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The Swanage Rail Lookout

Swanage, Dorset (Ref. 1157056)

4.5

Dream Cottages rating

  • 6 Guests

  • 3 Bedrooms

  • 2 Bathrooms

  • Pets Yes

  • Show on map

Features

  • Off road parking
  • Garden / Patio
  • Cot available
  • Highchair available
  • Pub/shop < 1 mile
  • Washing machine
  • Dishwasher
  • Seaside
  • Broadband / WiFi

Reviews & Ratings

Accuracy of the listing
Cleanliness
Comfort
Facilities and Maintenance

* Based on a combined average customer score

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6 Customer Review(s)

  • Pauline

    “It's a very nice property.”

    A few adjustments would make it much better. We have holidayed in Swanage over many years and found that small details matter in a holiday property. For example, there is no key to the windows and therefore some cannot be opened. In hot weather, this can make sleeping uncomfortable. There is no clock. There is cupboard space not available to the holiday maker. The small bedroom and the twin room have little in the way of hanging clothes. Two large cupboards are out of bounds. If you are going to ...

    A few adjustments would make it much better. We have holidayed in Swanage over many years and found that small details matter in a holiday property. For example, there is no key to the windows and therefore some cannot be opened. In hot weather, this can make sleeping uncomfortable. There is no clock. There is cupboard space not available to the holiday maker. The small bedroom and the twin room have little in the way of hanging clothes. Two large cupboards are out of bounds. If you are going to rent, I believe that. you have to let go of thinking about your personal space kept solely for when you stay there, and think of the comfort of your guests. A hotel doesn't lock your cupboard. There are no egg cups or egg spoons. There is insufficient washing liquid. No salt and pepper. As mentioned, just a few minor details. On a positive note, lovely garden, modern interior, great shower, plenty of hot water, 15 minutes walk to town.

    - Pauline, June 2025

    Hi Pauline, thanks for taking the time to provide all of this feedback and it's great to hear that you think we have a very nice property in terms of quality and location. We have to admit that we are disappointed with the scoring breakdown that you have provided, given the nature of the points raised and would like to explain why by addressing the suggested adjustments mentioned for yours/others reference. Firstly, bedroom windows, as stated in the property advert "Please note that the lower windows to the twin and bunkbed rooms have been sealed and although the handles remain, even when unlocked they cannot be opened for safety reasons." To confirm, the upper narrower windows in both of those rooms (and both the upper and lower windows in the king room) can still be opened to let air in etc and no keys are needed as those that can be opened are not locked. However, we take your point on board in terms of the temperature felt upstairs and, over the next few weeks, will be providing fans in each of the bedrooms that should help, just in case they are felt to be required. Similarly, in terms of the lack of clock, we will be hanging a couple up around the property. Thanks for this feedback as this is not something that we thought of when furnishing the property. Regarding cupboard space, yes we have needed to lock off some of the cupboards in order for us to leave clean bedding/towels etc and stock for the cleaners to use as part of changeovers, however we believe that we have left ample cupboard space for holiday makers, certainly more than we have been provided with when we have stayed elsewhere. However, please do note that as a result of upcoming works to the property later this year, being knocking down the sun room and rebuilding to be the property's living room, the existing living room will be a spare room that can be used for storage, freeing up some of the currently locked cupboards. Regarding hanging of clothes, thanks for that feedback and, although we feel what is currently in place is enough to service the property, in order to ensure this when it comes to our longer bookings, we have decided to, over the next few weeks, buy an additional clothes rail. The two large cupboards you refer to as being out of bounds are used as storage for the cleaners as mentioned above, a necessity of course, albeit we still maintain that we believe storage space provided is suitable as it is, albeit will increase as also mentioned above, again reiterating the upcoming changes to the property's layout and increased storage space available to holiday makers as a result. Thanks for the feedback on the lack of egg cups and apologies for those not being available during your stay, however as we mentioned on a previous review that also kindly mentioned this, we were soon to provide some at the property and now have done so. Sorry we are confused by what you mean by egg spoons, we thought teaspoons, of which there are many at the property, would suffice in this regard however please do advise if we are misunderstanding and we will action further. Regarding insufficient washing up liquid, we have double checked what is provided as part of each booking and that is a 50ml bottle, suitable for at least 3-4 instances of washing up and, given the availability of the dishwasher (with 2 x dishwasher tablets provided by us) also, feel this is ample for a holiday let. Finally, salt and pepper, thanks very much for this feedback as we didn't think of including these when furnishing the property, however we have now actioned. Apologies for these not being available during your stay. Property Owner

