Old Higher Lighthouse Stopes Cottage

Rating
Sleeps 4
Bedrooms 2
Bathrooms 1
Pets No
View on map

Features

Swimming pool
Off road parking
Ground floor bedroom
Garden / Patio
Washing machine
Seaside
Broadband / WiFi

Reviews

13 Customer Review(s)

ReviewRabbit01
February 2021

“Health Crisis Profiteer”

My parents travelled from Australia in March 2020 only to leave a week later due to the pending national lockdown. They called to cancel our booking and were willing to pay a cancellation charge despite the cirumstances being out of their control. The owners took all of their money and did not refund a single cent despite not having delivered a service. ...

My parents travelled from Australia in March 2020 only to leave a week later due to the pending national lockdown. They called to cancel our booking and were willing to pay a cancellation charge despite the cirumstances being out of their control. The owners took all of their money and did not refund a single cent despite not having delivered a service. The lack of integrity shown by their profiteering from the health crisis was a disgrace. I do not recommend booking with hosts who demonstrate poor judgement and ruthless, self-seeking business practices. Avoid.

- ReviewRabbit01, February 2021
Mr Phillipson September 2020

“Stopes Cottage is actually nicer than it appears in the listing.”

It was clean with a good shower and a comfortable bed. The views particularly from the lighthouse are spectacular. The WiFi works and there is parking by the front gate.

- Mr Phillipson, September 2020
Prof Langhamer August 2020

“We had a wonderful time at Stopes Cottage.”

The owners were helpful and friendly; the cottage is extremely comfortable and very homely; and the lighthouse is beyond fantastic. In these challenging times it was a total joy to find a location that was so peaceful and so beautiful. Thank you!

- Prof Langhamer, August 2020
BlueHayward July 2019

“A Lovely Lighthouse Accommodation”

Just returned from a lovely week at the Old Higher Lighthouse. As a family we rented both the Stopes Cottage and Branscombe Lodge Cottage to celebrate a special birthday. Both cottages are quaint and having access to the lighthouse at any time was fabulous. Even though the final steps up to tower are steep, we still managed to spend evenings up there with a G&T enjoying the sunset. The location is very peaceful and the hosts welcoming. A lovely relaxing week!

- BlueHayward, July 2019
988sallyb November 2018

“Enjoyed the views”

We stayed here around bonfire night. The design of the cottage meant we could see signs of fireworks displays in many places, which really have an appreciation of how much coast we could see. The heaters worked well in the cottage, so we were able to earn up after a cold walk. There is some information hidden away about the geology in the area, and a good selection of books to read.

- 988sallyb, November 2018
HD22 August 2018

“Lovely spot”

We stayed for a few days at the old lighthouse in May. Great cottage with everything we needed. Fantastic solar heated pool which we had use of, the kids swam every day! We loved being able to look around the old lighthouse and see the lovely views.

- HD22, August 2018
HappyGranny62 April 2018

“A little disappointing....”

Having read all the details carefully and inspected photos thoroughly we thought we had found a real gem for what was for us, an expensive holiday rental at over £900 for a week. The apparent views, history and ‘romance’ convinced us it was something to look forward to. However a few more realistic words of caution.... on arrival, we were met by Les who gave us brisk , business like guided tour. We found the cottage scrupulously clean but cold. We turned all the radiators up and by bedtime, it had all warmed up fairly satisfactorily. The heating is on a timer controlled by Les and Fran who will alter the times if asked. The cottage was adequately and basically equipped though no hairdryer and if you like big towels take your own. Tea, coffee, sugar, small packet of biscuits and a small jug of milk was supplied but no salt, pepper, oil or foil etc . A scourer for the pans would have been useful. The beds are firm but fairly comfortable. The bathroom needs updating especially the shower which operated erratically. There was always plenty of hot water though the pump for the shower was very noisy! The most disappointing factor was the view.... from the lighthouse it was as expected and enjoyed occasionally but access is tricky as the second flight of steps to the lamp is more like a ladder needing both hands to support your climb. This means it is difficult to take a cup of tea and book up there without a second person to help! The glass lamp as one might expect is hot in the sun and cold when that disappears! The views from the single storey cottage windows were really non existent as a shabby mizzen type hut ( bunkhouse) surrounded by a high fence with concrete posts lies between the cottage and the cliff edge. Views from the other windows look at the garden wall and the other two storey rental which lies between Stopes cottage and the sea. The garden is pretty and pleasant to sit in though no views because of the garden wall. We couldn’t use the pool as it is not open until May. The cottage does give a good base for pleasant walks round and over the Bill (weather permitting) where military sites surrounded by high fences and disused Portland stone quarries are still in evidence. The Lobster Pot eatery down by the working lighthouse has excellent views and food with pleasant helpful staff .

- HappyGranny62, April 2018
kootenaylass October 2017

“Good but spoilt by our rude host!”

