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The Boat Shed

...boaty, minimalist, romantic

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#coastaljollies #besidetheseaside #fabforfamiles #dogfriendly #cosy

Calling all romantics, walkers, wanderers and design lovers. Come hither. This place is for you – The Boat Shed Lymington.

Chic and cool, The Boat Shed is a mini ‘Grand Designs’ of a home. It packs a hefty architectural punch with its shingle cladding, log burner, multi-tasking living space, sleep space under the eaves and sunny, sheltered veranda. Unsurprisingly, The Boat Shed’s owners, Alice and Henning Stummel, have appeared on Channel 4’s Grand Designs with their London home, The Tin House, which was also shortlisted for RIBA House of the Year.

Whilst the area bustles with the seaside life of nautical living and small-town vibrancy this location is an oasis of calm tucked in amongst the trees. Hidden from the neighbours, this quiet and peaceful hideaway is perfect for feeling secluded whilst only being a gate away from the joys of seaside life; sea birds, tinkling boat masts and the fresh sea air.

Walk ‘not-quite-next-door’ to great food and the town, walk west to the coastal path, big skies and wild beaches.

Book from:

£110 / night

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What makes this place special...

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

All the essential details.

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

Inside

Alice and Henning have rescued and repurposed The Boat Shed in a similar playful and minimalist style to their award winning property The Tin House. Alice says, “We live in a utilitarian style, pared-down, simple and functional. We only have what we need and find that the decluttering allows for more freedom in such a small space.”

Accordingly, space in The Boat Shed is used to a premium. A shipshape mini-kitchen is set into a wall of pale wood floor to ceiling cupboards, the table seats four, a comfy cabin-style sofa doubles as a generous queen-sized bed while the mezzanine space under the eaves very comfortably sleeps one and is snuggly for two (you could always ‘top and tail’).

Walk out the garden gates straight into the Royal Lymington Yacht Club dinghy yard and you'll find yourself on the coastal path. Head east past The Mayflower pub which is excellent for food, meander through the bigger boat marinas and you'll get to the cobbled town quay with cafes and more pubs, including our personal favourite cafe, Greedo. If you head West instead, you will pass The Haven Bar and Restaurant which serves fabulous food and instagram worthy cocktails. Following this path along you'll head out of town for bigger skies, wilder walks, long beaches and the occasional cafe.

Top inland destinations are easily accessible by train or car with The New Forest only a short distance away. Consider planning an adventure on the way home to maximise your time in this glorious location. Heading into the forest by train is a great day trip when you've exhausted the coastal options or fancy a change in scenery.  We suggest walking to the train station at Lymington town, taking the 9 minute train across the National Park wilds to Brockenhurst and walking to The Pig Hotel for a fancy lunch and day out walking in the forest. The Pig is well known and celebrated for its local menu, working walled gardens and country-house style.

Practicalities here: The sofa bed will not be made on arrival. We leave all the items you'll need in the cupboards and you'll have to make the bed yourselves.
Floor plan

Sleeping...

Bedroom 1 Queen size sofa bed. A large single (4ft) above the bathroom, divided from the main room by simple wooden slatting. Synthetic bedding.

Bathrooms...

Bathroom Small shower room

All the rest...

KitchenTiny kitchen with sink, small convection oven, hob, toaster, kettle, fridge with small freezer compartment.
Mod ConsA Roberts radio.
ConnectivityThere is good 4G locally.
Phone service is reasonable for most suppliers.
Kids' StuffThere are no cots or highchairs here but there is space to have them in the main room. Please do bring them with you.
PetsThere is excellent dog walking on the coastal paths from here. Dogs are welcome here - with a small charge per dog, per stay. Garden is fenced but houdinis may escape.

