The Old Bothy in the New Forest

Set in the heart of the New Forest National Park, The Old Bothy sits within our peaceful private smallholding beside our own home. Surrounded by forest, gardens and grazing sheep, it offers a quiet countryside retreat for couples or friends looking to rest, walk, read and slow the pace for a few days. The space Step into the Bothy, a cozy hideaway where quiet days unfold and you can relax after a day exploring the forest . Spacious yet intimate, it offers two beautifully appointed bedrooms, each with a luxury Hypnos mattress and sumptuous bedding. One bedroom boasts an ensuite shower, while the other has an adjacent bathroom with a full-size bath, handheld shower, and bath salts. The living room opens through patio doors onto the Bothy lawn, giving you sweeping views of our land where the Shetland sheep wander. A 65” Ultra HD TV with Sonos surround sound invites you to cozy up under fairy lights and soft blankets for a movie night, with Amazon Prime and Netflix at your fingertips. The recently refurbished Scandi-style kitchen is fully equipped with an induction hob, Bosch oven, fridge, microwave, dishwasher, and Nespresso machine for barista-quality coffee at any hour. Super-fast broadband up to 300Mb/s makes working remotely or staying in touch effortless. Outside, enjoy the large lawn and a veranda with seating exclusively for Bothy guests. Beyond, our smallholding stretches out with paddocks, gardens, and grazing sheep — a calm, playful reminder of life on the land. The main house and our utility/garage spaces are nearby but used respectfully, and the property is not completely silent as we carry out daily work around the smallholding. The Bothy is designed as a retreat ideal for couples or friends seeking a slower paced countryside break where the gentle forest rhythms set the tone for your stay. Guest access Guests can park to the left of the Bothy and there is space for 2 cars in the driveway. Guests have sole use of the lawn in front of the Bothy during their stay. Other things to note Guests can park easily outside the Bothy. The Bothy and the White House sit side by side, protected by an electric gate which helps keep curious wild animals, including New Forest ponies out of the garden. Our home is next door, and we carry out daily life around the garden, vegetable plot, and paddocks. We always respect your privacy and aim to maintain a peaceful environment, but as this is a working smallholding within a national park, a gentle level of countryside activity is part of the setting. If you are staying during April and May, this is lambing season on the smallholding. Our ewes will welcome their lambs, and from time to time you may hear the soft calls between mothers and their young. It is usually very peaceful, and for many guests this is a special and memorable glimpse into smallholding life, but we like guests to be aware of this seasonal moment in advance, particularly if you are sensitive to sound. Please keep all gates to the surrounding forest and paddocks closed, as the animals are curious and quick to explore if given the opportunity. Walking and cycling from the doorstep is a joy, with beautiful forest trails in every direction. One of our favourite cycle routes is about five miles and leads to the village of Frogham, where you’ll find a welcoming pub. There are several excellent local pubs nearby. The Royal Oak in the village serves lunch and locally sourced cold plates from Thursday to Sunday. In Brook, both the Green Dragon and The Bell Inn offer food throughout the day. The nearest shop is Budgens in Cadnam (3 miles), with larger supermarkets including ASDA in Totton (7 miles) and Waitrose in the market town of Romsey (8 miles). Dogs and other pets are not accepted. Thank you, Allie & Eric