent one week in this wonderful house. We enjoyed its beautiful atmosphere and the garden. Everyone could find his or her own favourite spot. We loved the surroundings: the beach, the landscape, Corfe Castle, the Swanage Railway, the town and the splendid weather! Thank you very much Elaine and Carl.
Our family have you to thank for helping to make a special birthday weekend into a very special birthday celebration. The Mount oozes character and space, coupled with the extraordinary additional touches, which all combine to make a place which is unforgettable. The garden too was much appreciated and used, and so good to have it for the two dogs to run around in. The weather certainly helped and we were able to enjoy the outside and Swanage. Thank you for all the generous extras you provided, which were very much appreciated. We do hope we will be able to visit again. It would be our third visit. Thank you again for helping us make memorable events to be treasured. Your beautiful house makes me emotional!
A brilliant property, highly recommended. We were a party of nine adults, four children and a baby. The house and garden were perfect for us; lots of space for communal activities and also escapes for quiet moments. It was lovely discovering things in every cupboard and drawer. Elaine and Carl were extremely helpful but not at all obtrusive. Thanks for enabling a really memorable family get-together.
We have just returned from another wonderful long weekend at your lovely house, even with 8 adults and 6 children there is plenty of space for everyone, the children especially enjoying the garden with so many places to hide and run around and plenty to entertain them indoors as well. The house is so well equipped with everything you could need and although it is a large house it also has a very cosy feel to it. Thank you for the 'welcome pack' which was very much appreciated. I am sure we will be returning next year for another family gathering.
My family and I have recently enjoyed a very happy Easter week at The Mount. It was the perfect place for a large family gathering, so comfortable and well-equipped, and we all loved it. We had perfect weather and were able to enjoy the beautiful garden, particularly the seven children, as well as the beach and the Purbecks, but I am sure that even if the weather had been poor we would have been very happy inside, there was so much room and so many things provided for an enjoyable stay. Thank you, Elaine and Carl.
This is just to say how much we all enjoyed staying in your lovely house this week. The house was one of the best equipped that we have stayed in, and so comfortable. All your instructions were very explicit, and the welcome pack was particularly generous, along with the 'basics' in the kitchen cupboards. The pool table was a huge success, with constant use by all ages. Even those new to the game became a bit addicted! Also the piano was well used, as one of the families is very musical. We were so lucky with the weather so were out every day - only one day with some rain. Swanage and the surrounding countryside has a lot to offer and we found plenty to do to suit varying ages. We enjoyed getting to know a new part of the country for us.
We have just returned from a week at The Mount celebrating my husband and my 80th birthdays along with family and friends. The house was wonderful, allowing for cooking up various feasts in the amazing kitchen, playing pool, relaxing by the fire and above all just being with people we love for an extended period of time. We had some beautiful Autumn weather and managed walks over Ballard, around Arne Reserve and of course around neighbouring Durlston Country Park, as well as visits to nearby towns and villages. Having first met at Swanage Grammar School this was the perfect venue for this get together. Thank you Elaine and Carl for all the attention to detail at every level and for being so helpful with the planning for this important milestone.
We were a large group with 4 small children celebrating a family birthday. From first contact to last, Elaine was extremely helpful. The attention to detail within the house was superb – there is everything you could wish for. Toys and books for children, musical instruments and a fantastically well equipped kitchen and utility. The beds were really comfortable and the bathrobes were a lovely touch. The Mount is well situated for town and shopping as well as long walks around Durlston Country Park. A perfect setting for a family celebration. Thank you Elaine and Carl.
The Mount is a beautiful character property in a lovely location. It is equipped with everything you could possibly need for a great get-away. My friends and I go away together for a long weekend every year and the Mount is definitely at the top of our list for a wonderful break. Although we would normally go out to eat, we found ourselves eating in in the evenings just so that we could enjoy the house. There is so much to do and see around Swanage that we are already thinking that we will need to go back. We were very lucky to have great weather but might have had a chance to make more use of the music room, games, puzzles and art materials if it had been wet! Thank you Elaine
Elaine and Carl, thank you for creating such a beautiful space to gather with friends, it made our wedding even more special and wowed our guests. There is room to gather together, and spaces to escape for some peace. The garden is magical; I found myself thinking how I would have loved it as a child, so many places to explore and hide away. The kitchen space is both practical and stylish, and complete with a myriad of cooking utensils and a cupboard full of seasoning. The bedrooms each have their own character and the beds are super comfortable, the views are something else!
