What makes this place special...
Highlights staying at this house and in the local area...
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Take a picnic to the beach
Walk through the fields to a stretch of coast unknown by most. The footpath connects to Tanners Lane, another local beach. It's very pretty, excellent for foraging in autumn (samphire) and great views.
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The local hamlets
Your local shops compete for eccentricity. They're both great. East Boldre and Pilley stores are equidistant. Ponies and donkeys often hover at the door of both...
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East End Arms pub
The nearest pub is the East End Arms, a well known gastro pub. A 10 minute walk along the lane.
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The areas beaches
Drive for 20 minutes and you'll be at the long and pebbly/sandy beaches at Milford on Sea. Wild swimming is great here, but you can also swim at Tanners.
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Hurst Castle and the Spit
Get the tiny ferry to huge Hurst Castle Spit and the Castle itself. We love it for family play and couples time out. There is enough space here for a quiet and sunny picnic spot out of the wind or wild games of Hide and Seek. There is café which is tiny and excellent, or our favourite thing is picnics on the castle keep roof.
All the essential details.
Here's your full run down of this place, inside and out...
Inside
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The house with it's two front doors, is Grade II listed because there are some beautiful old windows, ancient floors, and plenty of architectural features throughout the house. Like many of the cottages of this era, not many walls are straight, and you need to stay here with a tolerant heart for the wonky and strange.
Your hosts have given the house a new lease of life. They've used and recycled pre-loved furniture and kept some of the old pieces, including an enamel bath which is marked. It's contentious to some, but it is clean - we give it a proper scrub each time! The furniture is simple, practical, with strong use of colour and pattern, thrown together in an easy-going manner. Kids will love the chest of fancy dress in the sitting room.
The house has two distinct halves, with the kitchen running the full width of the two cottages downstairs. The bedrooms are spit evenly with 4 sleeping on one side, and 4 on the other. There are 2 staircases leading to the bedrooms, dividing the upstairs space in half. It's perfect for two families, or those who want to give grandparents a quieter and more private area.
The kitchen is a really good space. The kitchen seats 8 around the main kitchen table is another table in the hall, so 12 can fit in one sitting. Little ones are well catered for with kit here: high chairs, cots, masses of toys and books, ride on car, flat lawns to play on, apple trees at the end of the garden to picnic under.
The sitting room here is lovely, but small. Nothing matches but it seats 6 comfortably, so you can't all get in for a movie without seriously squashing up. But it's perfect for the kids for a post-beach movie.
Bedrooms are all a good size and you can fit travel cots in all of them easily. The day bed downstairs is very comfortable and we can make up an extra mattress on the floor for you if you ask.Floor planSleeping...
Bedroom 1 Twin beds. Views overlooking the front garden. Bedroom 2 King Bed. Views overlooking the front garden. Bedroom 3 Bunks and single bed. Views overlooking the back garden. Bedroom 4 King Bed. Views overlooking the back garden. Bedroom 5 Single bed downstairs. Views facing front garden. Bathrooms...
Bathroom 1 Downstairs. Bath with shower. Bathroom 2 Bath with shower. Separate WC Upstairs. All the rest...
Kitchen Kitchen table seats 6 plus second table set up for 12.
Infusion Ranger master 3 oven with 5 induction hob/ Fridge freezer / Microwave / Cafeteria / 2 Slice Toaster / Dishwasher / Washing machine / Tumble dryer / IronMod Cons A Roberts radio / WIFI / TV with Sky Connectivity WIFI is ok, mobile signal isn't great, but you can make WhatsApp calls here. Kids' Stuff : One travel cot and one high chair are provided. There is also plastic crockery and cutlery. Travel cot size is 120 x 62 cm
Pets Two dogs are welcome for a small charge. Garden is fenced but houdinis may escape. Outside
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There are two gardens, one back, one front. It's about 1/2 an acre in total. You have to walk around or through the house to get from one side to the other. Both are laid mainly to lawn. The front garden has the terrace and gets the most afternoon sun. The old play barn is accessed from the front garden. The owners haven't done the full work they want to do here yet.
