Guests say
Smallbrook Cottage is a beautifully decorated and stylish property in a superb location, ideal for exploring the New Forest and Salisbury. Guests consistently praise its high-quality finish, comfortable beds, and attractive setting. While the cottage is well-equipped and clean, some guests noted minor issues such as limited kitchenware, patchy Wi-Fi, and a lack of mirrors and hangers. Accessibility may be challenging for those with mobility needs. Overall, it offers a charming and comfortable stay with just a few areas for improvement.
The cottage is generally described as very clean and well-presented, with high-quality linen and tidy interiors. However, a few guests mentioned minor cleanliness issues such as stained upholstery, conservatory windows, and leftover food in the freezer.
The location is highly praised for its convenience to the New Forest and Salisbury, as well as its picturesque and peaceful setting with plenty of wildlife.
Guests found the beds very comfortable and the cottage cosy, especially with the log burner. Some noted the lack of mirrors, limited storage, and accessibility challenges, but overall comfort was rated highly.
Facilities are good, with a well-equipped kitchen, modern bathrooms, and a lovely conservatory. However, guests noted issues such as limited cookware, patchy Wi-Fi, lack of hangers, and insufficient information in the welcome pack.
There was no mention of a welcome pack or gifts, and guests noted the absence of basic items like milk, salt, and a comprehensive welcome folder. Please note that gifts or welcome packs are not guaranteed.
About this property
Charming four-bedroom thatched cottage near the New Forest with exposed beams, oak conservatory and wood-burning stove. Enjoy countryside views and nearby welcoming restaurant with scenic walks and a relaxing atmosphere.. 1 step to entrance.
Ground Floor:
Living room: Smart TV, Woodburner
Kitchen: Electric Oven, Electric Hob, Microwave, Fridge/Freezer, Dishwasher, Coffee Machine
Conservatory.
Study.
Bedroom 1: Zip And Link Double Bed (2 x Singles On Request)
Shower Room: Double Shower, Heated Towel Rail, Toilet
First Floor:
Bedroom 2: Kingsize (5ft) Bed
Bedroom 3: Zip And Link Super Kingsize Bed (2 x Singles On Request)
Ensuite: Bath, Cubicle Shower, Heated Towel Rail, Toilet
Bedroom 4: Zip And Link Kingsize Bed (2 x Singles On Request)
Ensuite: Cubicle Shower, Heated Towel Rail, Toilet.
Oil central heating, electricity, bed linen, towels and Wi-Fi included. Initial fuel for wood burner included. Travel cot available on request. Highchair. Welcome pack. Back garden with sitting-out area, garden furniture and barbecue. Private parking for 6 cars. No smoking.. Tucked away in the peaceful countryside, just moments from the edge of the enchanting New Forest, this beautiful four-bedroom thatched cottage offers the perfect blend of rustic charm and modern comfort. With its exposed oak beams, old wooden doors, and inviting atmosphere, it’s a quintessential English retreat designed for relaxation, exploration, and time well spent with family or friends.
The cottage exudes warmth from the moment you arrive. Inside, traditional craftsmanship and thoughtful design create an authentic rural escape. The spacious sitting room centres around a wood-burning stove, set within an inglenook fireplace—ideal for cosy evenings after a day outdoors. Soft sofas, tasteful furnishings, and the gentle crackle of the fire make this room a haven in any season.
A large oak-framed conservatory opens out onto the garden, flooding the space with natural light and offering panoramic views across rolling countryside. Whether you’re enjoying breakfast as the sun rises or relaxing with a glass of wine as dusk settles, the conservatory provides a serene connection to nature.
The kitchen is fully equipped for self-catering, blending country style with modern convenience. A farmhouse table invites long, leisurely meals and good conversation. Downstairs, you’ll also find a comfortable, wheelchair-accessible bedroom with easy access and a thoughtfully designed bathroom, ensuring the cottage is welcoming for all guests.
Upstairs, three further bedrooms continue the theme of traditional comfort. Two of the rooms feature en-suite bathrooms, providing privacy and comfort with touches such as rainfall showers and deep, restful beds. Each bedroom has its own character, with low-beamed ceilings, charming nooks, and soft linens that encourage long, peaceful sleeps.
Outside, the private garden offers space to unwind, with outdoor seating perfect for morning coffee or summer barbecues. Beyond the hedgerows, the views stretch across open fields and woodlands, home to local wildlife and the gentle sounds of the countryside.
Just a short drive away lies the breathtaking New Forest National Park—a landscape of ancient woodland, heath, and open moor where wild ponies roam free. Guests can explore scenic walking and cycling routes, discover quaint villages, or enjoy a picnic beneath the trees. The area is also rich in local pubs, farm shops, and historic sites, offering plenty to see and do.
