White Horse Farm
Located in the rural Dorset in the hamlet of Middlemarsh, near Sherborne, White Horse Farm…
Our View
A small, traditional country estate surround by 300 acres of oak woodland, common land, an enclosed 80-acre deer park and a small lake. Over the two centuries the estate has been used for country sports, resulting in the woodlands and hedgerows being preserved. Due to this, the Stock Gaylard is today an unspoilt environment that combines modern dairy farming with a number of Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs). The house is Georgian or earlier, a symmetrical building with three floors and a handsome pale façade. It is largely untouched since the 19th century, apart from the conversion of the library into a modern kitchen in the 1960s. A number of events take place at Stock Gayland throughout the year, including a very popular annual Oak Fair; a celebration of trees, traditional methods of woodland conservation, sports, country crafts and falconry. The historic parish church of St Barnabas is in the grounds.
Features
Also in the area
About the area
Discover Dorset
Dorset means rugged varied coastlines and high chalk downlands. Squeezed in among the cliffs and set amid some of Britain’s most beautiful scenery is a chain of picturesque villages and seaside towns. Along the coast you’ll find the Lulworth Ranges, which run from Kimmeridge Bay in the east to Lulworth Cove in the west. Together with a stretch of East Devon, this is Britain’s Jurassic Coast, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, noted for its layers of shale and numerous fossils embedded in the rock. Among the best-known natural landmarks on this stretch of the Dorset coast is Durdle Door, a rocky arch that has been shaped and sculpted to perfection by the elements. The whole area has the unmistakable stamp of prehistory.
Away from Dorset’s magical coastline lies a landscape with a very different character and atmosphere, but one that is no less appealing. Here, winding, hedge-lined country lanes lead beneath lush, green hilltops to snug, sleepy villages hidden from view and the wider world. The people of Dorset are justifiably proud of the achievements of Thomas Hardy, its most famous son, and much of the county is immortalised in his writing.
Nearby stays
Places to Stay
Dining nearby
Restaurants and Pubs
Why choose Rated Trips?
Your trusted guide to rated places across the UK
The best coverage
Discover more than 15,000 professionally rated places to stay, eat and visit from across the UK and Ireland.
Quality assured
Choose a place to stay safe in the knowledge that it has been expertly assessed by trained assessors.
Plan your next trip
Search by location or the type of place you're visiting to find your next ideal holiday experience.
Travel inspiration
Read our articles, city guides and recommended things to do for inspiration. We're here to help you explore the UK.