Outside

While The Boat Shed is close to the bustle of the lively and picturesque market town of Lymington, it is tucked away in a secret, secluded spot – at the end of Royal Lymington Yacht Club’s dinghy yard. It is reached through double gates and surrounded by a private garden with mature leafy trees hiding it from view. There’s a table for two on the cabin’s veranda while another table in the garden can seat up to eight if you have visitors – perfect for picnics, drinks and nibbles on summer days and warm evenings. The air is filled with the calls of seabirds and the view is full of boat masts – with the Lymington to Yarmouth ferry bumbling past in the distance.
GardenThere is a small garden around the property which has mature trees and is shady. A double gate opens directly into the dinghy boat yard storage area and the coastal path walking route is just across it.
ParkingThere is off road parking for 2 medium sized cars.

Home truths

The third bed is high, 4ft wide bed and above the bathroom in the eaves. There is a floor to ceiling slatted barrier on the long side. The ladder is vertical to get to it on the short side. For two adults it would very snuggly! But teens and children may be very happy here.  Just please be aware that there is no barrier to stop them falling out on the short side.

The kitchen table seats 4. Should you have guests visiting, there is another table for eight outside.

Sadly there is no Wifi or TV

There is an extra charge for logs and kindling to burn on the fire (October- March) but feel free to BYO!

Accessibility

The Boatshed is perched on 1.5m high stilts. There are steps with a good handrail to get onto the front balcony and and there are no steps once inside. The door is wide enough for wheelchairs but the bathroom is very small, narrow and has no specific grab rails etc for those with challenged mobility.

You can park the car within 30 metres. The track is mainly flat, but cobbled and uneven.

Booking Information

Included in your booking cost are: all bedding and linen, towels for the house, kitchen essentials. We also supply some treats to get you going for tea when you arrive. Enjoy!

Arrival & Departure

Arrive from: 4pm
Depart before: 11am

Payment Info

Deposit: 50%
Balance Due: 45 days before your stay
Security Deposit: £250

Location, location, location...

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

Head to the left out the gate and you'll get to the yacht chandlery (sells nice foodie basics), excellent cafe/restaurant and cool boat yard of Yacht Haven. Walk for miles here around the coastal path and end up in the pretty and boaty hamlet of Keyhaven.

For top notch ice cream in summer, go to the booth by the salt water pool and lido (also handy for seawater swimming).

For those who want more, Lymington is a short walk away. In 8 minutes you'll be on the High Street but you'll have passed the Mayflower which we also recommend for food too.

Guests that have stayed here rate this place:

4.4 out of 5

Psst...find more real reviews on upfront reviews

Really nice place to relax and good responsive hosts. Would definitely recommend :)... February 2024 Read More
5 stars! We had a lovely weekend break at The Boat House, relaxed straight away. Great communication with the ... November 2023 Read More
Had a lovely stay at The Boatshed! Came with everything you could need an in a lovely location! ... November 2023 Read More
What a perfect place! We had. wonderful few days in the Hut. The Boatshed is such a lovely place. ... June 2023 Read More

Guests that have stayed here rate this place:

4.4 out of 5

Really nice place to relax and good responsive hosts. Would definitely recommend :)

Lakshan February 2024

5 stars! We had a lovely weekend break at The Boat House, relaxed straight away. Great communication with the host & exactly as described. It was a wet weekend & we enjoyed relaxing in the calm space with the wood burner fire. Perfect place to explore The New Forest & switch off from busy city life! Thanks :)

Elizabeth November 2023

Had a lovely stay at The Boatshed! Came with everything you could need an in a lovely location!

Ben & Mya November 2023

What a perfect place! We had. wonderful few days in the Hut. The Boatshed is such a lovely place.

Fi, Ben & Ren the dog June 2023

Lovely place, very quiet and peaceful, but so close to historic town of Lymington and everything there is to see and do. We celebrated midsummer with a family barbeque. I really liked the design of my bed and the garden was pretty - guest 8 years old. One of the best staycations we have had in England. Thanks to the host & team!

Gint & Renata June 2023

Very good communication, great location and nice tiny house.