Branscombe Cottage The positive side. A great location. Quiet and with everything you needed there . The decor downstairs is rather tired and the carpets dingy but actually everything was scrupulously clean. The whole house really needs a bit of modernising .The pillows were rather hard and the mattresses quite hard too. Lovely quiet spot. Great bird watching. Lovely walks The negative. Our host Les seriously need to learn to read his audience better. Having arrived after 3 hours drive. We wanted to settle in, have a pee, get some tea, unpack. Les arrived after 2 minutes and we are subjected to an unnecessarily long " tour" having the key to our rental deliberately "with held" until he had finished. This was accompanied by some aggressive and completely unprofessional comments such as " Come back here, I haven't told you you can go yet" and "stay here I haven't finished speaking to you". Quite frankly you should never talk to anyone like that. It is patronising, and offensive and made me and my daughter feel very uncomfortable. If we had been two men I wonder if he would have spoken to us like that. IF it was meant as a joke- it failed!!. I regret however much I liked the house, I wont be back for that reason alone.

- kootenaylass, October 2017
Kath P June 2017

“Truly magical place!”

My family and I have just returned from a weeks stay in the quaint and quirky Stopes cottage. When we arrived after a 6 hour journey we were greeted by Les who showed us round the property and filled us in on the history of the lighthouse. The cottage was incredibly clean and very well maintained. It had everything we needed including the little things that sometimes get forgotten by self catering owners...from dish cloths, salt and pepper, tea bags and milk (for that long awaited cuppa!) to blankets for those cold nights (not that we needed them!). The views were beautiful, i was able to sit in the kitchen with my morning cuppa and watch the boats go by! Bliss! The views from the lighthouse were absolutely stunning. We loved it up there. We can't wait to return. Thanks Fran and Les for a memorable holiday and for being wonderful hosts.

- Kath P, June 2017
johnmcdonald97 June 2016

“Mrs”

On arrival we followed the directions given which were perfect...straight to the front door. Although we arrived slightly early our host fran kindly let us unpack which was great after a 9 hour drive...as we unpacked les, frans husband knocked and showed us around...both les and fran were really nice and helpful. The property was just what you would expect from a lighthouse keepers cottage and had everything you needed from a large swimming pool to a b.b.q. our 7 night stay was brilliant and would not hesitate to reccommend this property from very good hosts to absolutly 360° sea views from the lighthouse tower....brilliant holiday...thankyou les and fran.

- johnmcdonald97, June 2016
mrmarkk March 2015

“This superb private lighthouse with adjoining cottage is a hidden gem. Unbeatable Views!!”

I must say the only existing review on Tripadvisor nearly put me off visiting Stopes Cottage. What a mistake that would have been!! That location, in a Lighthouse.. we had to give it a go. We are delighted that we did. This is simply a fantastic location. If you want 360 degree stunning views of the Dorset Coast and Portland Bill this is unbeatable. The cottage has lovely large rooms and everything you could need. It was impeccably clean and had everything you could want; really good heating (just hit the Advance button in the kitchen if you want a boost); large TV with Blu-ray; separate kitchen TV, Wi-Fi, large bath with shower; 2nd WC, washing machine, iron and as with the Lighthouse stunning views out to sea from most rooms. The beds were very comfortable. There is a decent sized garden with bbq, seating and even an outdoor pool which looked great for when the British summer arrives. Our hosts Les and Fran were very welcoming; available nearby if needed (they weren’t) after our initial welcome. Many of Fran’s paintings hung around the cottage (available to buy). A 2nd rental property on the grounds (Branscombe Lodge) also has access to the Lighthouse (via separate entrance), but there is more than enough room at the top of the Lighthouse for all; however we were the only ones up there when we stayed. The top of the lighthouse is the perfect location to enjoy a drink whilst taking in the views during the day; at sunset (we didn't make sunrise!) or even star gazing. There is a door so you can step outside for even better views (possibly best on a calm day; you are atop a lighthouse after all!) Portland Bill is far less developed that other local Dorset towns (in a good way), but there are still enough restaurants, pubs, and amenities in the area to cater for most needs. Weymouth is a 10 minute drive. A large new Tesco 4 minutes away (and they deliver). If you want a home from home with what have to be the best views in the area then I highly recommend Stopes Cottage. We will be back!! Little pointers to note- Stairs for the final climb to the Lighthouse are very steep; but very solid with excellent hand holds. Electricity is by £1 coin meter; but don’t be put off; you will get change out of £1 per day. Lastly the select number of local eateries do get busy; so book a table!!

- mrmarkk, March 2015
DR N February 2014

“Be aware of the weather trends before booking. Avoid winter by a”

The property was too cold and the heat was only rationed by the owners. They had the heating on and off as it suited them. The owners had painted the property interior wood work with solvent based paint and had not ventilated the rooms. As a consequence we kept inhaling the chemicals to the point that one of us experienced burning sensation in the chest. We could not open the windows to ventilate as the gales were in the region of 80 miles per hour. The owners were aware of the weather warnings but were more interested in maintaining their booking. We had to leave earlier because of the cold, intrusive winds hammering against the windows all night long, extreme noise and the chemical inhalation. We feel very disappointed in the fact that the property owners showed such inflexibility and imposed such conditions to innocent holidays makers like us.

