01590 462005
01590 462005
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Thatched Hat Cottage

...pretty, homely, private

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#coastaljollies #countrysidepad #luxe #fabforfamiles #strivingforsustainability

On the edge of the coastal farmland and the tiniest donkey-filled hamlet, this cottage is the good life… with a thatch on the top. The large, south-facing private garden is a sun-trap.

The style here draws from and reflects the owners many years in Africa, as well as her love of the New Forest and its history. Along with deep sofas, soft linens, and pretty views from traditional casement windows in this charming thatch and cob house, you’ll find Masai necklaces, collections of woven baskets, antique travel books, all of which the owner, Fiona, has collected in her many trips. Her family live in some of the wildest parts of Botswana. Her son is a well respected wildlife photographer and safari guide.

For visitors wanting some animal action for themselves, this is the spot. Because you’re right in the National Park here, the herds of ponies, donkeys and cattle consider these lanes and tracks home, often sleeping in the driveway!

Children will love walking to the woods and the rope swing nearby. Or the family can head to Tanners Lane beach (via the back garden) and walk through the fields (passing a very good pub half way). The garden is mature and well loved. Cyclists (on and off road) are in for a treat because you’re right on excellent trails here.

Please review our homes truths section for information regarding the separate annex.

Book from:

£143 / night

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What makes this place special...

Highlights staying at this house and in the local area...

  • New Forest Escapes

    Local coastal walks

    This place is perfectly set up for guests who want to explore the area. The coast at Tanners Lane is a 3 minute drive. This spot is perfect for sundowner cocktails in tin mugs, dog walking and bird watching.

  • New Forest Escapes

    Lymington

    Lymington is 3 miles away. It is charming, full of bustle and life. Foodies have plenty to look forward to here. Saturday markets are worth planning for. Crabbing at the Quay is fun. Plenty of independent shops to enjoy.

  • New Forest Escapes

    Explore Norleywood

    For the slow life! Norley is tiny. The main event here is the phone box which has a book-swap in it. Head into the enclosure for pretty walks. Or meander about (there's a tiny ford) and spot donkeys.

  • New Forest Escapes

    Pilly village - proper job!

    Pilley village is your nearest shop. It's one of our favourites. Small, community-run and stocking all sorts of basics (the papers, Spam, Curly Wurlys, local Hampshire food in the fridge, some veg', they have a very-micro cafe at the front which is well worth a visit. Stopping here for 30 minutes will help the most frazzled of folk to absorb the sleepy-feel here. Sometimes in summer they have an old record player out front and there's a bit of dancing. Don't get mugged by the donkeys as you leave.

  • New Forest Escapes

    Nip to the pub

    The East End Arms is across the fields by a 15 minute walk out of the garden, or we love the The Fleur De Lys in Pilley (a 40 min walk) is one of the oldest in the New Forest. It’s recorded that the first pint was pulled there in 1096. It’s as British and lovely as they come. A deep thatched roof, massive oak beams, vast fireplaces, wobbly floors and walls. The food here is good and plenty of locals return time and again. In winter there is no better spot to hide from the world and get cosy. For those fancying the paranormal there is plenty on offer here too. The Grey Lady is a resident. Apparently the well ‘shows activity’ and if you’re late enough you might be unlucky enough to hear the bumps that come in the night.

  • New Forest Escapes

    Blow away your cobwebs

    The walk to Hurst Castle is usually bracing. The Solent winds, beloved by sailors, will sweep out your cobwebs and bring you home renewed. Lunch there at the tiny Hurst Castle cafe and savour the clean water in your tea, (it is taken out by tractor, along the spit, each day).

All the essential details.

Here's your full run down of this place, inside and out...

Inside

The cottage is 275 years old, made from cob and you can tell from the shapely walls, with it’s wobbles and curves that it’s a place with a history. Whilst modernised, the feeling here is a place that is loved for what it is. Thankfully no one has tried to make it chi-chi with modern lines. Nooks and crannies abound. The kitchen floor meanders. The stairs creak. It is all completely charming. The whole house is decorated in pale creams, greys. There are warm-toned fabrics, kilim rugs and mahogany furniture sits happily beside tribal drums, beach treasure and giant picnic baskets.

The kitchen is central to the slow life here. This is the place for endless cups of tea, (I won't write endless glasses of wine) around the old table. Fiona, who has lived here for over 26 years, describes the tiles in the kitchen, as delft - "lookey-likey", adding, "when I bought the cottage I didn't like the tiles, but never got around to changing them, now I'm rather fond of them". The all important table seats 6. It sits without a wobble on the sloping and well loved floor, patched to match the thatch...