Andrea Oct 2022

Such a happy place! Very comfortable for three adults, and we've had a lovely time. Shed so pretty and quiet at night and in such a great location. Easy walk into Lymington and so easy to get to the paths over the marshes (go into the yacht haven for the public footpath). Back to reality now, but hope to be back. P.S Thank you for the milk and cake.

Lynelle, Simon & Helen September 2022

We had a restful time in a peaceful location. Simply loved sitting on the edge of the marina and watching the boats go by. Strolling through the nature reserve and eating ice cream (so many flavours!) were definite highlights of our stay. The Hut itself is charming, eating breakfast on the decking is wonderful and we loved the bunk bed. Also would recommend The Mayflower next door for great food. Thank you for a beautiful stay (with lovely weather) and we'd love to come back again.

The Edwards family x August 2002

We had a great stay. The accommodation has everything you need, plenty of hot water and was really clean and tidy.

Ashton August 2022

It was a lovely place to stay and nice and local to Lymington for a short walk to everything!

Dean August 2022

We enjoyed lovely weather and loved staying in the beautiful and comfortable BoatShed - even better than the photos! So tranquil. Also conveniantely located near to the Mayflower. We enjoyed a day trip to Milford and and walked the Solent Way to Keyhaven. Things we are planning next time - Keyhaven ferry to Hurst Castle and a swim in the sea water baths, we simply ran out of time. Thank you so much for hosting us :)

Sofia and Yately the dog

What a fantastic stay! We love The BoatShed. Followed in the footsteps of previous guests enjoying the walk to Hurst Castle, fabulous walk, awesome views and the wildlife was amazing. Can't wait to come back!

Joanne & William July 2022

We absolutely loved our stay here! The Boat Shed is so cosy and private but sitting outside in the evenings still makes it feel spacious and open. There's lots to do and we wish we could have stayed longer. We brought our cavapoo with us and she through this was the best place ever, she settled immediately and started exploring as soon as she could. The little touches the host left made it even nicer to come in to. The place was so tidy and comfortable and we cannot wait to come back again.

Rich, Cerys, Anya and little Luna. August 2022

The Boatshed was amazing! A gem of a hideaway, but so close to all amenities and the harbour-side. Accommodation was cool in design yet really cosy and comfortable. The boat shed was very clean and we had everything we could have needed for our stay. Would highly recommend :)

Sarah July 2022

Perfect location to get away from the hustle abs bustle of life.The boatshed was immaculate, cosy and peaceful. Amazing location: the mayflower pub was a lifesaver and my dog loved the little enclosed garden. We had an amazing time. Recommended!

Sazia July 2022

Nice and peaceful location and hand for the pub on arrival (The Mayflower). Easy access to the Solent path and walked to Hurst Castle taking in the wildlife enroute. Nice day trip with X1 back to Lymington. Good luck with the planning application so we can return with the family another time.

John & Jackie, Antwerp July 2022

We don't want to go! So laid back and what a lovely area, we are going to see if there is any space to come back for a week next spring. Loved the tranquility. Have a great time whatever comes next. Thanks NFE team x

Annette and Amir, Shrewsbury July 2022

Thanks for a wonderful stay. The perfect coastal escape from busy city life!

Elliott June 2022

We have had a lovely stay at The BoatShed. It is a great base for exploring both the forest and coast. Just a note there is only one wine glass in the cupboard and would be good to have some plastic ones for the garden. Some cushions for the garden would make it more comfortable on a summers evening. We hope to return again soon.

Kate, Dan & Lottie. June 2022

What a wonderful place to stay! We enjoyed a lovely week in Lymington, explored all the local attractions and thoroughly enjoyed our stay. The BoatShed is so comfy and we were very comfortable and cosy. The garden is also so lovely, that honeysuckle!! Thanks for having us, all the best.

Claire, Dan & Mack the dog. June 2022

Celebrated our 2nd wedding anniversary here and had a lovely time. Excellent location near to the Mayflower Pub and great walks along the coast to Hurst Castle with the dog.

