This lovely architect- designed cottage sleeps six adults in three bedrooms, plus two children. It’s in the heart of the National Park in the popular and thriving village of Brockenhurst.
Jasmine Cottage is a real back to nature holiday home, with the open forest for walks on your doorstep and the region’s famous free-roaming ponies and donkeys ambling past your window. It’s not every day you see wild animals causing traffic jams as they make their way along village lanes to nibble on grassy verges and accompany shoppers along the high street!
Inside the cottage is a classy mix of warm woods, style and comfort with carefully chosen furniture and soothing hues. It’s the perfect home to return to after gallivanting around the forest, beaches and days out exploring all this wonderful area has to offer.
Step inside to a spacious, bright and airy hallway and downstairs cloakroom. The kitchen/diner is a joyful hub to gather, chat, eat and plan the day’s activities. Mod-cons (coffee machine, two dishwashers, etc.) and lots of natural materials combine to create an elegant yet understated room that you’ll want to spend time in. There’s also a good size utility room to store shoes and laundry behind a closed door. A handsome painted dining table and eight pretty pale blue chairs stand aside a wall of windows and doors, which open onto a westerly facing glass garden room. It’s the perfect spot to fling open the doors on to the sun terrace and gardens and enjoy a coffee, or grab a book and sneak away for some alone time.
A double sofa bed for occasional use by little ones can be found in the snug. Don’t be thinking it’s the size of a broom cupboard though. This ‘snug’ is a very good size second sitting room with a Smart TV and board games, providing a great den for youngsters to hang out or elderly family members to escape somewhere quiet for a nap.
The remaining downstairs room at Jasmine Cottage is a fabulous dual aspect lounge. It’s a calming oasis of pared-back luxe and tranquillity. A leather Chesterfield and enormous blue velvet English roll-arm sofa are both adorned with plush cushions to provide plenty of comfortable seating for all your guests. If you fancy watching a film or catching a favourite program, there’s a Smart TV, including Apple TV, and a DVD player. Natural light floods the lounge with views of the gardens and trees beyond and a large set of French doors open on to the rear patio.
There is much more to love about Jasmine Cottage upstairs. Past the family bathroom is three big bright and beautiful bedrooms. The first is a dual aspect en-suite with a king size bed encased in a smart double-ended deep button-down bedstead. Cream walls and taupe curtains are offset against crisp white bedding. The second en-suite bedroom again offers two picture windows with views of the trees and garden. In here you’ll find two wooden duck-egg blue single beds dressed in white cottons and textured throws. The third and final bedroom is home to a double bed, lit by the morning sun from a large picture window.
A real star of this cottage is the pretty garden, framed by towering trees and bountiful shrubs. The borders and flower beds feature an abundance of colour, layers and texture resulting in a dreamy setting to kick back and relax over a drink or dine al fresco with nothing to disturb you except for the sound of nature.
A stone’s throw from your front door are the mystical woods and heathlands of the New Forest National Park. Pack a picnic and head out with your camera. Or, walk into the village which will take all of 5 minutes and hire a bike from outside the mainline railway station to explore the area’s 110 miles of cycle trails. There are plenty of shops, restaurants and superb eating pubs in and around the village. Try The Huntsman and Albero, and for some truly scrumptious cakes and pastries don’t miss Rosie Lea Tea Rooms who also run the tearooms at Setley Ridge Vineyard on the road to Lymington. Stop by and visit the farm shop for free wine and cheese tasting and stock up on their home-made family meals to take home and pop in the oven for a quick and easy supper.
Close by are the towering giant Redwoods and Douglas Firs on Ornamental Drive, where you can stop by for a picnic lunch at Bolderwood viewing platform and see wild deer grazing in the meadow. If you have children with you, a must-see day out would be at the UK’s number one family theme park, Paultons Park – home of Peppa Pig World. Other easy day trips include Beaulieu to see the National Motor Museum, Palace and Abbey. Have a cream tea at Highcliffe Castle, the former home of Harry Selfridge from the TV series of the same name, and spend an afternoon at The New Forest Wildlife Park. For walks, swimming and sunbathing, pop over to Bournemouth’s seven miles of award-winning golden sandy beaches, and history buffs will enjoy Portsmouth’s Historic Dockyard which is only an hour away.
Find out more about Jasmine Cottage, availability and prices here.