The sitting room extension is a good size with two huge sofas and a massive ClearView wood burner. In summer, open the doors to the terrace, in winter, cuddle up and settle in.

The ceiling height in the house is better than many old cottages. Those who are 6 foot tall will be ok but have to duck through doors. Bedrooms upstairs are smaller. The main bedroom upstairs and the bedroom downstairs are the biggest. The double upstairs is small, the bed is 4 foot wide.
Floor plan

Sleeping...

Master 1 King size bed. Synthetic bedding. Light bedroom facing the garden and fields with ensuite. Room for a travel cot.
Bedroom 2 Double bed with views of the fields. Synthetic bedding.
Bedroom 3 Downstairs, light bedroom facing the garden. King size bed. Synthetic bedding. Room for a travel cot.

Bathrooms...

Master En-suite Downstairs with a bath.
Family Bathroom Shower upstairs.

All the rest...

KitchenRangemaster Elise / Microwave / Dishwasher/ Fridge 1 tall & 1 small / Freezer 1 tall & 1 small / Toaster. There is a separate kettle. Washing machine in the utility room.
Mod ConsThe TV in the sitting room has freeview and DVD player . A simple bluetooth speaker is provided.
ConnectivityThe WIFI is reasonable here. 4G is good outdoors.
Kids' StuffA travel cot size - 39L x 27.6W x 27.6H and high chair are provided free. We have a selection of toys and DVD's for children of 7 years and up. A stairgate is also provided.
PetsSorry - Thatched Hat cannot accept dogs. Please do ask us for our escapes that are pet friendly.

Outside

Surrounded by pretty cottage flowers, the garden terrace is a private, sun trap and has a table for 6 and seats for 10. It’s a perfect spot for summer BBQ’s. There is a pond here, please be careful. It’s not fenced and is 50 metres away from the back door (there is a good line of sight from the kitchen sink). To the side of the cottage the garden is untouched except for the path that meanders through the wild flowers, a haven for bird life, grasses, herbs and insects.
GardenLarge private garden behind the house toward the fields and then sea. It is fenced on the sides but not at the field. There is a pond which is thigh-deep on an adult - so be careful when booking with children. This is a quiet spot...

A BBQ with charcoal is provided for you.
ParkingThere is room for 2 larger cars. The parking is on the side of the quiet road.

Thatched Hat Cottage does not currently have EV charging facilities, or access to charge your car from the mains.

Home truths

- The owner, Fiona and her dog Skye, may stay in the separate annexe which is to the right of the main house as you look down the garden. This won’t disturb your stay.  She tends to the garden and is full of information about the local area - feel free to chat to her about ideas for your stay.
- There is an unfenced pond at the bottom of the garden.
- There is a security camera, installed on the side entrance of the property.
- No guests dogs here please.
- There is an extra charge for logs and kindling to burn on the fire (October- March) but feel free to BYO!

Accessibility

The floor here is quite wobbly in places. Not literally, but it's certainly not flat. There is a downstairs bedroom with ensuite bath but no specific set up for accessibility.

Booking Information

Included in your booking cost are: all bedding and linen, towels for the house, kitchen essentials, any baby kit you've requested and cleaning the house after you leave. We also supply some treats to get you going for tea when you arrive. Enjoy!

Arrival & Departure

Arrive from: 4pm
Depart before: 10am

Payment Info

Deposit: 50%
Balance Due: 45 days before your stay
Security Deposit: £400

Together with NFE, Thatched Hat Cottage is striving towards creating greener & greater staycations...

Energy Efficiency

High level of insulation

High level of draft proofing

Smart heating

Low energy / LED lighting

Waste Management

Glass, paper & plastic recycling

Food waste composted

Non-perishables donated to food bank

Single use plastic reduced

Environment

EV charging point installed

Bike storage for guest use

Improved garden biodiversity

Eco cleaning products in changeovers

Eco cleaning products for guest use

100% recycled toilet tissue & kitchen roll

Location, location, location...

Click the map to discover more of the area...

Norley Wood is a sweet, rural hamlet with a huge lot of nothing going on... Cows and ponies walk the lanes, the trees grow leaves, the wind comes and goes…

There is a fabulous rope swing by the old telephone box. This is a big deal in "downtown" NW! For pubs head to the East End Arms, a few miles away across the fields, or the Turfcutters in East Boldre.

