All about The Old Forge

All about The Old Forge

Tim and Lucy purchased The Old Forge in 1986 and have gradually renovated and restored the buildings to create a B&B with two self-catering cottages, a shepherd's hut and a Gypsy caravan. It's home to Tim and Lucy as well as their four children Millie, Lottie, Sophie and Jack and assorted animals! Sophie is an aspiring photographer and took all the amazing pictures of The Old Forge on this website.

The Lagonda at home

A bit of history

The Old Forge dates back to approximately 1700. It's a building full of local history and was formerly used by the local estate wheelwright and carriage builder. Lucy's creative touches are to be found everywhere and the smell of her freshly baked biscuits, marmalades and jams fills the warm kitchen. Tim's real passion is his business restoring and selling classic cars. His workshop is more akin to a working museum and he'll happily show off his 1934 Lagonda, bought for £12-10s in 1963! It's a classic car enthusiast's dream.

Environmental policy

Tim and Lucy's approach to the environment isn't about following a trend, it's what they've always done. But to use a modern phrase, 'Recycle, Reuse and Reduce', is the mantra and it's to be seen everywhere. Nothing gets thrown away and Tim and Lucy have a magical way of renovating and restoring that means the whole place feels loved, homely and timeless. Breakfasts, picnics and cream teas are all made from local and organic produce.

Pudding in the fields

Wildlife

Compton Abbas village is situated just below Fontmell Down which is now part of the chalk down land owned by The National Trust. It's an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and a Site of Special Scientific Interest for its wildflowers, grasses, butterflies and Iron Age cross dykes. It was purchased by The National Trust in memory of Thomas Hardy (1840-1928) as a reminder of some of his great works that were set in Dorset and his love of the county. No fertilisers or sprays have been used to encourage the colonisation of chalk-loving flora and in summer the profusion of flowers and butterflies give us a glimpse of what was once a familiar sight in the countryside.

B&B

Tim and Lucy run The Old Forge as a smallholding. As well as their chickens roaming the orchard and yard, guests will also see their two Arabian horses, Jasmine and Ariel, as well as a donkey called Scrumpy Jack, two Labradors, Molly and Willow, a Westie called Daisy and a Labradoodle called Pudding! For larger groups that can't be accommodated by both the Gypsy caravan and shepherd's hut, there are additional B&B rooms available and two self-catering cottages.

In & around Sam, the shepherd's hut

• BBQ with equipment
• Kettle with tea, coffee & homemade biscuits
• Crockery & cutlery for two
• Glasses & water jug
• Wood-burner (you can put the kettle on it)
• Shared fridge

• Pillows
• Duvets
• Covers for all
• Towels

• A selection of classic board games is available, some are even originals

• Check in time is 4pm
• Check out time is 11am
• Sorry, only children over eight are welcome
• Pets are not allowed because of the danger to farmyard animals
• The Gypsy caravan has mains power but the shepherd's hut does not. A torch and rechargeable lantern are supplied
• There is no TV, but there is a vintage radio in both spaces
• The Old Forge is by a narrow country road, so there is some traffic during the day, but this is deepest, darkest Dorset and cars are rare at night
• Hopefully, during your stay you'll get to meet the donkey, Scrumpy Jack, but guests are asked not to feed the animals
• There are no laundry facilities at The Old Forge, but should guests need clothes cleaned during their stay, there is a laundry 3 miles away in Shaftesbury
• Firewood for the shepherd's hut is provided. Additional firewood can be purchased for £5 a bag
• Wifi is available in the house but not the caravan or the hut Mobile reception is patchy, but there is a payphone in the main B&B
• Nearest grocery shop is in the village of Fontmell Magna (1 mile)

Getting there

The Old Forge, Compton Abbas, Shaftesbury, Dorset, SP7 0NQ

By car

From Shaftesbury, take the A350 signposted from Blandford, go through the village of Cann and Compton Abbas is the next village you come to. The Old Forge is the first property on your left just before the Compton Abbas sign. Turn left and follow the signs for parking.

By train

The nearest train station is Gillingham, public transport pick ups may be available by arrangement.

By balloon

Only if the wind is in the right direction. Back up plan recommended.

If you are getting to the The Old Forge by train, bus or any other non-car means you can think of be sure to take a photo and enter our Go Greenly competition to win a 4 night stay at The Wagon or The Ark.

