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Downs View, Norton Ferris

Guest Rating
Rating
4.5
out of 5
Sleeps up to 10
Pets 1
Bedrooms: 5
Bathrooms: 2

Downs View is a spacious detached bungalow in Norton Ferris, Wiltshire. This five-bedroom property sleeps ten people comfortably. It sits within the Cranborne Chase Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The all-ground-floor layout makes it perfect for multi-generational groups. Four off-road parking spaces mean everyone can bring their car. The enclosed lawned garden with BBQ provides a safe space for children and pets to play.

The hamlet setting offers peace and quiet. Rolling countryside surrounds the property. You're close to historic market towns and National Trust sites.

The accommodation includes one king-size double bedroom, two double bedrooms and two twin bedrooms. There are two full bathrooms plus a cloakroom.

 

About Downs View

Downs View is a spacious detached bungalow in Norton Ferris, Wiltshire. This five-bedroom property sleeps ten people comfortably. It sits within the Cranborne Chase Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The all-ground-floor layout makes it perfect for multi-generational groups. Four off-road parking spaces mean everyone can bring their car. The enclosed lawned garden with BBQ provides a safe space for children and pets to play.

The hamlet setting offers peace and quiet. Rolling countryside surrounds the property. You're close to historic market towns and National Trust sites.

The accommodation includes one king-size double bedroom, two double bedrooms and two twin bedrooms. There are two full bathrooms plus a cloakroom. The kitchen features a Rangemaster cooker and breakfast seating for six. A conservatory dining area opens onto the patio. The sitting room has plenty of seating and a Smart TV. A utility area houses the washing machine and tumble dryer.

Longleat House and Safari Park is fifteen minutes away by car. Stourhead House and Gardens sits three miles from your door. Bath (23 miles, 35 minutes) offers Georgian architecture and Roman baths. Stonehenge (18 miles, 25 minutes) provides ancient history.

Downs View works brilliantly for large family gatherings and celebrations. The ground-floor layout and spacious rooms make group living easy. Two dogs are welcome to join you.

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At Sykes Cottages

Need To Know

More Group Cottages You May Like

What Guests Love

What do previous guests think about their group stay at Downs View

Spacious Ground Floor Layout

All bedrooms and living spaces on one level make this perfect for families with young children or elderly relatives.

Enclosed Garden for Pets

The fully enclosed lawned garden keeps dogs safe while they play, with patio furniture and BBQ for outdoor dining.

Sleeps Ten Comfortably

Five well-appointed bedrooms with countryside themes provide comfortable sleeping arrangements for large family groups and celebrations.

Well-Equipped Kitchen

Rangemaster cooker, double oven, dishwasher and breakfast seating for six make catering for groups straightforward and enjoyable.

Perfect for Longleat Visits

Just fifteen minutes drive to Longleat Safari Park makes this ideal for families wanting multiple visits during their stay.

Peaceful AONB Location

Set in Cranborne Chase Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty with rolling countryside views and quiet hamlet surroundings.

Getting To Downs View

Find your way to your perfect countryside retreat

By Car

To reach Downs View by car, take the A303 and exit towards Mere. Follow signs to Norton Ferris via the B3092. The bungalow is easily accessible and you'll have convenient off-road parking for four cars upon arrival.

By Train

For those travelling by rail, the nearest station is Gillingham (Dorset), approximately 8 miles away. From there, it's a short taxi ride through the Wiltshire countryside to your accommodation.

Off-road parking for four cars
Gillingham station (8 miles)
Easily accessible from the A303

Group Attractions & More Nearby

Stuff for larger groups and families to try!

Longleat House and Safari Park
Distance: 7 miles
BA12 7NW
Stourhead House and Gardens
Distance: 3 miles
BA12 6QD
Stonehenge
Distance: 18 miles
SP4 7DE
Cranborne Chase AONB Trails
Distance: On doorstep
BA12 7FG
Stourhead Gardens Walk
Distance: 3 miles
BA12 6QD
White Sheet Hill
Distance: 4 miles
BA12 7QU
Co-op Mere
Distance: 4.5 miles
BA12 6DT
Shaftesbury Town Centre
Distance: 8 miles
SP7 8JE
Frome Market
Distance: 12 miles
BA11 1BE
Gillingham Station
Distance: 8 miles
SP8 4QY
Mere Surgery
Distance: 4.5 miles
BA12 6EG
Bath City Centre
Distance: 23 miles
BA1 1LZ
Longleat House and Safari Park
Distance: 7 miles
BA12 7NW
Stourhead House and Gardens
Distance: 3 miles
BA12 6QD
Stonehenge
Distance: 18 miles
SP4 7DE
Cranborne Chase AONB Trails
Distance: On doorstep
BA12 7FG
Stourhead Gardens Walk
Distance: 3 miles
BA12 6QD
White Sheet Hill
Distance: 4 miles
BA12 7QU
Co-op Mere
Distance: 4.5 miles
BA12 6DT
Shaftesbury Town Centre
Distance: 8 miles
SP7 8JE
Frome Market
Distance: 12 miles
BA11 1BE
Gillingham Station
Distance: 8 miles
SP8 4QY
Mere Surgery
Distance: 4.5 miles
BA12 6EG
Bath City Centre
Distance: 23 miles
BA1 1LZ