The garden is enclosed with hedges and fencing, but Houdini dogs will escape if they really try.
There is still a rather shabby, but original WWII Anderson shelter here which will bring back memories for some visitors. It's a reminder of the time-warp this place has been in until very recently.
The lane here is very quiet. It's single and a bit extra wide, so slow traffic only. Because of the school, it's in a 20mph limit area with no large traffic, but you can expect the odd tractor, passing.Garden There are lawns on both sides of the house (you have to go through the house or on the lane to get from one side to the other). On the other side of the house there is a bigger lawn next to the terrace with seating and parasol for summer bbq's, andWWII Anderson shelter.
The garden is enclosed with a large hedge and gates.Parking Three cars can park on the lane outside the house. There is a driveway at the back of the garden for you to pull off the road, this fits 2 cars, one behind another. Home truths
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Those who want perfectly clean velvet on their chairs will notice some smudges and marks. There are some genuine quirks around the house that haven't been made chi-chi. The stairs haven't been repainted, there are two patches of the ancient floor tiles (listed) are old and battered, but the kitchen, bathrooms, utility room and bedrooms are totally decorated and in good order.
The top bunk is high and doesn't have a lot of head height.
The house was decorated after a renovation in March 2021. The house is a solid wall construction from the early 1800's. The specialist eco lime wash that is used here on the walls discolours to a pale yellow when it meets with soot or salt. This is starting to happen in a very few places around the house.
The bath in the downstairs bathroom is a big old enamel tub. It's marked and well loved and the owners have kept it for environmental reasons. It is clean - we scrub it well - but the marks will be contentious to some.
The garden was sewn with new grass in March, at the same time there was a month long dry period. It has mostly grown but is still a little patchy close to the house. The garden isn't immaculate here, and rambles about over old cobbles and concrete paths.
Next door to the house is a very small 'nature nursery' for 2-5 year olds, and opposite is a small state primary school. Having spent considerable time at the house during school playtime, the noise here isn't loud or particularly obvious because the playground is on the far side of the school buildings, whilst the little nursery children are mostly chattery and also have other play areas. The area is generally very peaceful and even at school drop- off there is usually little traffic disruption. Both the school and nursery are closed at weekends. The nursery is open in the school holidays with limited hours.
One complimentary basket of logs will be provided for your stay (Nov - March). Feel free to bring your own for any extra.
Accessibility
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The parking is right on the lane outside the house. There is a concrete path to the house and whilst there is a downstairs bedroom (on a very comfy large day bed) there is a downstairs bathroom in the utility room area. This is a a walk across the kitchen to get there.
The stairs are steep on both sides, so please be aware of this. Booking Information
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Free and 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
Changeover: Mondays through summer Arrive from: 4pm Depart before: 10am Payment Info
Deposit: 50% Balance Due: 45 days before your stay Security Deposit: £500
Location, location, location...
Click the map to discover more of the area...
Blink and you'll miss the hamlet of South Baddersley. Really it's just the school and a small collection of ten or so houses. The cottage is in the middle of it, just tucked off the two-way road onto a quiet side lane.
Whilst you're in the National Park here, you're not over the cattle grid, so whilst ponies won't be walking past the door, walk 1/2 km and go over the ford, and you'll find plenty in the lovely Norleywood hamlet. It also has an excellent rope swing and dog walks - but not much else!
For shops, head further into the National Park to Pilley Stores for the full eccentric New Forest experience (you can buy the papers, cake, some good veg, excellent cheese, Spam, and sellotape... all your basics! In summer they might have an old record player going and the locals dancing in the street. It's iconic.
If you want anything more, then head to Lymington which is probably closer. You'll pass the ferry terminal first, (where you can get COSTA) and it's fun to go as a foot passenger to the island for the day. Take bikes and cycle to the other side up the old rail trail.
Insider's Guide >>
Guests that have stayed here rate this place:
4.6 out of 5
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