Holiday Cottages In Cranborne Chase and West Wiltshire Downs
Cranborne Chase and West Wiltshire Downs, located in Hampshire has 5 self catering properties listed.
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Delightful 3 bedroom barn full of character set in peaceful rural grounds within a few miles of Fordingbridge.
Ground Floor Bedsitting Room with double bed and kitchen area. Shower Room with shower, WC and washbasin.
Nestled amidst the serene English countryside this delightful cottage in the village of Breamore is a hidden gem perfect for a relaxing holiday retreat. Fordingbridge located just 3 miles away invites visitors to enjoy its scenic beauty along the banks of the River Avon. The iconic medieval bridge named after the town offers a charming backdrop for leisurely walks and riverside picnics. The town s quaint shops and local markets present a chance to peruse unique crafts and indulge in artisanal products. Downton (3 miles) is another charming locale. With its thatched cottages and delightful gardens the village exudes a quintessentially British charm that enchants visitors. Nature lovers can revel in the nearby New Forest National Park where scenic trails lead to breathtaking vistas and encounters with wildlife. The delightful porch welcomes you as you step inside inviting you to take in the picturesque surroundings through its large windows. From here you can enjoy sweeping views of the surrounding garden providing an excellent opportunity to glimpse the local wildlife. Keep an eye out for the occasional visit from curious deer lured by the abundance of tasty apples and roses in this idyllic setting. Moving through to the compact yet well-equipped kitchen you ll be delighted by its rustic charm and thoughtful design. This cosy space offers all the amenities for a delightful self-catering experience. As you explore this enchanting abode you ll find yourself in the heart of the cottage - the light and airy beamed living/dining area. This open-plan space feels like a haven of comfort and relaxation perfect for unwinding after a busy day exploring the countryside. The room s focal point is the electric faux log fire exuding warmth and creating a cosy ambience ideal for curling up with a good book or simply unwinding. The serene ambience of the king-size bedroom coupled with the peaceful surroundings ensures a refreshing and rejuvenating escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Lastly the property is completed by a spacious bathroom featuring a convenient shower over the bath providing modern comfort to enhance your stay. Step outside and into the garden and you ll find a captivating world awaiting. The enchanting surroundings offer a picturesque view of geese gracefully gliding on the pond. At the same time the abundant birdlife and wildlife add to the serene ambiance the perfect outdoor spot to relax and immerse yourself in nature s beauty. Need to know: 1 king size bedroom. 1 bathroom with shower over bath and WC. Electric oven and hob, microwave, fridge with ice compartment. Smart TV and DVD player. Lawned garden with outdoor furniture. Private parking for 1 car. Shop and pub just over 700 yards.
All ground floor: Entrance hallway with a door through to the courtyard garden. One bedroom with a king size bed, chest of drawers and wardrobe. Bathroom with bath incorporating an over the bath shower. Open plan living/dining/kitchen area with an outlook over paddocks. Living area has an open fireplace, sofa, window seat, dining table/chairs and french windows opening out onto a courtyard garden. Fitted kitchen area with induction hob, fan oven, microwave, dishwasher and washing machine. Stone floors with a carpeted bedroom. Outside paved courtyard garden with a bench, garden table and chairs. Home-made meals, breakfast hamper and delivery of local produce by arrangement with the owner. Pets welcome. This property is more suitable for older children and adults but but babies welcome. Sorry. no smoking. Walking distance to three popular pubs.
This detached, 19th century building can found in Rockbourne, Hampshire and can sleep two people in one bedroom.T
About Cranborne Chase and West Wiltshire Downs
The Hampshire part of Cranborne Chase is a small corner in the far west of the county, a handful of chalk-downland villages near the Wiltshire and Dorset borders, well inland from the coast. Cranborne Chase is one of the largest Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) in England, an ancient royal hunting chase of downland and chalk-stream village, and in 2019 it became an International Dark Sky Reserve. The protected area was first designated in 1981 and extended in 1983, and covers about 981 square kilometres in total. Around 27 of Hampshire's self-catering cottages sit in or beside this corner of it.
The Cranborne Chase Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
Cranborne Chase straddles four counties, and the Hampshire share is the smallest, a quiet wedge of chalk downland and clear chalk streams in the far west, around the upper Avon and the villages on the Dorset border. Designated in 1981 and extended in 1983, and now branded as the Cranborne Chase National Landscape, it is one of the largest protected landscapes of its kind in England, covering about 981 square kilometres. Its name comes from its centuries as a royal hunting chase, held under forest law, which is why this downland is so rich in old woodland and prehistoric earthwork. It stays a working landscape of farms and small villages, looked after by the Cranborne Chase National Landscape team.
Where to stay in the Cranborne Chase AONB
The Hampshire side is a small group of downland villages near the Dorset and Wiltshire borders, and a few of them have self-catering:
- Damerham: a chalk-stream village with a broad green, the largest of the cluster
- Martin: a quiet downland village with a fine church, close to the great Martin Down nature reserve
- Rockbourne: a pretty street village in a chalk valley, with a well-known Roman villa nearby
This is a thinly settled edge of the AONB, so the choice is small, but a cottage in any of these villages puts the open downs right on the doorstep.
Landscape and landmarks
This western edge is open chalk downland at its quietest. Martin Down is one of the largest and finest stretches of chalk grassland left in England, a National Nature Reserve rich in flowers and butterflies, crossed by the ancient earthwork known as Bokerley Dyke. The downs carry prehistoric barrows and the line of old boundary banks, and at Rockbourne the remains of a large Roman villa have been excavated. As an International Dark Sky Reserve, designated in 2019, this is excellent stargazing country, and the wide, empty downs give some of the darkest skies in the region on a clear night. Just over the border in Wiltshire, Old Wardour Castle is the showpiece ruin of the wider Chase.
Walking the Cranborne Chase
The main long-distance route is the Wessex Ridgeway, which runs along the high chalk through this part of the Chase, so a cottage in the border villages puts you a short walk from a long trail. The walking is open and rolling, over downland and along old droveways, with Martin Down and Bokerley Dyke close at hand, and it is some of the quietest, least crowded country in the south of England.