Is Downs View Right For Your Group

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

For Families
Children will love the enclosed garden for safe outdoor play. Longleat Safari Park sits just fifteen minutes away with lions, tigers and adventure activities. Stourhead offers woodland walks and lakeside exploring. The ground-floor layout means toddlers can roam safely. A cot and highchair are provided for babies. Outdoor games equipment is available in the garden for active youngsters.
Groups Will Love...
The spacious conservatory dining area transforms group mealtimes into special occasions. Patio doors open onto the enclosed garden for indoor-outdoor entertaining. The kitchen's Rangemaster cooker handles large family meals easily. Breakfast seating for six in the kitchen plus conservatory dining means everyone eats together comfortably. The ground-floor layout keeps the group connected throughout the day. Multiple fridges and a freezer provide ample storage for group catering.
Pet Friendly
Two dogs are welcome at Downs View. The fully enclosed lawned garden provides secure space for pets to exercise and play safely. Patio furniture lets you relax whilst supervising your dogs. Dogs must stay on leads outside the garden boundary due to nearby livestock. The ground-floor layout means no stairs for older dogs. Nearby walks through Cranborne Chase offer excellent countryside rambles.

Dining & Cafes

Taste the local flavours during your stay at Downs View

The Talbot Inn, Mells

Located 11 miles from your accommodation.

Postcode: BA11 3PN

The Ship Inn, Mere

Located 4.5 miles from your accommodation.

Postcode: BA12 6DX

The Compasses Inn, Lower Chicksgrove

Located 6 miles from your accommodation.

Postcode: SP3 6NB

Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers to our most common questions about Downs View

Is Downs View pet friendly?
Yes, Downs View welcomes up to two dogs. The enclosed garden provides a safe space but dogs must be kept on leads when outside the property due to nearby livestock.
How many people does this property sleep?
The bungalow sleeps ten guests across five bedrooms: one king-size double, two doubles and two twin rooms. A cot and highchair are available for families with babies.
What are the bathroom facilities?
There are two full bathrooms and a cloakroom. One bathroom has a bath with separate shower, basin and WC, whilst the second has a shower, basin and WC.
Is there parking available?
Off-road parking for four cars is provided. This makes it convenient for larger groups arriving in multiple vehicles.
What kitchen facilities are included?
The kitchen has a Rangemaster electric range cooker with double oven, microwave, two fridges, freezer, dishwasher, washing machine and tumble dryer. Breakfast seating for six is included.
How far is Longleat Safari Park?
Longleat House and Safari Park is approximately fifteen minutes drive away. This makes Downs View perfect for families planning multiple visits during their stay.
What outdoor space is available?
An enclosed lawned garden with patio, furniture and BBQ is provided. The garden is safe for children and pets to play in.
Is the property suitable for elderly guests?
Yes, the all-ground-floor layout makes this particularly suitable for guests with mobility considerations. All bedrooms, bathrooms and living spaces are on one level.