Warren & Yvonne June 2022

We had a lovely few days at the boat house. Such a peaceful, cosy place. Loved waking up to birdsong and walking along the sea walls. The ladder to the upper bed was a challenge for us oldies, so beware it is a vertical 7 foot! Sofa bed was fine though. Clever, compactly designed mini home. The dog loved it, hopefully worth the £50 cleaning charge. Very good communication and directions. Thanks.

Ali May 2022

Great location, quiet, tucked away, and very sweet. Pull out bed a little impractical, but otherwise well equipped and we enjoyed the little terrace and lighting. Lack of wi fi not a problem for us, 4g was usable, but take books, wine and enjoy the silence. We loved Lymington, and the hut is perfect for accessing the coastal path ( Salterns Way)

Simon May 2022

Great location, great walks, great pubs!

Chris May 2022

The Hut was perfect for our stay, oodles of atmosphere and the bird song in the morning was really special. Even though we were in a really accessible location in Lymington, you feel really tucked away in a little oasis. Clean, all mod cons, really organised hosts. We felt off the grid but we weren’t so it was exactly what we wanted for a relaxing week to switch off.

Emma April 2022

Beautiful, relaxing and a very different place to stay. The mezzanine is very cosy but definitely just for kids or the very nimble! The location is great for the town and the estuary.

Andrew 27 March 2022

Such a lovely setting, we had a really nice break with our little dog. Perfect to explore Lymington and the New Forest. We loved it and would love to come back.

Phillippa February 2022

Unique accommodation in a fabulous location

Mark January 2022

What a lovely little cabin! Fantastic location, lovely secret garden and warm as toast log burner. Bathroom is modest in size, some larger folk may struggle to get into the shower!

Chris January 2022

We had a fantastic weekend in a tardis -like boat shed that is extremely well finished and furnished. Yes it’s a sofa bed but very comfortable! Lovely quiet spot but close to town and marina. Thanks for having us

Steve November 2021

A lovely cosy hide away - we loved it!

Henry October 2021

Great little place for few days. Perfect location, secluded. Good for town and coast. Compact but comfortable and well equipped. Lovely to listen to sounds of trees and boats

Jane October 2021

We had such an amazing time here, was so cosy and quiet, location is perfect can’t wait to visit again

Daniel October 2021

Was really lovey stay here ❤️

Andrew September 2021

A great location just outside of the town - peaceful and quiet after a busy day in Lymington. Only a 10 minute walk - which is a nice walk too. The Hut is a lovely ‘tiny’ home - with everything you need for a perfect stay in it. It was well described and met all expectations. The sleeping arrangement in the mezzanine means you have to be good at climbing the steps to get up to it! A lovely space and would definitely go back!!

Helena August 2021

We really enjoyed our stay at the Boat Shed, very comfortable and private...a great hideaway in a great location to explore Lymington! We will definitely be back, thank you!

Jo August 2021

The boat shed is a great place for a mini break, within easy walking distance of Lymington town. The property is small but comfortable making it ideal for couples. We found it a very peaceful which is great if you're looking for somewhere to relax but also handy for visiting all the lovely nearby new forest spots.

Jill July 2021

The boat shed is a great place for a mini break, within easy walking distance of Lymington town. The property is small but comfortable making it ideal for couples. We found it a very peaceful which is great if you're looking for somewhere to relax but also handy for visiting all the lovely nearby new forest spots.

Jill July 2021

Beautiful little hide away, great location to explore from!

John Mildwater June 2021

From the word go communication was excellent. My partner and I wanted to relax and 'be off the grid' a bit, no WiFi and TV certainly helped. Lymington itself is a lovely seaside village and the Hut was close enough to walk but further away enough to be away from the action.

Robert May 2019

Thank you for organising our stay at short notice. We had a lovely couple of days and loved The Boat Shed. Highly recommended. A snug little den to rest between beautiful long walks. All in all it’s a wonderful place to stay. Many thanks Andy.