Summary

  • Three bedrooms: 1 x king with large fitted wardrobe, 1 x twin (beds able to be pushed together to make a super king) with 7 piece drawer set along with stand alone clothes rack, 1 x bunk with stand alone clothes/drawers rack
  • Ground-floor shower room with walk-in shower, vanity unit with toothbrush/shaver charging point, basin, heated towel rail and WC
  • Bathroom with bath, walk-in shower, vanity unit with 2 x electric toothbrush/shaver charging points, basin, heated towel rail and WC
  • Kitchen/ diner
  • Sitting room with electric fire
  • Sunroom
  • Garage, with lighting, and garden shed, both for storage use, as required
  • Digital self-use thermostat controlled gas central heating with constant hot water available throughout the day
  • Electric oven and induction hob (with extractor Fan built into worktop), microwave, fridge/freezer, dishwasher, washing machine (manual airers provided for drying and/or external clothes line able to be used), iron and ironing board
  • TV, WiFi
  • Fuel and power inc. in rent
  • Bed linen (2 x pillows per person) and towels inc. in rent, towels per person including a bath sheet, bath towel and face towel in addition to hand towels and bath/shower mats provided in both the downstairs shower room and upstairs bathroom
  • Retractable Child/Pet safety gates provided at either end of the stairs along with the living room for use, as appropriate
  • Highchair (in the kitchen) and travel cot (in the bottom of king room wardrobe) available
  • External clothes line and/or manual airers
  • Off-road parking for 2 cars
  • Enclosed rear garden with lawn, patio and furniture (easily moveable to the 3 separate seating locations available), all serviced by beautiful lighting along with motion sensing external light - note outdoor cushions kept in their storage bins in the garden shed
  • External sockets available for use along with the second fridge in the separate room to the rear of the garage able to be used to store food/drinks for added ease, as required
  • Pets welcome
  • Sorry, no smoking
  • Shop and pub 0.3 miles, beach 0.8 miles
  • Hallway includes 2 x coat racks (1 lower for children) and built in retractable shoe/wellies drawer located under the stairs
  • Vacuum/mop and bucket/brush and dustpan and brush provided under the stairs next to the shoes drawer and/or in the corner of the kitchen, if required to maintain cleanliness during your stay
  • Electric remote controlled blinds for the downstairs of the property, 1 control for the living room blinds and a separate kitchen based control for the kitchen and sunroom

The property

The Swanage Rail Lookout is a picturesque home in Swanage, Dorset perfect for those looking for a seaside holiday and/or train enthusiasts.

Ideal for families (including dogs) this home sleeps up to six guests in three bedrooms and boasts an electric fire, child-friendly facilities and is located within 15-20 minutes' walk of the numerous beaches at Swanage beachfront and 10- 15 minutes' walk of Swanage Railway station.

Pull into the driveway of this bright and airy detached home.

Step inside to the hallway, the sitting room is light and contemporary with a mounted TV (including a large number of built-in Freeview channels along with access to various apps, including Netflix, these requiring guest login as appropriate of course) above the flickering electric fire, there is tasteful artwork adding charm to this space, and there is enough seating for the whole family to relax and enjoy a film, consisting of a 3-seater sofa, 2-seater sofa and reclining chair.

The sitting room also includes a coffee table holding a number of board games for all of the family to enjoy.