Adding to the appeal, guests of the cottage are warmly welcomed by Hamptworth Golf Club, just a stone’s throw away. This renowned club offers a wide range of activities including golf, padel, pickleball, and croquet—perfect for guests seeking both recreation and relaxation. Whether you’re perfecting your swing on the beautifully maintained course or enjoying a friendly match in the sunshine, the club provides a wonderful extension to your holiday experience.
With its storybook charm, comfortable interiors, and unbeatable location near the New Forest, this thatched cottage offers more than just a place to stay—it’s an invitation to slow down, reconnect with nature, and savour the best of English country life.
Free WiFi
There are open, steep, spiral or narrow stairs at the property.
Only dogs allowed at the property.
There are low ceilings, doors and/or beams within the property.
Suitable for up to 2 pets
Reviews (5)
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Sarah Shorthouse
We were 3 mature couples meeting up for a once a year get together. The cottage was very clean (apart from the conservatory windows, stained upholstery and half eaten ice cream in the freezer) with excellent bathrooms (although the shower heads need descaling) To make it truly 5* a few, inexpensive additions should be made.The addition of clothes storage and provision for hanging clothes in the non en-suite upstairs bedroom (it currently shares a small chest of drawers with the downstairs bedroom in the hall despite plenty of space in the bedroom). The bedroom is reached by a small, very twisty staircase behind a door. It's very cute but has no handrail and is not suitable for anyone who is not fully agile, especially as the bathroom is downstairs.Please don't expect to access the downstairs bedroom with a wheelchair, the only way to get someone from a wheelchair to the bed is by tipping them into it from the doorway (not wide enough to get a wheelchair through) and no room to walk between the bed and the wall unless you turn sideways. There is also a step up into the rest of the house from the hallway. The room is totally filled by a 6 foot bed and 2 side tables. There is no room to dress or walk about - hence the drawers being next door in the hallway.All bedrooms need a mirror (only ones are in the bathrooms) preferably next to an electrical socket so that hairdryers etc can be used easily.Despite 2 large hallways there are no hooks for outside coats and only 12 coat hangers and 2 wardrobes (in 2 of the upstairs bedrooms) for the 8 people it purports to accommodate.On arrival, the sum total of cookware in the kitchen consisted of 3 saucepans of varying sizes, 1 plastic measuring jug, a colander and a sieve and 4 frying pans! There were no cookware/baking dishes, mixing bowls, serving dishes, roasting tins (only the 2 grill pans in the oven). This was very quickly remedied the next morning when mixing bowls, a lasagne style dish, a small casserole dish, a grater and a roasting tin were delivered at my request. Placemats and a small 2 cup cafetiere were also sent but the coffee maker never materialised and we had to make coffee in relays. I was told by the ‘housekeeper’ to use the tableware (8 dinner plates, 8 salad plates, 7 soup bowls and 8 cereal dishes) for serving food (not sure what we were expected to eat off if doing so) and reminded that I "was on holiday" - presumably we were expected to eat out and not enjoy entertaining in the ‘fully equipped kitchen for self catering’.The conservatory is lovely, large and comfortably furnished but has no blinds so unless it’s cloudy means the sun is always in someone’s eyes. The garden has a lovely outlook from the conservatory but it's a shame it is obstructed by a large patch of weeds.The Wi-fi, as previously stated by other reviewers, is very sporadic and only works reliably in the kitchen. They need more relay units to boost the Starlink signal. There is a washing machine and tumble dryer but no washing basket or pegs. There is no hoover or broom available or mop or bucket, just a dustpan and brush so any spill or breakages cannot be cleaned up properly. The welcome pack consisted only of 5 laminated sheets with very little information. No details for recycling/rubbish collection information. Very little local information on restaurants, shops, pubs. If these points could be addressed I would consider it 5* accommodation but not as it stands. Very disappointed as it could so easily be rectified.One or two issues I would be happy to overlook but there were so many it spoilt our stay.
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Debbie Wood
A lovely, clean, comfortable and stylish cottage. Location was excellent. We had a lovely stay. Couple of small points that I would like to have known before booking: no welcome pack was left so you may want to take milk etc with you. There was no coffee machine either just a caffitiere for one. There are coat hangers now but only one hairdryer in the downstairs bathroom, I expected one in each bedroom and a mirror in each bedroom,(advertised as luxury), styling hair without a mirror is not easy. Bath towels are good quality but a couple of bath sheets would have been appreciated, the bath towels didn’t meet in my middle (must diet!)One last thing to be aware of: Not really wheelchair friendly, 5 inch step btw ground floor bedroom and rest of house plus 2 steps into garden. Downstairs bedroom has no wardrobe and a single bed instead of a double would allow a wheelchair to be used in that room. Pathway is gravelly/broken slate not good for wheelchair either.Stairs to upstairs bedrooms are steep.I would visit again.
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Confirmed Guest
Lovely cottage in a very pretty setting with plenty of wildlife. Convenient location. Would have liked some hangers in the wardrobes.