Local activities

Outdoor & active

Treetop walkways at the Go Ape activity centre

There are some stunning walks from right outside The Old Forge. Local OS maps are provided, so after a hearty breakfast enjoy a stroll through the meadows and hills. Make your way up to Fontmell Down from The Old Forge and breathe in the dramatic views of Blackmore Vale, to Sturminster Newton and beyond. Adonis and Chalkhill Blue butterflies favour this south-facing slope for the extra shelter it affords. Drop into Compton Abbas airfield for lunch, the most picturesque airfield to be found in England!

Moors valley country park has walking and cycling trails, an adventure play trail and the Go Ape rope swing area, pictured left.

Places to visit

Dorset Heavy Horse Farm is a horse rescue centre with loads of stuff for kids to do.

Fleet Air Arm museum Go on board Concorde and see the impressive collection of aircraft and the occasional Dalek. Check for air shows and special events.

Hayes International Motor Museum houses over 400 amazing cars and bikes, if Tim's own minor version hasn't satisfied your desire for classic vehicles.

Shaftesbury was the basis for Thomas Hardy's 'Shaston' and Gold Hill was made famous by a certain Hovis advert.

Blandford Forum is one of Britain's best preserved Georgian towns, having being largely rebuilt after a fire in 1731 by architects the Bastard brothers, apparently their real names.

Sturminster Newton's restored and fully functional mill is lovely to see in action.

Courses & classes

Bread making

Spend a happy day tinkering in The Old Forge garage. By arrangement with Tim.

It's relaxing enough just staying in the Gypsy caravan and shepherd's hut and pottering about The Old Forge, but if extra help is needed to unwind, then Yoga and Pilates classes and other treatments are available in Fontmell Magna, just two minutes from The Old Forge.

Get inspired by Lucy's home baking, and sign up for a bread making course at the Panary at Cann Mills, a traditional water mill just half a mile from The Old Forge. Learn the finer dough arts from master baker Paul Merry - from sourdough and pain rustique, to a good old fashioned bloomer.

Eating & drinking

Eating & drinking at The Old Forge

Scrumpy Jack kitted up and ready for the breakfast run

The breakfasts need to be eaten to be believed. Taste of the West award-winning, and it's easy to see why. A stay at the Gyspy caravan or shepherd's hut includes a farmhouse or continental breakfast consisting of local sausage and bacon, free range eggs from Lucy's own hens, home made marmalade, local honey and apple juice from the orchard. All ingredients are sourced locally and are either organic or free range. If you'd rather stay snuggled in bed for a bit longer, it's possible to have a continental breakfast hamper left outside the door of the Gypsy caravan or shepherd's hut.

If you're planning a walk while staying at The Old Forge (and frankly you should), then you might be tempted to arrange for Lucy to make a picnic hamper. Sometimes delivered by Scrumpy Jack, always scrumptious. Equally delicious cream teas are also available.

Local produce

Blandford and Shaftesbury both have excellent farmer's markets and the Fontmel Magna village deli is full of regional specialties and local organic goodies.

Pubs & restaurants

The Talbot, Iwerne Minster (3 miles). A devotion to local and seasonal produce means the menu is ever changing but always good. Between Blandford and Shaftesbury on the A350.

The Cricketers, Shroton (4 miles). A classic English pub right next to the cricket pitch with good food, perfectly kept ales and a warm welcome.

The Compasses, Tisbury (13 miles). More great local and seasonal food from the Wiltshire dining pub of the year 2008 & 2010.

The King John, Tollard Royal (4.5 miles). Guy Ritchie is supposedly a regular and the food is superb including daily fresh fish.

All about The Old Forge

Tim and Lucy purchased The Old Forge in 1986 and have gradually renovated and restored the buildings to create a B&B with two self-catering cottages, a shepherd's hut and a Gypsy caravan. It's home to Tim and Lucy as well as their four children Millie, Lottie, Sophie and Jack and assorted animals! Sophie is an aspiring photographer and took all the amazing pictures of The Old Forge on this website.

