For a quintessential English beach holiday, Solent View’s idyllic setting ticks all the boxes. This three bedroom home from home on the edge of the New Forest National Park boasts a chic interior with panoramic sea views, plus a contemporary south-facing garden and a brilliant beach hut, just metres from the sea.
You’ll find this dog-friendly holiday home in Milford on Sea. The pretty village has a sweet village green surrounded by a collection of independent shops selling everything you’ll need, and if you want a choice of supermarkets, the nearby towns of Lymington and New Milton have several.
But we’d urge you not to stray too far from Milford on Sea if you’re looking to eat out, as the village has two of the area’s best restaurants right on your doorstep. Verveine Fishmarket and Restaurant is in the Times Top 100 Restaurants, with chef David Wykes serving amazing creations based on the day’s catch, or you can pop in during the day and pick up wonderful fresh fish and seafood to take back to Solent View and whizz up a deliciously fast and simple supper. La Perle is another fantastic restaurant; the brainchild of proprietor-chef Sam Hughes who appeared on MasterChef The Professionals. Milford on Sea also has a brilliant wine shop, The Cave, where proprietor Jon Couch sells an exciting array of wine, craft beers and ales, as well as a great selection of artisan gins! The village also has a fish and chip shop and a plentiful supply of cafes and pubs for quick, tasty snacks and meals if you don’t fancy cooking.
Perhaps the best reason you should book a holiday in Solent View is that guests have free use of a private beach hut, accessed from a gate at the end of the garden and down the path to the pebble beach. Forget having to lug beach chairs, because the smart blue hut, decked in bunting and a changing curtain, houses deckchairs and a table. All you have to do is wander down with a picnic and drinks to sip and bask in sea salty air and listen to the sound of the waves lapping the shore.
Inside Solent View, the decor is classy and elegant, yet comforting and welcoming in cool greys and moody blues. It’s a home you’re glad to come back to after a day of adventures exploring all the area has to offer. Most of all, guests will love the uninterrupted sweeping sea views. To the east, The Needles and Isle of Wight, all the way across the bay to the west and Old Harry’s Rocks jutting from the ancient Purbecks.
Two bedrooms (a kingsize double and a twin) are both decorated with stylish and quality furnishings. They occupy the ground floor, along with a shower room and separate utility with washing machine, tumble dryer and ironing facilities. Upstairs is a large and spacious eat-in kitchen with mod-cons including an induction hob, eye level electric double oven (inc. combination microwave) and warming drawer, plus a fridge-freezer with an ice dispenser. The dining area houses a large dining table and matching chairs for up to eight 8 guests – in case you want to invite some friends to join you for dinner.
Across the landing is a handy cloakroom and entrance to the bright and airy sitting room. On hardwood floors stand deep, comfy sofas and a contemporary corner wood burner for cosy nights. Entertainment comes from the 43″ Smart TV and Blu-ray DVD player, but for those seeking a sense of calm, you can soak up the sea view from a set of large patio doors. The doors lead on to a balcony with outdoor seating and steps down to the private, south-facing decked garden, adorned with potted plants and garden furniture – perfect for dining in the sun and late night drinks under the stars.
The second floor is home to a dreamy ensuite master bedroom in deep blues and teal, a crisp white vaulted ceiling and cream woodwork. Guests of the master suite enjoy the same dramatic sea views as those from the lounge and provides the perfect bolthole for a little alone time with a good book and a glass of something cold.
This cool coastal holiday home is a great base for exploring both the New Forest and nearby award winning beaches. The open forest, free roaming ponies, walks and cycle tracks of The New Forest National Park are a quick 10-minute drive, whilst soft sandy beaches and historic Christchurch Harbour are the same distance along the coast. However, there’s plenty to do on the doorstep. For golfers, Barton on Sea Golf Club is on the cliff top in the next village, and horse riding at Burley Villa School of Riding caters for beginners up to experienced riders at their stables in close by Bashley. One of this area’s famous landmarks is in Milford on Sea, and that’s King Henry VIII’s coastal fortress, Hurst Castle. You can either take the little ferry boat from Keyhaven – which also happens to be the entrance to Keyhaven Nature Reserve, or walk from Solent View along the beach and pebble spit.
A break at Solent View offers old fashioned days at the seaside along with many places to explore, attractions to visit, historic homes to discover and an abundance of seaside and wildlife landscapes right on your doorstep.