Trade in the hum-drum week for a getaway with friends and family with a break in the New Forest, surrounded by free-roaming ponies, ancient woods, vast purple-stained heather plains and award-winning sandy beaches of the south coast.
The trend for couples, friends and families taking holidays together is growing, not only because it’s great fun, but because it’s much cheaper per person too. This is especially true if you choose to book one large cottage instead of two individual, smaller ones.
Find the perfect pad for a holiday to remember…
A New Forest Cottage with a swimming pool will keep the kids and adults amused for hours on end. Also take a look at cottages with games rooms and huge gardens for little ones to run around and let off steam. Having a large kitchen and dining table is important to gather and socialise over long lazy lunches, as is lots of comfortable seating and space to spread out and sprawl.
Location is key with groups looking for a big holiday home in the New Forest, as there may be times you want have time on your own for a drink or bite to eat, so being close to good eating pubs and restaurants could be a big plus point.
The demand for big houses and cottages in the New Forest is on the increase, and there aren’t too many around, so it’s never too early to start planning – especially if you want dates during peak periods.
Here’s a round-up of some of the best big New Forest Cottages…
Quay House, Christchurch, sleeps 15
How about staying in this former Georgian vicarage overlooking the 11th century Christchurch Priory and only a five-minute drive to award-winning, golden sandy beaches. Quay House is home to six big bedrooms, a mix of a four poster, twins and doubles – 3 of which are ensuite. There’s a huge lounge and dining room to gather and socialise with a wood-burning stove, 50” TV with Virgin Media package. You’ll find lots of good quality restaurants and pubs literally two minutes’ walk away.
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Pound House, Burley, sleeps 10
This huge hunk of a family home is full of fun with its very own heated outdoor swimming pool. The hub of the home is a brightly coloured kitchen with an enormous dining table to gather and chat about the day’s activities. This architect-designed house is loaded with design features, with an abundance of windows and bi-fold doors allowing the light to flood in. Upstairs are five good-sized bedrooms providing plenty of room to spread out. The village centre with shops for supplies, restaurants and pubs is a short stroll.
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Glenleigh, Brockenhurst, sleeps 10
Visitors love Brockenhurst; it’s an active village in the heart of the New Forest where ponies, donkeys and the odd cow or two wander freely along the lanes and dinky high street. Inside, Glenleigh is super stylish with a gorgeous kitchen extension to complement the two living rooms downstairs, providing plenty of space for everyone. There’s a trampoline for the kids in the garden and a sunny west facing patio for BBQs.
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Forest Drove Cottage, Ringwood, sleeps 11
This exquisite cottage dates from the 18th Century and is filled with character. It’s luxurious, spacious and very pretty. Six bedrooms sleep 11 guests very comfortably. Downstairs you’ll find a generous lounge with inglenook fireplace and vast kitchen/dining room, and doors leading to the outside dining area. If you or your guests enjoy beautiful gardens, you’re in for a treat as the garden at Forest Drove Cottage is absolutely stunning. It’s the epitome of a beautiful romantic cottage garden. It’s been landscaped with lots of areas to sit, sunbathe and relax among colourful blooms and a pond to watch dragonflies and butterflies in the summer months.
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Sea Salt, Lymington, sleeps 8
Stay in the Georgian marine town of Lymington on the south east-coast of the New Forest. The town’s pretty high street is a few minutes’ walk from Sea Salt and packed with independent shops and boutiques, the Town Quay (for day trips to the Isle of Wight) and a multitude of great places to eat. There’s also a popular street market once a week. Sea Salt is super stylish, contemporary and generously proportioned. It’s recently been refurbished to a very high spec with big comfy rooms and luxury kitchen/diner. There are plenty of walks and cycle routes to explore both into the National Park and along the shoreline past Keyhaven Nature Reserve to numerous beaches for old fashioned days at the seaside.
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Beck Cottage, near Fordingbridge, sleeps 12
A whimsical period thatched cottage in the picturesque village of Woodgreen, which has an award-winning community shop, great pub and forest walks from your doorstep. Book a stay in Beck Cottage because it effortlessly blends country chic, luxury and comfort into a fabulous, laid-back six bedroom holiday home that’ll be a hit with everyone, from tiny tots to grandparents and everyone in between. Mature trees surround the generous half-acre garden which is mainly laid to lawn, with a trampoline for children to burn off some energy. A sun-drenched patio comes with garden furniture and BBQ for lazy days to relax, eat and chill out with a nice glass of something cold. You’ll also find a bike shed, games room and a shallow stream running through the garden just begging to be explored!
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Find many more big cottages in the New Forest in our portfolio here.