more about this place...

Special mention must be made of the migratory birds here who enjoy the mosaic of habitats here. Read more about the Solent birds here. 

The Beach house has been given a new lease of life by its new local owners.  Many original features have been maintained, 1930s parquet flooring has a silvery wash, old wooden floors and walls are painted white. An eclectic mix of art adorns the walls, funky pottery nestles alongside a happy and calming blend of antique and modern furniture. Vintage East Coast American rugs, reindeer and sheep skins add warmth and texture to the floors. The old dining room and kitchen have been opened up to make one big space, equipped with all you need for modern living.

The kitchen and dining room is open plan and very efficiently laid out. The white marble topped work-space has a window looking straight out to sea and there is masses of cooking equipment for family meals, including good quality condiments. The kitchen table seats 6 comfortably. (It’s 181cm length x 83cm wide).

In the sitting room you’ll find big squidgy sofas, heaps of cushions, books, games, a television, warm rugs, good lighting and a wood burning stove.

The cottage also has a brick and glass conservatory which, given our rather changeable British weather, come wind, rain or shine you can sit and look out to the garden.  The room is set up for wind-free beach living.

Upstairs all the bedrooms have some kind of beach view. There are two good-sized bedrooms and the views from both are lovely. You can easily see the sea from both beds. The bunk room is suitable for adults and older teenagers as well as children. The third double is tight but it makes up for it with the view down the beach. There is also a single room, styled with a child in mind. It’s a full size single bed so an adult would also be comfortable here.

Nowadays coast and garden blend into one, seaside plants and gravel paths weave along the seafront and a large wooden deck provides a platform to look out over the beach, west to the Needles and Hurst Castle and east to Cowes on the Isle of Wight. Yachts race by, fishing boats wend their way, flocks of seabirds call on the sea breeze. New Forest ponies cows and donkeys are frequent visitors and often walk the shore line at low tide conversing happily with our guests.

Family

Children are welcome but the house is not specifically set up for small children; we can’t fit stairgates and the garden fencing on the seaside is minimal. 2 bedrooms are suitable for travel cots.

Best for…

The guests who’ve most loved it here have been happy to enjoy this wild coast in all weathers, to feel nature wash over them, watch the birds and boats, waves and winds come and go.

What are the quirks here? 

We think the house best fits 6 adults and balance children, but you can fit 9 adults. The kitchen table is built for 6 on chairs. One of the double bedrooms upstairs is tight. The fridge is an under-counter fridge. You can’t store food for a week in it. The pantry is small under the stairs. Hot water – the house is 300 years old. The tank isn’t huge so you will have to wait a short period of time between full baths. Supermarket delivery trucks can’t get down the track to the house. Use Click and Collect services or bring shopping with you.

Practicalities

The cottage is accessed from a ¼ mile long private track.  The beach in front of the cottage is yours to use.  All the surrounding coastline/beaches are private to the high water mark.  Areas below the high water mark are accessible to walkers. The cottage is very close to the sea, but is well built and cosy.  Sometimes the Solent experiences very stormy weather, more likely during the winter.  Someone from the team is always on hand for any eventuality.

Accessibility

The garden is not enclosed. Some of the flagstone paths can be slippery in winter. For older family members the stairs are wooden and steeper than the average. There is a rope support for the stairs but not a hand rail.

So if you are organising a group with less mobile people then read our ideas (and tested excursions) here in our blog ‘Holidaying with less mobile folk? Here’s where to go, what to do!’

And if you are organising a celebration for those in their 60’s + please visit our blog post ‘Four easy ideas for memorable 60th, 70th & 80th birthdays’