The best things to do and see when you're here...

Head over to the blog for all kinds of good information on where to go, what to do and how to do it...Forest style

Guests that have stayed here rate this place:

4.7 out of 5

Psst...find more real reviews on upfront reviews

Great stay in a beautiful location, very friendly and responsive host. A perfect spot for the 5 of us to relax... March 2024 Read More
Great stay in a beautiful cottage in the new forest. There were 6 adults + 1 toddler and it was perfect. Lovel... March 2024 Read More
5 stars! Amazing, friendly host with a wonderful place. Would 100% come back to stay again!! Couldn’t recomm... October 2023 Read More
stayed at the cottage with my 5 year old son and a friend and her two boys 6 and 9. We had a fantastic time. ... July 2023 Read More

Guests that have stayed here rate this place:

4.7 out of 5

Great stay in a beautiful location, very friendly and responsive host. A perfect spot for the 5 of us to relax and walk/play games and visit the nearby local attractions.

Tom & family March 2024

Great stay in a beautiful cottage in the new forest. There were 6 adults + 1 toddler and it was perfect. Lovely location (worth doing a shop before you get there) and a lovely garden. Highly recommend.

Nick March 2024

5 stars! Amazing, friendly host with a wonderful place. Would 100% come back to stay again!! Couldn’t recommend highly enough.

Rory & family October 2023

stayed at the cottage with my 5 year old son and a friend and her two boys 6 and 9. We had a fantastic time. The location was great. Fiona was lovely and very helpful. On the odd occasion we needed something she responded almost immediately. The cottage is beautiful and the location really handy to get to the sights and surrounding towns. The kids enjoyed the garden. The Thatched Hat felt like home! Thanks Fiona

Joy and friends July 2023

We spent 5 nights here with in laws and our two young children aged 2 and 6. It was a lovely quirky house with a most beautiful garden which goes a lot further than we thought and we were very lucky with gorgeous weather during our stay so we ended up eating out at the outdoor table for virtually every meal which was fantastic Fiona welcomed us as we checked in, and she was there to say a friendly hello most days we were there. The utensils etc supplied in the kitchen and the toiletries were lovely and of high quality and we felt very spoiled! Thank you Fiona

Fiona & family June 2023

Lovely picturesque cottage in a fabulous location. We enjoyed walking from the bottom of the garden to the local pub & local beach as well as exploring further afield. Highlights include getting the ferry across to Hurst castle, Mudeford & Exbury Gardens. Good choice of places to eat in the area. Super friendly and helpful welcome from our host, Fiona. All in all this was a perfect place for our family catch up.

Peter and family June 2023

We had a lovely time at this idyllic cottage in the middle of the new forest. The location is second to none, with beautiful walk to local pubs, 5min drive to a quiet beach, and easy access to all attractions. The house is beautifully furnished and full of characters. We had everything we need. Highly recommended!

Meng and family May 2023

Had a wonderful long weekend at the cottage. The space is cosy, quirky, and full of character; you can tell it’s well loved. The cottage was equipped with everything we needed for a quiet escape. The garden is beautiful and full of wild-life. Great location for exploring the various parts of the forest, would come back in a heartbeat.

Maria May 2023

A beautiful spot in the lovely New Forest. House is lovely and has a wonderful country cottage feel. Great walk down to East End Arms and onwards to Tanners Beach. The owner, Fiona, is so welcoming. Close to Lymington but seems miles away in the peaceful surroundings. Had a wonderful day out at Bucklers Hard which is only a short trip away. Exbury Gardens also just 20 mins away and well worth a visit.

Sam & family May 2023

Wonderful! We had a great time. The kitchen is very well equipped. The bedrooms and bathrooms were spotless and comfortable. The living room is so cozy. We enjoyed every moment, thank you!

Cecile & Maarten December 2022

Thatched Hat Cottage was the perfect place for a family getaway in the New Forest. The cottage is full of character and is in an amazingly tranquil location with a beautiful garden. We had daily visits from the resident Guinea fowl and a deer who came to snack on the gardens crab apples. The house was clean, fully equipped and very comfortable. We were 5 adults and a 6 year old, and the space was perfect. (6 year old slept on an inflatable mattress on the room sized landing upstairs). Fiona the owner was around off and on from the annexe, and is a lovely lady who made us feel so at home. All round, a fantastic home for a New Forest getaway.