In short, I didn't want to leave. Thank you again x
Thank you for letting us have your wonderful Edwardian house for a never to be forgotten holiday over my 80th birthday on 1 August 2018. I was there with all three of my 'children' their seven children and some other halves, and my great grandchild. It proved to be the perfect venue for such a holiday as it was so spacious and so very well equipped. We went to the Trattoria Italian restaurant on the actual day and had a very good meal though it wasn't mentioned in your info book. I think you have thought of everything that goes to make a comfortable break. The music room was particularly appreciated as we are a fairly musical family and much fun was had there. We would heartily recommend The Mount to other large groups.
A big 'Thank You' from us all. We had a wonderful and unforgettable holiday together, much enhanced by your lovely house and garden. Everyone was happy, young and old. The house itself was a dream, just exactly as we'd hoped, if not better. It was incredibly well-equipped and looked-after and because of the beautiful weather, we spent much time in the garden eating all our main meals outside on the patio which was heaven! We also fell in love with the area and would love to return one day. I knew it years ago before I was married, but it was new to most of the others. Thank you, too, for all the 'goodies' you left for us on our arrival, all much appreciated.
I am writing to two friends to recommend you. I promised I would let them both know how we got on and whether you lived up to our expectations – a resounding YES! Our kind regards to you and your family and thanks again.
You might like to know that Sally and Lou Bliss of Bliss Catering provided a delicious 'special' meal for us on Saturday evening. We were most happy with them.
My family and I had a great stay. We found the house well-equipped with a well stocked kitchen. It had enough to entertain all eight children who were there with an art drawer, garden toys, cards, books and train tracks. It was great. Elaine was very friendly and helpful throughout the booking process and during our stay. Very nice place to stay for large groups.
We had such a good family celebration for my 80th. The Mount is a wonderful house for such big parties – everyone had a really good time and of course the weather was fantastic!
Thank you for the lovely welcome. We had the most memorable weekend of our lives with our lovely family. There was much chatter and laughter and we were thoroughly spoilt by the family. Lots of surprises for the 'birthday boy'. We all loved the house and felt very much at home in it. The music room and pool table were well used too. It was a weekend never to be forgotten – still smiling from the memories!
One word to sum it all up: Brilliant.
Thank you, Elaine.
We took the Mount for a long weekend in February for a family get-together of 15 of all ages (4 - 70) together with two dogs. The immediate impression was of a spacious and comfortable house with a friendly feel to it, well furnished in a manner sympathetic to the building. Upstairs we particularly valued the flexibility of the sleeping arrangements, so that we could choose to have four girls together on the top floor, two boys together and only the youngest sharing with parents. The main bedrooms felt very grand and had good views
Downstairs, the second sitting room / music room / TV room and the huge kitchen meant that there was plenty of space for everyone without people being on top of each other and with different groups doing different things. The house had everything we wanted with plenty to keep people amused - the pool table under the dining table top and the selection of musical instruments to be played were particularly popular. It was also very practical, from the tiled entrance hall in which to leave muddy and sandy footwear to the boiler / drying room at the back of the house (we were fortunate in having dry weather and did not need it but in bad weather or for a longer stay it would have been a godsend).
The garden is large and with lots of interest - the children enjoyed running round in it and at a warmer time of year it would be delightful to sit out in.
The location is convenient; a comfortable walk to the coast at Durston and to Peverill point as well as to the centre of Swanage and its beach (subject to the return from Swanage being quite an uphill climb).
We didn't actually meet Elaine but all our phone and email conversations with her were very friendly and she did everything to make sure we had all we wanted to enjoy our stay. Many thanks Elaine.
We have just returned from a brilliant weekend in your gorgeous house, and I wanted to say a big thank you for all you do to make sure that your guests have a lovely stay. The comfy beds, quality towels and linens, and lovely toiletries in the bathrooms were appreciated by all ( in fact one of my friends was so taken by the toiletries that she has googled where she can buy them!). Everyone really enjoyed themselves, and we all had plenty of room to do whatever we wanted. Many games of pool were played, games played, quizzes completed, musical sessions, and plenty of food consumed and wine drunk!! The children loved the garden, and it was a shame that the weather did not play ball, but that didn't dampen their enthusiasm! I have spent many weeks planning this weekend, and now feel a little sad that it is all over, but I have many happy memories that will last with me forever. We hope to make a return visit in the future!!