The open-plan kitchen/diner is homely with a warm oak floor and spotlights lighting up the dining area.

The kitchen is stylish with white fittings and an integrated oven along with a dishwasher to help relieve the washing up after your meals and a washing machine is also available to make your stay as comfortable as possible.

A set of weighing scales are provided for your use as appropriate to make sure your recipes are spot on and/or your furry friend(s) are fed the correct amount!!!

Also included as part of your stay are 1 food and 1 water bowl for your furry friend, if they are joining you, along with their own cushion, although more than 1 are allowed of course!

Upstairs you will find a welcoming king room, a bright twin room with the ability to easily adjust into a super-king, if appropriate and a bunk perfect for various ages.

Please note that the lower windows to the twin and bunkbed rooms have been sealed and although the handles remain, even when unlocked they cannot be opened for safety reasons. This home benefits from two spaces to get ready before your day of adventures; a ground-floor shower room, or the upstairs bathroom, with separate walk-in shower and bath, if you fancy a soak in the evening.

If you fancy some quiet time, then put your feet up in the sunroom and read a book as you look out at the green garden and stunning hill views.

Outside, you'll find a well-maintained garden, perfect for relaxation.The garden furniture can be moved to your convenience, allowing seating/table areas in three separate locations, be it the decking area at the end of the garden, raised patio area to the front of the garden or seating area located to the back of the sunroom, all allowing a view of the kids while they play on the lawn along with the famous steam trains that pass behind the secure rear fence of the property, passing by between 10am and 6pm at peak times.

All this surrounded by trees that create a sense of privacy and tranquillity.

Being located in Dorset's National Landscape means there are plenty of beautiful vistas and a lot of activities to do, including beautiful dog walks within walking distance of the property.

Alternatively, slap on your sunscreen and head to Swanage Beachfront; including a number of sandy beaches stretching around the coastline; have some ice cream as you take a stroll along the pier, visit the arcades, and enjoy some classic fish and chips.

Visit the Dancing Ledge, a stunning coastal walk with rock climbers in action and a fantastic spot for swimming and snorkeling.

Ride the scenic steam train and discover Corfe Castle, indulge in some traditional cream tea and cake, take in the breathtaking views and explore the ruins from the English Civil War.

Throughout the year the beautifully restored trains running to and from Swanage also offer a number of special events & experiences including The Polar Express, running year on year mid-late November through to mid-late December.

Monkey World is a wonderful family destination where you can get up close to cheeky apes swinging around, learn fascinating facts about primates and even adopt one.

Indulge in Swanage’s local delights and nearby famous and renowned locations at The Swanage Rail Lookout.

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About the location

SWANAGE

Wareham 9.7 miles; Poole 20 miles.

The small, family-friendly seaside resort of Swanage is situated at the eastern end of Dorset’s famous Jurassic Coast, on the celebrated Isle of Purbeck and is probably best known for its wonderful, gently shelving golden sands. The little town offers visitors plenty of shops, good pubs and restaurants, some of which specialise in locally caught seafood, and is also well known for its annual jazz festival, which takes place each July. The attractive, Victorian wooden pier offers a great place for a stroll or try fishing, and often used a departure point for divers, it’s a wonderful place to watch the world pass by. The historic Swanage Railway has its terminus in the town and regular nostalgic steam engine trips take tourists for a picturesque 6-mile journey, chugging through lovely countryside to stop just beyond the romantic ruin of Corfe Castle. Nearby Durlston Country Park offers a lovely day out with spectacular coastal walks, dolphin spotting and wildlife watching, together with comfortable viewing points and a well-stocked cafe for a treat after all the fresh air. Take the short drive to Studland, which has one of the finest beaches in the country, surrounded by heathland, together with the regular chain ferry, which crosses the mouth of Poole Harbour to Sandbanks. This truly is a delightful holiday destination at any time of the year.

This property offers the following short breaks:

  • Winter
  • Off-season
  • Last minute
  • Christmas