Smugglers Cottage, Christchurch

Dorset. Sleeps up to 2

Smugglers Cottage is an 18th Century, traditional coastal cottage full of character and charm, whose enviable location is not only within walking distance of the medieval town of Christchurch, but also the beautiful beaches of Mudeford and Avon. Sitting in the centre of Stanpit village (which has close connections with the local fishing industry and past smuggling trade) with its proximity to the bird watchers’ paradise that is Stanpit Marsh and its quiet sunlit garden, it’s the ultimate escape for a couple seeking to explore the stunning Dorset coast. This beautiful abode is sure to be one you’ll want to return to. Christchurch Harbour, is a beautiful natural harbour, bordered by open New Forest on one side, Mudeford Sandspit with its quintessentially English beach huts on another and the town of Christchurch a mile up the river. It’s sheltered waters are accessible to the public and an ideal location for paddle boarding, windsurfing and kayaking. There are many sites of Special Scientific Interest around the borders of the harbour, as well as the stone age settlement site at Hengitsbury Head. At Smugglers Cottage you are also just a short car trip away from the golden sands of Bournemouth and Sandbanks – making our little cottage a perfect base for a wonderful English seaside break. Upon entering the cottage, you are immediately made to feel at home by the surprisingly spacious dining hall with its country cottage table and chairs, beamed ceilings and original feature fireplace. From there you get a glimpse of the kitchen beyond but first are drawn to your right, into the cosy living room, with it’s comfy sofa and chair, set in front of the wood burner – the perfect room to escape to after a day’s exploring. The kitchen looks over the peaceful back garden with mature trees and shrubs. Through from the kitchen is our little garden room – a real morning sun trap for that first cuppa of the day whilst you catch up on the day’s news. A good range of appliances are at hand both in the kitchen and the convenient traditional out-house where you will now find the washing machine. Through the garden room you will find the quiet, enclosed, mature garden, with its patio and barbecue area at the far end that catches the early evening sun, making it a great space to relax and unwind with a glass of something cold, whilst your other half rustles up something tasty on the gas barbeque. As the evening drawers to a close, the stairs to the first floor wind up from the dining hall, through your good sized dressing room, to a very inviting hideaway bedroom, with its comfortable king size bed, crisp cotton bedding, beamed ceilings and cottage window. The light and airy bathroom is also found on the first floor, where you can either enjoy a long soak in the bath, or an invigorating shower. Just 5-minutes down the road from the cottage and you access Stanpit Marsh on the fringes of Christchurch Harbour – a haven for a wide variety of wading birds, the decorative theme of the cottage. A further 10 minutes’ walk and you will find yourself on Mudeford Quay – where you can either stroll eastwards onto Avon Beach or hop on the short ferry ride across to Mudeford Sandspit for a truly magical day by the sea. On Mudeford quay you can enjoy traditional pub fayre at the Haven Inn, a spot of angling or even crabbing, for the young at heart! There is a constant flow of boats of all sizes past the quay as they move between Christchurch Harbour and the Solent – it is also a great spot to view the famous Needles. From the sandspit there is the opportunity to hop on the traditional wooden ferry that takes you a mile up-river to the historic waterside town of Christchurch – a wonderful way to see the harbour and the River Avon. Heading in the other direction from Smugglers you can also reach Christchurch by foot, nestled between the Avon and Stower rivers. There is a wide selection of pubs and restaurants and the “quomp” – a large park that runs along the waterfront. The centre of the town is the priory – a beautiful medieval church, with the monastery ruins just up the river. Christchurch Quay offers small boats available for rent, so you can explore the beautiful rivers, lined with all manner of boats and see more of the amazing wildlife, including New Forest Ponies taking a drink from the refreshing waters. Or closer to the cottage, Stanpit is home to both a minimarket for all of your amenities as well as a couple of pubs to enjoy a refreshing pint and tasty supper – not to mention a very popular fish & chip shop! For the golfers amongst us there is an enjoyable pitch and put golf course at Hengistbury, or for those more serious, there are a number of superb coastal and New Forest courses within easy reach. Venture to the Jurassic Coast to the west or the New Forest National Park and Solent to the east – both areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty for great outdoor adventures on foot or on two wheels and nature like you've never experienced - or choose to soak up the character and charm of Smugglers Cottage, the perfect holiday home at any time of year