Wonderful house beautifully equipped for all the family. A comfortable, cosy house; extremely well equipped for all visitors. Plenty to do and plenty of places to enjoy a book or play some music or have a game of pool. Lots of space inside and out and so close to the coast! Our extended family had a marvellous weekend celebrating a senior birthday.
Hard to know where to start and finish as Elaine and Carl have thought of just about everything. From the personal touches (dog chews, fluffy white robes for each adult guest, toiletries etc) to their local foodie suggestions.....each was spot on! The house is perfect for a large family gathering (as in our case with 8 adults, 7 kids and a baby + 2 dogs!!) or a few families and friends coming together as there are 2 decent-sized living rooms (one with Netflix etc) and a big dining room with a dining table that converts to a pool table so great entertainment for all kids big and small! Location is wonderful being a short walk away form stunning views over to the Isle of Wight and Bournemouth with great cliff-side strolls down into the village literally on your doorstep. We had one glorious day of cold sunshine when we all went out for a long walk and 2 days of wind and rain but it’s the UK Riviera not the south of France... so I guess to be expected! The log fires make up for it though and we had 3 great family meals together so it’s just as much fun being inside too! All in all a great but too short break and I would highly recommend this house and the hosts to anyone looking for generous-sized but homely accommodation. We hope to be back... Dan & Family
We have just had a lovely family Xmas at this superbly equipped property. There were 16 of us in our party and its size was more than adequate for our needs. The house has some lovely period features and has that real lived-in feel. Everything worked well and the hosts Elaine and Carl were extremely friendly and attentive, catering for all our needs. I can thoroughly recommend The Mount which is ideally situated in Swanage which has a rich and fascinating history and is surrounded by some beautiful countryside.
Don't look any further! The Mount cannot be surpassed. I have just celebrated my 60th birthday with four generations of family in this gorgeous home. It is so much more than a holiday rental. Elaine has thought of everything. There is no compromise on quality or comfort. The beds are sublime, toiletries are plentiful and fluffy gowns are provided for all adults. Music, books, games, toys, art and craft, pool table – it's all there with something for all age groups. My elderly mother proved to be a pool shark – who knew? While my three-year-old granddaughter sobbed because she didn't want to leave!! 'Scorched Earth Policy' does not exist here. Elaine and Carl provide a full cupboard of condiments, oil, herbs and spices and dishwasher tablets in abundance. To top it all the house was decorated for Christmas and looked exquisite. I'm running out of superlatives. Just book it and experience The Mount for yourself!
The Mount was a truly amazing house for our family get-together to celebrate my dad's 80th birthday! It accommodated us all with ease (11 adults, 4 children/teenagers & a dog) & was superbly equipped with everything we needed to have an enjoyable stress free week away! The welcome pack of Dorset goodies & birthday message to my dad was a lovely & personal touch! We enjoyed some great meals, games of pool, quiet moments, log fires, musical interludes & catch ups with each other. The walks & views from the house were fabulous helped by the dry, mild & sunny weather that we were blessed with this November!! Many thanks to Elaine & family for making our week away such a wonderful experience. The Mount will live long in our memories!
This attractive Edwardian house was great for a family birthday with siblings, grown-up children, partners, nephew and niece. Lovely garden, interesting pictures, books and music in the house – room for the whole group to sit together or be in different convivial spaces. We had glorious weather one day (23rd September) and walked from the house to, and swam in, Dancing Ledge pool. Very enjoyable long weekend.
Our large group of eight adults, three children and two dogs enjoyed a wonderful week at The Mount in August. The house is so spacious and very well equipped providing everything we could have wished for! We enjoyed walks to the beach and nearby Country Park, played croquet, badminton and cricket and had plenty of space to rest and relax when we needed it! Elaine and Carl helped to make our week at The Mount a memorable one!
Great house. Views from every room. Lovely welcome pack on arrival. Close to headland and clifftop walks. A perfect week enjoyed by all the family.
A brilliant 5 days in this lovely house. We are a group of friends who get together annually and this year we went to The Mount in Swanage. The house is lovely, capacious and very well equipped – no stinting on dishwasher tablets or loo paper, and a kitchen full of equipment, even a spice/oil/condiment cupboard! We were able to spread out and enjoy both the house and the garden. It's an easy walk down to the town and good exercise getting back up – although there is a bus that stops outside the door. We found lots to do and good places to eat.