Dominic August 2022

Fantastic old cottage in wonderful location. Really enjoyed the garden with its plants and wildlife. So peaceful and relaxing. The spacious lounge was excellent for sitting back in the evenings. Fiona was excellent in making sure we had everything we needed and providing advice on where to go. Many walks were enjoyed in the forest on our doorstep and the food at the local pub, Eden arms, was outstanding. Short 10 minute drive to Lymington with its shops and supermarkets to stock up with fresh food and drinks .

Paul July 2022

Delightful cottage and garden. The New Forest is far more beautiful and extensive than anticipated. Fiona was helpful and supportive without being intrusive. We are talking about repeating our booking of Thatched Hat next year, because we had such a nice time.

David July 2022

Absolutely lovely cottage! Great to meet Fiona, Sky and Guinness! Amazing stay as a family!

Vicky June 2022

We had a wonderful stay here, idyllic house with so much character. Fiona was a fab host and gave us lots of ideas for places to visit. We would 100% return here.

Hannah April 2022

Very charming little cottage in the heart of New Forest.

Georges February 2022

Beautiful cottage in a perfect location for walking and exploring the new forest. Really comfortable stay with lots of space, all the amenities you could hope for (such as well stocked kitchen for cooking, lovely aga, utility room for coats and boots) plus more (books, photos, artwork) to make it feel like a home from home. Would love to come back in summer to enjoy the garden.

Rachel February 2022

Brilliant service all the way through. Lovely place to stay! 5 stars!

Daniel January 2022

I am almost reluctant to write a review for this property as its a hidden gem!! This beautiful cottage delivered everything we hoped for, it is situated in a quiet little lane in the middle of the New Forest. The lush garden which is very well maintained was such a wonderful place to enjoy your morning coffee, whilst watching the wild life but also very peaceful in the evening for star gazing. The cottage is clean, cosy and very traditional with a robust log burner, long comfy sofas and a traditional thatched cottage kitchen with an Aga. Thank you to Fiona for being such an amazing host, there when you needed her with lots of local information and friendly stories. The highlight for me was spending time with Sky her delightful black Labrador dog who would pop in and visit us but also give us the therapy we needed and top off the feeling of staying in a true English country side property. We will be back!!!

Simon September 2021

Thatched Hat delighted us. Abundant tranquility, Fiona's great gift. Thank you x

Sophie Gibson September 2021

Delighted to stay in the most charming cottage, made all the more lovely by meeting Fiona... thank you so much for sharing the warmth of your home & garden.

Emily Gibson September 2021

What a treat! Fiona thank you for the most wonderful week. We are leaving with a heavy heart but happy in the knowledge we have made a new friends and that we hope to come back again next year! Thank you for all your wonderful ideas of things to do and sharing your local wisdom, it has made it the most special holiday we have had in a long time. Exbury, the IOW, Lymington lido (if it hadn't been fully booked - book as soon as you arrive) the East End Arms (our new fave although Fluer De Lys good too!) Thank you, thank you!

Liz, Guy & Tom September 2021

Thank you so much to Fiona, Sky & Guinness for the most amazing holiday ever! Looking forward to coming back next year. Loved you taking me for a drive in your lovely Land Rover, see you soon!

Tom August 2021

Twisted lanes and deep hedgerows full of bird song lead to the Thatched Hat Cottage. Many a warm summers night was spent watching badminton across the wonderful garden. We loved the open space, garden within gardens across fields. The cottage sits in a wonderful hamlet where peace comes and dropping by wild ponies, old forest and friendly dogs. Sky was a sheer delight, our children adopted her for our holiday and loved playing ball with her every evening. And to all things that come to an end we had to leave with tears brimming and memories full of a never ending New Forest holiday. Thanks so much Fiona! We are very grateful, yours The Harrington Family.

Harrington family August 2021

Short stay but.... very sweet :) Many thanks.

Zoe & Niall June 21

Thank you so much for a lovely stay, place was amazing and we adored Sky.

Sian, Jordan, Emily, Andrew, Ellen & Grant May 21

Thank you Fiona & Sky. We had the best time and want to move in permanently. We'll be back. X

Misha, Emily, Theo, Mimi & Regaven May 21

Thank you Fiona, we truly had an amazing time. Thanks for your care in this homy house.

Priscilla & Ian May 21

What a beautiful cottage, bags of character. We hope to come again, thank you Fiona x

Tom, Sam & Annabelle May 21

We won't let you down! It's amazing! All the team have visited the house and we all love it! BTW - The Guinea Fowl is called Guinness!

Message from Rachel the founder of NFE. April 21
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