Andy January 2019

We stayed in the Boat Shed in Lymington with our 3 month old daughter and two sausage dogs (her first ever holiday). Sarah in particular was so helpful in suggesting lovely baby and dog friendly things to do and places to eat. She ensured we had everything we needed and offered her assistance throughout our stay. The Boat Shed was wonderfully peaceful and we loved the simplicity of it. It is beautifully located for lovely walks, stunning scenery and plenty to do, even in cold January.

January 2019

Fabulous, stylish, secluded accommodation in Lymington, a delightful town on the edge of the New Forest. Sunday lunch at the pub a few doors down is not to be missed. All in all a great trip, expertly hosted. Thank you for accommodating us at The Boat Shed, we had a fab time and would re-book another visit in a heart beat. In fact we will when we get the opportunity!

Richard December 2018

We had a great short break at the Boat Shed. An excellent location for walking and just a short stroll into town. The 'Hut' is ideal for a couple. A little cosy at bed time for 2 children on the mezzanine but the living area is plenty big enough, well designed & the log burner ideal on a crisp Autumn evening. I would definitely recommend the Hut for a short stay any time of year. Whether you enjoyed sailing, walking or just as a retreat.

Kirsty and Family November 2018

The team at New Forest Escapes are super helpful, the accommodation is relaxing and serene, located in amongst some of the the New Forests most popular destinations. Also great having the Mayflower pub right next door and Haven Bar close by.

Joss and friend October 2018

What a beautiful and cleverly designed space. The pictures do not do it justice. It was much more spacious than we were expecting and the garden area is also a lovely size. We could see the sun rise through the windows in the morning and it is in such a great location for walks and short drives to explore other parts of the New Forest. Great pubs nearby and it was lovely being so close to the sea.

The Major Family including Alfie the dog October 2018

What a great little find. My 9 year old daughter and I have just returned from a 2 night stay at The Boat Shed. It was perfect for us. We found it in sparkling clean condition and the bathroom is surprisingly spacious for such a compact space. The kitchen had everything you need, even a proper oven, microwave which feels much more than it mentions in the description. The wood burning stove is perfect for the autumn evenings and heated the whole of the boat shed very efficiently. Outside, there are delightful lights that run around the bat shed and though the trees that make it feel very special. The boat shed is in a truly super location. You're a stones throw from the Solent where you can admire the yachts and take in all the boating activity around you, get an ice cream or go to the children's park.

Jane and Daughter October 2018

Dear Robyn and Rachel. I just wanted to say thank you for being so last minute and flexible, allowing Flynn and myself to stay at the Boatshed. It was a bit of a dream come true, in away as we have watched so many of the "tiny houses" series and always wondered if we could experience the down sizing. It felt like luxury with very comfortable beds and lining plus we loved the thick fluffy towel - it felt wrong to even use the floor mat as a mat! We loved the way you could escape out the double gates at the back. As the weather was mixed over our couple of days, and we returned back to base a couple of times like drowned rats we were grateful to be able to light the log burner - would love to do a winter retreat here as log burner kicks out some heat! (I know you did warn us).

Steve and son August 2018

We had a fab holiday at the Boat Shed. A perfect little hideaway for a peaceful break. The Boat Shed is set down a beautiful leafy lane in the heart of Lymington. A very cosy little accommodation with all you need for your stay. Well equipped kitchen area with basic items provided, plus a welcome bottle of wine. Cosy large sofa bed. Small bathroom, but a great shower. Outside has a lovely little terrace. Very private and a great view of all the boats. The location is perfect. All the good restaurants and coffee bars are within walking distance. Also the Keyhaven nature reserve is a beautiful walk, with an abundance of Wildlife. We will definitely return to the Boat Shed and recommend it for a lovely little peaceful break.

Tina, Craig & Buddy (the dog) July 2018