Great, beautiful and fantastic! We were 16 altogether aged between 5 and 80 – a family get together. All of us enjoyed the week we spent at The Mount. Good to share long meals in the big, nice and well-equipped kitchen. During the days we loved to experience the nice surroundings to The Mount or just relax in the beautiful garden. For all of us it was great to challenge each other for an exciting match of billiards or croquet.
Overall we were overwhelmed by everything. Just being in such a house and garden is not an everyday occurrence! In addition, the house was very tidy, clean and welcoming. The welcome card and gift on the kitchen table from the owners just underlined that this is a place to recommend, a place we will keep in our good memories and a place we want to return to.
Beautiful house, well-equipped, clean, finished to a high standard and in a great location. We had a fantastic three-night break at the Mount. The house is extremely comfortable and well-equipped. The owners have paid attention to the small details – like bathrobes for every guest. The place has soul; it feels like you're staying in someone's home rather than a rental property. Our group of 14 (including two babies) enjoyed the space and the proximity to wonderful beaches, pubs and clifftop walks. The kitchen dining area is perfect for lavish communal dining and the garden is made for hours of croquet. Five stars.
We were seven adults, four children and two dogs and The Mount really couldn't have been better for us. It's a great house and excellently well equipped. Elaine couldn't have been more helpful both with our multitude of questions during the booking process nor when we had questions and little issues during our stay. The new off-road parking is designed to accommodate two cars but we found it could easily take three as long as we organised departures and anyway there's plenty of room to park on the road. It's worth investigating the cupboards and drawers around the house because there's often something surprising or useful inside. We didn't use everything but it was exciting to see what was there. The attention to detail is amazing... even the guitars and ukuleles hanging on the wall were in tune when we arrived!
Having read through all the other reviews, I can find no words to add to the glowing compliments , which are all so true. Our party, including two toddlers and two aged grandparents, truly had a marvellous stay. The secure, enclosed garden was a huge bonus for the children, who loved the swing and outdoor games all provided; and all the mums drooled over the enormous washing machine! Despite our large party the house had plenty of quiet spots as it was so capacious. Elaine and Carl were kindness itself when there was a small domestic problem, and came to fix it straightaway. We would recommend this house, and the gentle town of Swanage with its beautiful coastline, to anyone.
Just wanted to say a massive 'thank you' to you and your family for the use of the Mount this last weekend. We all had a really fantastic time. We couldn't have been more fortunate with the weather. The house and garden were fantastic. We would recommend to all.
Booked The Mount for a surprise family birthday weekend and it was perfect. It comfortably housed 11 adults, 7 children, 1 baby and 2 dogs. The kitchen is equipped with all you could possibly need, with ample pots, pans, crockery, cutlery and glasses, and with two dishwashers and two fridges we took full advantage. The house is well furnished but not so pristine that you worry about the children causing damage to precious antiques, so you immediately feel at home. A very pretty garden surrounds the house which the children loved to play in. We will stay again, it is highly recommended.
We came here as a group of 13 female friends for a long weekend. The house was warm, comfortable and homely, with fluffy towels and robes, gorgeous toiletries and open fires. Spotlessly clean, and with rooms large enough for us all to spread out and never feel cramped. The kitchen is very well appointed with ample crockery for large groups and two dishwashers also to make life easier. Perched on a hill above Swanage, it is only 5-10 minutes walking down to town. We did long walks along the spectacular coast in both directions over the weekend, without having to use a car. Fabulous!
For Christmas this year we decided that the whole family should be together, with ages ranging from 1-92. (Sadly my mother passed away in October, she was to join us for Christmas day lunch). We discovered The Mount. Not far to go, a bedroom for all, perfect. After a few discussions with Elaine and lots of Christmas shopping, we arranged to collect the keys, all went without a hitch. We walked in and I wanted to call 'we're home Mum'. The house was so warm and welcoming, even a huge Christmas tree in the Music room. We were all ready to party for four long days. All that remained now, was to unpack everything, including a beautifully presented complimentary basket of goodies and to chill the large bottle of Prosecco. We were even left a treat for each of our dogs! What fun we had at 'The Mount'. The children played nicely, the adults, including the dogs were well behaved. Long evenings spent in front of the log fire, swapping stories, after an invigorating walk back up the hill from the beach, to a well deserved meal. Attention to detail and equipment excellent. We would recommend The Mount 100% as we found it a pleasurable experience from beginning to end. Thank you Elaine and Carl.