The Lagonda at home

A bit of history

The Old Forge dates back to approximately 1700. It's a building full of local history and was formerly used by the local estate wheelwright and carriage builder. Lucy's creative touches are to be found everywhere and the smell of her freshly baked biscuits, marmalades and jams fills the warm kitchen. Tim's real passion is his business restoring and selling classic cars. His workshop is more akin to a working museum and he'll happily show off his 1934 Lagonda, bought for £12-10s in 1963! It's a classic car enthusiast's dream.

Environmental policy

Tim and Lucy's approach to the environment isn't about following a trend, it's what they've always done. But to use a modern phrase, 'Recycle, Reuse and Reduce', is the mantra and it's to be seen everywhere. Nothing gets thrown away and Tim and Lucy have a magical way of renovating and restoring that means the whole place feels loved, homely and timeless. Breakfasts, picnics and cream teas are all made from local and organic produce.

Pudding in the fields

Wildlife

Compton Abbas village is situated just below Fontmell Down which is now part of the chalk down land owned by The National Trust. It's an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and a Site of Special Scientific Interest for its wildflowers, grasses, butterflies and Iron Age cross dykes. It was purchased by The National Trust in memory of Thomas Hardy (1840-1928) as a reminder of some of his great works that were set in Dorset and his love of the county. No fertilisers or sprays have been used to encourage the colonisation of chalk-loving flora and in summer the profusion of flowers and butterflies give us a glimpse of what was once a familiar sight in the countryside.

B&B

Tim and Lucy run The Old Forge as a smallholding. As well as their chickens roaming the orchard and yard, guests will also see their two Arabian horses, Jasmine and Ariel, as well as a donkey called Scrumpy Jack, two Labradors, Molly and Willow, a Westie called Daisy and a Labradoodle called Pudding! For larger groups that can't be accommodated by both the Gypsy caravan and shepherd's hut, there are additional B&B rooms available and two self-catering cottages.

Booking terms for Sam, the shepherd's hut

Booking Conditions

Please note that Canopy & Stars is acting as an 'Agent' in the booking of The Gypsy Caravan and the shepherd's hut at The Old Forge on behalf of Tim and Lucy Kerridge (hereafter referred to as the 'Owner'). The Owner of the property is responsible for your stay and is the 'Principal' in this agreement. Customers renting property through Canopy & Stars are referred to as the Guest. The rental arrangements are made by Canopy & Stars, on behalf of the Owners and the contractual relationship is directly between the Owners of the property and the Guest.

The Canopy & Stars booking line (01275 395 447) is open Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm except on public holidays. When using the online enquiry form, please allow 24 working hours for us to contact you by telephone to confirm the booking. If we are unable to reach you by phone we will attempt to contact you by email. We will contact you during Canopy & Stars working hours. Online enquiries will be dealt with in the order they are received, but please be aware that we cannot guarantee reservation of your selected dates until the receipt of suitable payment.

1. Booking and payments

1.1 The dates of your booking will be held upon payment of a non-refundable deposit of 25% or payment in full. Deposits are only payable when booking more than 10 weeks in advance of your check in date. Any booking less than 10 weeks in advance of your check in date must be paid in full immediately.

1.2 On receipt of the deposit, a booking confirmation will be sent to you within 24 hours in the case of email and seven working days in the case of post, containing the details of your stay and of payments made and due. If you have not received your booking confirmation within the specified time, please notify us as soon as possible. We're sorry for any inconvenience, but payments can only be made by credit and debit cards. A 2% surcharge will be applied to credit cards. We do not accept American Express, cheques or cash.

1.3 Where a deposit has been paid, full balance payment will be due 10 weeks in advance of your check in date and a reminder will be sent to you two weeks prior to this date, where applicable, by email. If you are unable to pay the balance before the stated due date, you will forfeit your deposit and your booking will be cancelled.

2. Cancellation

2.1 Cancellation by you at any time will result in your deposit being forfeited, as all deposits are non-refundable.

2.2 All monies paid for a holiday (deposit and balance) are non-refundable within 10 weeks before check in date.

2.3 Cancellation of any holiday after it has been paid in full and at a date 10 weeks or more in advance of your check in date, will result in forfeiture of your deposit (or an amount equivalent where one was not paid as the holiday was paid in full) and the balance being returned to you.

2.4 Cancellation insurance is available but will be a third party arrangement and not involve Canopy & Stars or the Owner in any way.

2.5 If the location of your booking is inaccessible due to adverse conditions your booking can be deferred to a later date subject to availability and at discretion of Canopy & Stars on behalf of the owner of the property.