- DR N, February 2014
DR N February 2014

“Be aware of the weather trends before booking. Avoid winter by all means”

The property was too cold and the heat was only rationed by the owners. They had the heating on and off as it suited them. The owners had painted the property interior wood work with solvent based paint and had not ventilated the rooms. As a consequence we kept inhaling the chemicals to the point that one of us experienced burning sensation in the chest. We could not open the windows to ventilate as the gales were in the region of 80 miles per hour. The owners were aware of the weather warnings but were more interested in maintaining their booking. We had to leave earlier because of the cold, intrusive winds hammering against the windows all night long, extreme noise and the chemical inhalation. We feel very disappointed in the fact that the property owners showed such inflexibility and imposed such conditions to innocent holidays makers like us.

- DR N, February 2014
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Old Higher Lighthouse Cottages

A unique opportunity to stay in two Grade II listed cottages, situated in what must be one of the most peaceful and stunning locations on Dorset’s rugged Jurassic Coast at Portland Bill. Situated right beside the sympathetically restored 18th century Old Higher Lighthouse, once the home of Dr Marie Stopes and visited by George Bernard Shaw, H.G. Wells and Thomas Hardy, these Portland Bill cottages have been comfortably furnished throughout to offer visitors a home-from-home holiday experience. Together, they can accommodate up to eight people in comfort, where you have shared use of the seasonal outdoor heated swimming pool and Jacuzzi. There are superb opportunities for walking and bird watching as well as climbing and diving, or why not just simply relax in the lighthouse and take in the sensational sea views or unwind beside the swimming pool? A short stroll takes you to The Bill itself, craggy rocks jutting out into the sea dominated by the current Trinity House lighthouse. The Bill’s friendly cafe and local pub provide good food and refreshments should you wish to take time out whilst exploring the dramatic coast. The owner of these cottages can offer reflexology, spiritual and crystal healing, plus Emotional Freedom Technique on site by arrangement, making them a holiday experience you’ll never forget!

The property

Stopes Cottage is a semi detached cottage next to a lighthouse on the tip of Portland Bill near to Weymouth in Dorset.

The cottagesleeps four people in one double bedroom, one twin room and a family bathroom.

Also in the cottage is a fitted kitchen with a dining area and a sitting room.

Outside the cottage is off road parking for two cars, a lawned area and patio with furniture and ornamental fish pond and shared use of a heated outdoor swimming pool and Jacuzzi.

Set in stunning surroundings, Stopes Cottage is a fabulous holiday cottage right on the Dorset cliffs.

Summary

All ground floor
Two bedrooms: 1 x double with basin, 1 x twin with basin
Bathroom with bath, hand-held shower, basin and WC
Basin and WC
Kitchen with dining area
Sitting room with electric fire.
Calor gas central heating with electric fire
Electric oven and hob, microwave, fridge/freezer, washing machine, 2 x TVs with Freeview, DVD, CD/radio, WiFi, selection of books, games, CDs and DVDs
Fuel & power inc. in rent
Bed linen and towels inc. in rent
Ample off road parking for cars and boats
Lawned area and patio with garden furniture and ornamental fish pond
Shared seasonal outdoor heated swimming pool with Jacuzzi (available May - September inclusive)
Shared access to lighthouse observatory via steep steps
Sorry, no pets and no smoking
Shop 2 miles, pub 5 mins walk
Note: No children under 5 years due to ponds and proximity of cliff edge.

About the location

PORTLAND BILL

Easton 3 miles; Fortuneswell 4 miles; Weymouth 9 miles.

Portland Bill is a narrow promontory on the end of the rugged Isle of Portland peninsula which is joined to the mainland via Chesil Beach, a pebble spit, which stretches 18 miles towards West Bay. Situated on Dorset's spectacular Jurassic Coast, now a World Heritage Site, Portland Bill is home to three lighthouses, the most recent built in 1906 being the 35 meter tall, white and red striped Portland Bill Lighthouse. Portland Bill is home to a pub and a restaurant/café as well as the Portland Bird Observatory. Formerly a quarrying area, the stunning coastal scenery and footpaths provide excellent walking and the surrounding countryside is well known as a birdwatcher’s paradise! The local communities of Fortuneswell and Easton boast a good variety of shops, pubs and restaurants. With great climbing opportunities and an array of watersports activities on offer locally, plus the wonderful sandy beaches and the pretty harbour at Weymouth just 9 miles away, this super holiday destination is not to be missed!

This property offers the following short breaks:

Winter
Off-season
Last minute
Christmas

Portland Bill, Dorset (Ref. 12494)

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Features

Reviews

“Health Crisis Profiteer”

“Stopes Cottage is actually nicer than it appears in the listing.”

“We had a wonderful time at Stopes Cottage.”

“A Lovely Lighthouse Accommodation”

“Enjoyed the views”

“Lovely spot”

“A little disappointing....”

“Good but spoilt by our rude host!”

“Truly magical place!”

“Mrs”

“This superb private lighthouse with adjoining cottage is a hidden gem. Unbeatable Views!!”

“Be aware of the weather trends before booking. Avoid winter by a”

“Be aware of the weather trends before booking. Avoid winter by all means”

Old Higher Lighthouse Cottages

The property

Summary

About the location

PORTLAND BILL