An excellent venue for our family get together, 13 of us covering three generations. The house provided the space that allowed us to be one, but also provided private space for quieter moments. The standard of facilities was excellent and the welcome we received was a very lovely bonus. All our party had a great time and would highly recommend the venue and also the town of Swanage. Thanks Elaine and family
A wonderful, grand old house with a lovely homely feel, in a great location, with great walks from the door. This fabulous period property is superbly equipped and the owners have clearly put much thought into the small details that make it feel so homely. The beds are extremely comfortable with high quality linens and the kitchen was really well stocked. It's fantastic to have olive oil, salt and pepper, dishwasher tablets etc readily available, which is not that usual for a self catering property. The pool table was a real highlight and even lured the teenagers away from their phones for a few hours! All in all, it is a fantastic property which we would highly recommend.
We have had a thoroughly wonderful weekend stay with our friends. We loved The Mount with its character and comfort. The owners have done a fantastic job renovating and decorating this beautiful house. Great location for walking (with stunning coastal views), eating out (we enjoyed the Black Swan) and relaxing. We will certainly be recommending The Mount to family and friends.
We stayed for 4 nights at the Mount and had a really great time. The charming, spacious Edwardian house is beautiful and brilliantly equipped with all mod-cons and coped really well with our large party including a baby and a dog! The house is very spacious and comfortable with every attention being given to the quality of linen and all the extra details that give the whole house 5-star appeal. We were particularly taken with the care and attention given to décor, pictures, books and the music room that give the house a really homely feel. The owners, Elaine and Carl, made every effort to make sure that our stay was perfect and we look forward to returning for another wonderful break.
An enchanting house that could not have been better! We stayed 3 nights at The Mount for a family wedding in Swanage and had the most fantastic time there. The house is absolutely charming and so spacious that even with 13 of us staying there we felt that there was room for a few more! The facilities are brilliant with a large incredibly well-equipped kitchen, very spacious and comfortable bedrooms and an ample garden with barbecue facilities to boot. The only downside to our stay was that it was only for 3 nights - we all wanted to stay there longer! Needless to say we hope to be visiting again next summer. Elaine is a brilliant host and made our arrival and departure very straightforward and was on hand at all times should we need anything. I'd thoroughly recommend staying here any time of year!
A perfect family holiday. The three generations of my family (12 of us this year) have rented a number of large houses over the years for our summer holidays − some good, some not so good − but The Mount at Swanage is in a class of its own. It is a superbly preserved Edwardian villa with lovely private gardens. The house would be an attraction on its own but it is the care and attention lavished on it by its owners that set it apart. Each room has been thoughtfully furnished, lovely bedrooms, splendid views, masses of room for our family − the large attic room is perfect for children to play and sleep in and they have lots of room to spread out. The Welcome Pack was generous and there was a cupboard stocked with all those bits and pieces you always forget to take. The stocks of soap and toilet rolls, dog bags, dish washer tabs, laundry washing powder and bath towels were enough to withstand a siege but it was the little things, like the treats for our dogs and frozen lollies for the kids, that told us we were somewhere special. We had a wonderful Edwardian holiday. Don’t take any board games − they’ve got them all; or any books − the library is amazing, and if you can pretend that the pool table is a snooker table then the time-shift will be complete. As a family, we wholeheartedly recommend The Mount and hope very much to return.
If you are looking for a large house and garden on the South Coast, you needn't look any further than The Mount. It is a beautiful house, excellently equipped, lovely grounds and altogether a real home from home.
We were 6 adults, 4 children, and 1 dog. Tons of space, inside and outside for everybody.
Swanage has a great beach, and there are plenty of coffee etc places as well as local walks - if you can tear yourself away from The Mount!
Loved every minute.
Elma & family
Having decided it was time my husband and I plus our complete family of 7 adults and 4 grandchildren (1 a new born) had a long overdue weekend together, we found The Mount, and so pleased we did. Everything about this house is perfect. The children had plenty of space to play inside and out, all the rooms were comfortable and spacious, bathrooms large and showers excellent - no problems with hot water and using showers etc at same time. The kitchen is very well equipped and easy to work in, with a second kitchen for overflow use - not that we needed it even with 12 of us, as the main kitchen is so good. We spent our evenings sat round the large family-size kitchen table chatting and eating and just relaxing, then into one of the sitting rooms to play cards. Lots of toys, books and games in the rooms. Elaine and Carl provide top notch attention to detail, an excellent fully-equipped home, nothing was too much trouble. We are more than happy to recommend and would stay again without hesitation. Swanage is a lovely town - we managed an almost dry few hours on the beach and enjoyed the steam train to Corfe Castle.