3. Alteration

3.1 Alterations to your booking can only be made more than 10 weeks prior to the check in date, after which time alterations will be treated as cancellation. All alterations will incur a £30 administration fee and are subject to availability and at the discretion of Canopy & Stars on behalf of the Owner of the property.

3.2 Differences in the total amount payable resulting from alterations will be refunded to you in the case of a decrease in price and paid by you in the case of increases in price.

4. Complaints

In the event that you have any complaint about your stay, please notify the Owner of the property as soon as possible and they will use all reasonable endeavours to resolve the issue. Whether or not your complaint is dealt with satisfactorily, please also contact us as we appreciate all feedback.

5. Pricing

Prices on the website are not binding, but costs stated in any booking confirmation email you receive from Canopy & Stars will be honoured as shown and will include all VAT and any charges.

6. Information

Information on the website is correct to the best of our knowledge, but circumstances outside of our control may cause it to become inaccurate. We apologise for any inconvenience that may result from this.

7. Liability

7.1 Canopy & Stars accept no liability for accident, loss of property or personal injury whilst on your stay.

7.2 Canopy & Stars will not be liable for any act, neglect or default on the part of the Owners or any other person not within their employ or otherwise under their control, nor for any accident, damage, loss, injury, expense or inconvenience, whether to person or property, which the Guest or any other person may suffer or incur arising out of, or in any way connected with the rental unless Canopy & Stars is responsible. In addition, the Owners and Canopy & Stars accept no liability for loss of or damage to the Guest’s possessions on the Owners’ property or land.

7.3 Nothing in these conditions excludes or limits the liability of Canopy & Stars or the Owners:

a. for death or personal injury caused by Canopy & Stars or the Owners negligence.

b. for any matter which it would be illegal for Canopy & Stars or the Owners to exclude or attempt to exclude their liability.

7.4 The use of swimming pools, lakes, climbing trees, tractor rides and any other activity on the Owners land is the responsibility of the Guest and is done so at their own risk.

8. Pets

Pets are not permitted at The Old Forge. We apologise for any inconvenience.

9. VAT

Many of the Owners of properties in the Canopy & Stars portfolio are not registered for VAT in which case no tax is payable. Where VAT is payable the tax is included in the weekly rent.

10. The Holiday – Guest Conditions of occupancy and Conduct

10.1 The Guests have the right to occupy the Property for the paid for holiday period only (within the meaning of Schedule 1 Paragraph 9 of the Housing Act 1988).

10.2 Guests undertake to behave in a proper, appropriate and legal manner with due respect to the Owner, the Property and other guests and their property. If any guest behaves inappropriately or improperly (of which the Owner will be the final judge on their Property), or illegally, the Owner reserves the right to ask the guest and their party (at their discretion) to leave the Property before the end of the holiday period. Any refund for so doing will be at the entire discretion of the Owner in consultation with the Agents. In addition, the Owner reserves the right to sue the guest for any loss, damage or injury caused to the Owner, the Property or to other guests and/or their property.

11. Breach of Booking Conditions

11.1 If there is a breach of any of these conditions by the Guest or any of their party, the Owners or Canopy & Stars reserve the right to re-enter the Property and end the holiday and ask the Guest and their party to leave in addition to their other rights specified in these Booking Conditions.

11.2 Ending the Holiday by either the Owners or Canopy & Stars, or the Guests does not affect that party’s other rights and remedies.

12 Governing Law and Jurisdiction

Any dispute will be governed by the non-exclusive law and jurisdiction of the English or Scottish Courts depending on the location of the Property.

13. Authority to Sign

The person who signs the Booking Form certifies that:

1. he or she is authorised to agree the Booking Conditions on behalf of all persons included in the Booking Form, including those substituted or added at a later date;
2. the signatory is over eighteen years of age;
3. they agree to take responsibility for the party occupying the Property, and to notify Canopy & Stars if they are not a member of the holiday party.

14. Discrepancies

In case of a discrepancy between these Booking Conditions and any other Canopy & Stars literature, these Booking Conditions shall prevail.

15. Validity clause

In the event that a court finds that a condition in these Booking Conditions is illegal or void, the illegal or void provision will be severed from the remainder of the Booking Conditions, which will continue to be valid and have full force and effect.