more about this place...

Inside is colourful, eccentric, home-from-home and designed for easy-living.

We are especially set up for families with children under 9 and welcome dogs too. The kitchen gets all the morning sun, great for lazy, sunny breakfasts  – wind back the kitchen wall doors and let the birdsong flood in.

The sitting room seats 7 comfortably. The Smart TV here is tucked into the corner for those that don’t want it, and would rather play board games (there are lots) by the wood burner.

All the bedrooms will fit travel cots in them. We have 3 in the house for guests.

Just across the garden, the eccentric and rustic-chic ‘Shed’ has a big draw…its bed; an ornate, white-curtained four-poster affair with not one, but two mattresses.  There is a little kitchen with the basics, a wood-burner, fridge and freezer. The living room area has bi-fold doors which slide right back to let the garden in. The area just outside the shed is a very effective sun-trap, it gets very hot here and this is where we usually leave deck chairs. The Shed also has a bunk room and a shower room too.

Outside the garden has been designed for children under 9s, with dens, a twigloo, and willow tunnel but it’s our glorious mini gypsy caravan (available all year bar Nov to March 2021). It’s a show-stopper for cuteness. The garden is not set up for wild ball games. There is wooden fencing that really bangs when balls hit it. There are plenty of options for family play but we don’t welcome wild and shouty play and want to respect our neighbours.

Hometruths…

The kids triple bunk bedroom has some quirks – the top ‘bunk’ is a mattress on the mezzanine of the second floor. It is reached by a staircase ladder and is as high as the ceiling so this bed will not be suitable for your group if you have young children but probably will be where they’ll want to sleep! There is a wooden railing to help stop people falling from the platform but it is high. The second bunk is also higher than normal – so not suitable for small children. We can block both off if you’d like.

The sitting room and kitchen really only seat 7 and 8 comfortably. Bigger groups will have to do two meal sittings. In summer it’s easier because the outside table seats 8 too. Please don’t think it’s a ‘big party house’, we only accept mixed groups with children and older guests as we are in a village setting and need to be careful of noise for neighbours.

The garden is not set up for wild ball games. There is wooden fencing that really bangs when balls hit it. There are plenty of options for family play but we don’t welcome wild and shouty play.

Gypsy van available all year except Nov to March in 2021.

Family

Children are especially welcome. The garden has been designed for toddlers to explore and play. It is fully enclosed. There is a marshmallow brazier for kids to use – or take to the beach. Two cots and highchairs are available. Older family members are also well catered for. There are only 2 steps downstairs. There are very good viewing options of grandchildren in the garden. Dens, tunnels, mini Gypsy Van (under 8s can stand in it). There are a few garden games.

Don’t miss
‘Swallows and Amazons’ days out along the shore,
wild games of hide and seek at Hurst Castle,
gentle walks with prams down by the Beaulieu River.
 Love water parks? The Saltwater Pools in Lymington are unmissable for families in the summer.
Dog owners, read our dog walk guide here.

Best for…

Big birthdays and families with grannies and small children in tow. There is space for people who need quiet to escape in The Shed and the garden is enclosed to let kids play. The pub next door is superb for food.

Accessibility

The house is suitable for less mobile folk. There are two bedrooms downstairs and a walk in shower room with some handles. But there are a few things we want to point out so you’re not surprised when you arrive.

• The kitchen floor is split level, only 6″ but it may not suit some.
• The downstairs bedrooms have access to a shower room and not a bath room, that is upstairs. There are no hand-rails on the stairs.
• The house is entered via a porch which has a step up of 10″ and another step of 10″ into the boot room. There are smaller steps by the front door access. The doors in the house are NOT wide enough for wheelchairs. (Gins Barn is).
• The downstairs shower room has a walk-in shower with a small 3″ lip into the shower itself.

So if you are organising a group with less mobile people then read our ideas (and tested excursions) here in our blog ‘Holidaying with the less mobile folk’

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’