We chose The Mount for a family get together. What a wonderful home this is, lovely large rooms, very well equipped kitchen and lovely garden. The children had a wonderful time, spending most of the time in the garden or sitting on the landing reading books. Elaine and Carl could not be more helpful, lovely welcome surprise on the kitchen table. Would recommend without any hesitation. We had the most relaxing and wonderful break. Thank you Elaine and Carl
We chose the Mount as the venue to celebrate my 40th and what an amazing place it was! Ideally located to the beach, town and to the coastal footpath. It boasts views to die for from every bedroom. We were 3 families sharing this house including children and were so pleased to find out that the house already had toys and books so we didn't have to pack these! The children had great fun exploring the house and hide and seek had a whole new meaning in this huge house! The kitchen left us awestruck and had more than enough facilities and all the little extra things you could possibly imagine!! The garden was just perfect, idyllic. Would recommend this to anyone else, in particularly if you want to get all the family together. Superbly impressed - thank you so much for making this so personal for us and such a memorable week ;o)
Glorious house for family gatherings. We enjoyed our birthday celebration very much. Best equipped house we have ever stayed in and the little thoughtful extras were exceptional. Would recommend this house in a heartbeat.
10th June 2016
A big whole-hearted thank you for the warm welcome you gave the family for our Grandad's birthday weekend. Your property is perfect in so many ways for big group gatherings. Well equipped, comfortable and a glorious location. We all can't wait to return at the next family or friends gathering.
We absolutely loved staying at The Mount. It was so thoughtfully equipped and prepared, and the beds were very comfortable – I don’t usually sleep well when I’m somewhere new but I slept like a log. It’s a very special house and you have done a great job renovating it. Thank you for sharing it with us.
We spent Easter 2016 at The Mount with three generations of our family, 13 in all, ranging between 7 and 70 years. As usual for a Bank Holiday weekend, the weather was very changeable, however our week at The Mount was delightful in every way. The Mount is a lovely Edwardian house which has retained all of its original charm. Elaine and Carl have furnished the property in keeping with its style and age, together with a lovely kitchen and well fitted bathrooms, showers and toilets in all parts of the house. The house is so well equipped with kitchen utensils and appliances that the visitor can want for nothing.
However it is the smaller touches like fresh spring flowers, books, pictures, musical instruments, etc. which make you feel instantly at home.
The grandchildren loved creeping down the servants stairs which lead to the kitchen for extra treats when the elder members of the family were not looking. Despite the weather the garden was also enjoyed for various ball games and tea and cake in the sunshine.
Absolutely marvellous, we look forward to returning soon.
Just a note to reinforce how much we enjoyed our fantastic stay at The Mount. What an amazing property! The spaciousness of the house and all its facilities, its position in the town & the views and the grounds! What a nice old-fashioned town - in the best sense - Swanage has so much to do, with children and without. We'd be happy to recommend it to any family party such as ours.
Perfect house for a big gathering. We had a wonderful girls' weekend with plenty of space to relax, play music, watch TV and cook fabulous meals in a really well-appointed kitchen. Lots to do with the sea, quaint town, Corfe Castle steam train and great walking and horse riding. I've no doubt we will be back!
Just Fabulous! We were 12 ladies spending our annual weekend of escape at The Mount and quite honestly we could not have found anywhere more perfect. The house itself is spacious, incredibily well equipped throughout, wonderfully comfortable and cosy and situated in one of the most amazing spots on the Jurassic coast. The owners Elaine and Carl were incredibily accommodating and their attention to detail is fantastic, I challenge anyone not to be wowed when they walk into the house for the first time. We will certainly be returning and would recommend the house without the slightest hesitation, it is a real gem. Thank you so much to Elaine and Carl.