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Downs View Reviews

Sheila
Had a couple of problems with the heating that were dealt with promptly
Jeremy
Perfect holiday home for a family gathering. Ideally situated to visit Longleat and surrounding pretty towns and villages.Comfortable propertywell equipped with wonderful views.Owners and their family are available and responsive to any queries.Lovely welcome pack with items to celebrate New Years Eve 2026.The Christmas decorations also added to our celebrations.A great time was had by a range of ages within our party and the enclosed garden and local walks also kept our 2 dogs happy.We hope to return to Downs View and would strongly recommend it to others.
Alanna
Really spacious, full enclosed so super safe for dogs, everything you need facility wise. Nice walks all around short walk on road or 2min drive, fantastic area to explore in general. Also lots of history about including good castles! & Lots of non chain pubs for miles! All round excellent.
Excellent stay. Shame about the power cut, but this was out of anyones control. A very well laid out cottage
Sandra
We have just enjoyed a wonderful Christmas break at Downs View. The property easily accommodated 6 adults, 4 children and 2 dogs and was beautifully decorated for Christmas. There is ample space and the property is fully equipped. Our only downside was the weather!! It was so misty we couldn't see the hills or any of the beautiful countryside. We did go for walks but it's not possible to walk from the property due to the road however this didn't spoil our enjoyment. I would just mention that the photos on the website are a little dated and modifications have since been made to the property. Thank you to Lynne and Russell for their wonderful hospitality the chocolates, biscuits, cakes and wine were a lovely touch. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this property for a family break.
Lovely property. Spacious,tidy and clean. Our family of 10 plus baby and 2 dogs had a great time. We arrived at the cottage early evening in November and it was not easily visible in darkness so an outside light may have been useful. Much easier in daylight. All the directions given were fine. The local village was close by but felt that due to lack of a footpath by the busy road, we couldnt walk in with the children and dogs. We did have a lovely time and would recommend it.
Willemijntje Aartje
Fantastisch huis , we hebben er genoten en ruimte genoeg
Brenda
Very comfortable and was more than expected perfect for a large family getting together and in great location for days out at longleat safari park.
Melanie
We had a wonderful stay at Downs View it really was a beautiful view all around. The house was warm, cosy and comfortable. Everything was well thought out and we everything we needed was provided. It is also a fabulous place to stay with a dog. The enclosed garden and being a bungalow made it very convenient. Lynne and Russell were easy to communicate with beforehand and we were made to feel so welcome. My Mum felt very touched by their thoughtfulness as we celebrated her 80th birthday. It really did feel like a special weekend away. it is these little extra, thoughtful things that make a stay memorable and special. Thank you!
Michelle
The property was lovely, larger than expected. The garden was ideal for my two dogs, all enclosed so I knew they were safe which is very important The bedrooms were very well decorated, very comfortable.The kitchen was well stocked with everything you need. Just one thing, the knives could do with sharpening.My husband being a chef found it difficult to use them. There had been some work done on the property as looks different from the photos for the better. Definitely would reccomend and we would definitely book Downs View again.
So much supplied with this huge bungalow, lovely comfortable beds and a large very safe garden for our dog, which she loved. There were only two of us and our dog this time but it would be a wonderful place to spend a holiday with lots of family and friends. Our thanks too to the owners who were so very kind and helpful.
Samuel
We have already told Lynne and Russell about the leaking tap. The heating was a problem for us but mainly because of it coming on at unexpected times and the fact that two people in the party were on blood thinners and therefore felt the cold more than others. Lynne and Russell were the perfect hosts and responded immediately to our concerns.
Tracey
We had a lovely weekend stay in this property. It had everything we needed and more. We really appreciate the milk tea & coffee with biscuits and tub of chocolates on arrival. We would definitely stay here again.
This is quirky cottage which we found very pleasing. It's big enough for us plus our extended family. It's kept clean and it is comfortable. Close to Bath and Longleat.. Because you have to back the car out of the drive it does make it difficult to get out. Although you do get used to turning the car using the entrance to the farm. Be aware as we had some problems with heating and hot water. Getting hold of the owners is difficult because of signal and internet problems. The owners live in the house next door. They are happy for you to knock on their door if any problems. We could have done with this information at the time of our visit.
Lindsay
Large property with plenty of space for 6 of us. Lots of crockery etc. Pillows on a couple of the beds are a little soft. Children loved seeing the cows at the garden fence. There is lots of traffic on B road but it didnt affect us at all. Lots to see and do within 3045 mins drive.
Absolutely amazing stay in this spacious, clean and well equipped house. The owners were so helpful and friendly answering all of our questions and doing all they could to accommodate our needs and welcome us. They are by far the best we have ever dealt with. Our check in experience on arrival day was also the best we have ever had and we cant thank the owners enough for being so accommodating to our situation. They left welcoming gifts and it was an absolute pleasure arriving to find this total gem of a house. The fenced gardens were immaculate with plenty of seating. Great for the dogs to play without any worries of them wondering away from the property. The house itself is fantastic and more like a dream home. The layout is perfect and there is so much space for everyone. Brilliant modern bathrooms and showers and a fantastic deep bath with all the hot water you need and everything was ultra clean. There is a very spacious living room with plenty of seating and a good sized tv with plenty of channels. A wonderful light and sunny conservatory has a large dining table and it was so nice to enjoy food with the patio doors open on a summers evening enjoying the smells and sounds of the countryside. The beds were all very comfortable and actually everyone slept better than when at home! Finishing with the big ultra clean and very well equipped kitchen and utility areas. There is everything you could need and the owners have gone above and beyond to make sure guests have the best stay possible. Longleat safari park is so close to the house and there are little towns and villages very close with all the shops and services you will need. We cant recommend this place highly enough and we have already started looking at dates to come back. Unfortunately after doing four Longleat safari trips we still didnt see Anne the elephant so absolutely a must we come back!! And we cant wait to enjoy this wonderful house again when we do. Thank you so much to the owners.
Well equipped kitchen and the layout suited our family well. Internal decoration modern and clean, the outside in need of some TLC. Lovely meadow view from the back. We had problems with hot water but this was quickly fixed by the host who arranged for work while we were out. While our fault for not doing more research, the road noise was more than some partly I would guess as it was halfterm. With cars passing at fast speeds we couldn't risk taking children on walks from the property with no pavements. It also meant that driving in and out of the property was sometimes a challenge.
A lovely stay on the edge of the Wiltshire border with Dorset and Somerset, meaning lots to explore nearby. Bungalow wellequipped to a high standard. Beds very comfortable. Were lucky with the weather so able to enjoy sitting in the garden. Would recommend and hope to return.
Alexandru
The property was great. Spacious and cosy in the same time. Thank you!!
There were 8 adults in our group and we felt it was roomy enough for us all to be comfortable. Kitchen was well kitted out with good utility facilities.It's a good central position for days out with most places of interest being with 3045 minute drive.There are far more positives than negatives with this property.Good value.
Yasmin
The driveway could home 3 cars easily if they are small cars. The hedges were very overgrown unlike in the picture, this made it difficult for larger cars to get up the driveway with very little space for getting out of the car. Considering there were 8 adults and a baby on our stay 2.5 toilet rolls was not really sufficient luckily we did bring some of our own, nor was one bin bag or just 2 dishwasher tablets. The house itself was lovely lots of space and each bedroom has its own theme of decoration which we all really liked. The garden and view at the back of the house was lovely as well. Unfortunately we did find some dog mess on the grass which must have been left from a previous guest. The location is perfect for a trip to longleat just a 15 minute drive, pretty much every direction you leave the house from has a stunning view. All in all we would recommend it for a large group but bear in mind you should take essentials that you would not normally think of.
Jackie
Amazing place so spacious we loved the themed rooms, conservatory and out door space had a great weekend there and plan to come back. Really clean had all we needed in the kitchen and great location for Longleat. The owners were also really helpful with questions before our stay and provided a welcome pack. We would all really recommend this property.
We really enjoyed our holiday stay at Downs View. A lovely home! We were delighted with the cleanliness, welcome tray and quality of home comforts. The only drawback was the poor Wifi connection. With thank you for a lovely break. We would definitely recommend Downs View for a holiday stay!
Really enjoyed our stay at Downs View. Plenty of room so youre not constantly under someone elses feet important in our family Spacious, clean, quiet & relaxing. Everything a holiday should be! Only down side is you have to use the car to do anything as its so remote Definitely recommend though
Christine
1st Class Accommodation and communication with the owner. Very helpful and considerate with our requirements. Thank you so much.
Beautiful place so big inside, only thing is traffic just a little noisy
Clarissa
Very cozy house. We really recommend. We had a lovely time.
This was our second visit to Downs View. It's a beautiful property in a lovely location and it's very well equipped. We can't fault it for comfort, cleanliness and value for money
We had a fantastic family stay, great property only mention is as we wrote in your guest book a brighter road sign to the property as it is well hidden from the roadside especially when getting dark.
Barbara
Downs View was beautiful. Spotless, comfortable, and very spacious. The welcome dog treats , and biscuits went down well. Loved the visits from the cows. Thank you, we will definitely recommend this gorgeous bungalow.
Beverley
The holiday was lovely! The cottage was ideal for a large family with dogs. It had all the facilities you need and was clean and comfortable. We enjoyed visiting the local attractions too. We would highly recommend Downs View Cottage.
Gillian Barbara
Good clean and spacious bungalow with all necessary facilities. Lovely setting and lots of garden space to enjoy the sun and views. In future it would be handy to have instructions on how to activate TV. Otherwise perfect as described in the online brochure
The bungalow provided good and roomy accommodation for a family holiday of 10 people. Very close to Longleat and Stour Head both of which were excellent. Lovely views over the fields in the garden and regular visits from hares! The drive is a bit difficult to negotiate but soon got used to it. Everyone enjoyed their week.
Lots of pluses, convenient location for places of interest, spacious, comfortable, well equipped. Negatives, busy noisy road, next to farm yard with a slurry tank which attracted flies into the house, garden and outside space red some TLC.
Georgina
Had a lovely week at Downs View which was a real home from home for our party of 7 adults and 3 children under 3 . The cottage had everything we needed and was very comfortable and the surroundings were beautiful and very quiet once the traffic died down from the main road. Will definately book again in the future
We had a wonderful weekend break at Downs View. We have everything we needed. The house was clean and comfortable and prior to arrival we were given great info about travel local area etc Would happily book here again. It's a big house for a very great price
Elizabeth
Lovely bungalow with heaps of space, thoughtful details and very well equipped. The road is quite noisy at the front of the house but not bad at all during the night. We had a lovely holiday, particularly when the herd of young cows came to visit at the end of the garden each day.
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Unit 5, Blackbrook Business Park, Taunton, Somerset, TA1 2PX