First and foremost, The Mount is absolutely flawless. We stayed over New Year and a few days extra, and for such a large group of people in their twenties, we knew we wanted a fun but high quality place within a nice location and to not feel cramped. We were very fussy with our search and are so thankful that Elaine and family could accommodate. The house was honestly perfect and I cannot think of a single thing I would change. Everything was in working order (heating, water, all electrics, gas, facilities) and all technology extras (an INCREDIBLE Sonos multi-room speaker system, plasma TV with Netflix) all worked perfectly. There are hidden gems all throughout the house and we loved finding them throughout the stay. The biggest hidden surprise being within the big room you first walk in... The price for the stay was outstanding and we really felt like we'd found the perfect place all within our budget. Elaine was so very helpful from initially showing interest, booking and even throughout our entire stay. Any questions I had about the house were answered within the hour, which just made the whole experience so completely perfect. Thank you so much for letting us stay and for helping make my 30th birthday so very special. We will 100% be back!
Just back from an amazing Christmas stay at the Mount. Couldn't fault it. Whole family really enjoyed the comfortable rooms, the space and the special touches. The Christmas tree in the words of the 3 yr old was 'amazing'. Grandma enjoyed the blankets when she was watching tv. The dogs loved the walks on the cliff paths and beaches. Sadly the weather was not cold enough for the roaring log fires we could have had.
Would love to return summer or winter. Elaine a perfect host.
Fantastic house, very spacious and in a lovely location. Incredibly well equipped, beautiful touches and very homely. Really helpful owner. Minutes into Swanage town centre and onto South West Coastal Path. Would highly recommend.
We considered ourselves to be very lucky to have found the Mount. It is a wonderful place.
We stayed for a long weekend as part of a family celebration that included a birthday, an engagement and the completion of the South West Coast Path walk. It was ideal for us and was both comfortable and luxurious at the same time. The location was perfect, being near to the coastal path, Durlston Castle and Swanage itself. Everything was provided in the house including plenty to entertain young and old alike.
My fiancée and I could happily live in the Mount for the rest of our days, and I am certain we will be back.
We stayed here 13 adults , 2 children to celebrate a couple of family birthdays. There is really nothing to find fault with , many little touches make the difference, like bath robes for all guests. All basics provided, toilet rolls, kitchen rolls, washing up liquid, dishwasher tablets, cooking oils, herbs etc.
The house has not been changed so most of its internal layout is as when it was built, this gives it an immense feeling of character. There are 3 ovens and 2 dishwashers, so easy to stay on top of everything. We certainly would return and can highly recommend.
What an amazing place. Spacious, characterful, beautifully decorated and so well equipped. Plenty of space to relax and entertain (we were a group of 13). The bedrooms are comfortable and the downstairs rooms welcoming and cosy. The plentiful outside furniture is a bonus and all the extra touches make this feel like a home. It is well situated too – with lovely views and a short walk to the town, beach and coastal path – it is impossible to fault this fantastic house.
We absolutely loved The Mount, and couldn't think of a single thing that would have made our stay more comfortable and enjoyable. We would love to revisit, as all of us thought it such a fantastic find.
We all really enjoyed the week. We loved the house and the fact you have it so well-equipped – great attention to detail and you really have thought of everything. The pool table was a massive hit! We were all so impressed and hope to be back.
The music room with its instruments, the Sonos music system, Netflix, the pool table and the hundreds of books made the house a fab place to hang out in. The exceptionally well-equipped kitchen made cooking-in really easy for us – I don't think I've ever stayed in a rented property that was so well equipped! The herb garden was another unexpected bonus – we used it several times. We found The Mount to be a wonderful place to stay, even better than we expected and full of unexpected touches to delight us – I have a feeling we will be back!
It's a real 'wow' moment when you arrive at this house. It's stunning - packed full of period details, elegantly furnished and decorated, a genuine treat to stay in. The bed was bigger than I'd ever slept on and so comfortable and the shower was sparkling clean and really powerful. The kitchen is full of mod cons but, like the rest of the house, tastefully done and in keeping with the Edwardian interior. It easily accommodated our large group and the dining table converts to a pool table - ideal for rainy days! The garden is fantastic too with a swing that the children loved playing on. Nearby is a lovely nature reserve and there are breathtaking views from the bedrooms. One of the best holiday rentals I have stayed in. I would thoroughly recommend it.
Gorgeous, welcoming family home in perfect location. Wonderful garden with heaps of room for kids to tear around - they particularly loved croquet, billiards and the fridge dispensing ice cubes. House is great for relaxing - our three families fitted in easily - five minute stroll into town and lovely walks along the coastal path right on the doorstep.
Charming Edwardian seaside villa in Dorset, sleeping 7-16 in seven bedrooms