Stableyard Cottage

Blendworth, Hampshire | Sleeps 4 | Bedrooms 2 | Parking: Yes | Pet friendly: No | Wi-Fi: Yes

From £122 – £165 per night (Minimum stay 7 nights)

Description

Stableyard Cottage manages to be both supremely stylish and incredibly comfortable and welcoming, thanks to the love and care that the owner has put into the decoration, furnishing and details of this utterly charming two-bedroom home from home.

Set in the idyllic courtyard of the owner’s Georgian Farmhouse, this was once a stable and foaling box, but has been painstakingly converted to create a vaulted open plan living, dining and kitchen space, complete with gas fire, and two delightful bedrooms, each with its own shower or bathroom. Outside there is a private terrace surrounded by lavender and herbs, a stunning courtyard that is shared with other residents – and the owners even offer access to their all-weather tennis court.

White floorboards, muted neutrals, and warm natural wood combined with highlights of blues and green, mean that this home feels both classic and contemporary – and utterly serene. Everywhere you look there are thoughtful touches, from kilim rugs and cushions (perfectly placed), to books, magazines and clever lighting. The kitchen is well equipped with everything you need for your stay, and beds are carefully made up with beautiful linen. Combine all of this with its stunning location, in the rural heart of the South Downs, and you may never want to leave!

Features

Sitting / Dining / Kitchen
The vaulted ceiling gives a wonderful feeling of light and space. There are comfortable sofas arranged around a woodburner, a dining table that is ample for four, and a kitchen that is well planned and fully equipped.

Bedroom 1
King sized bed with ensuite bath / shower room

Bedroom 2
Twin bedroom – although the beds can be pushed together to make one superking. Modern shower room.

Outside
Private terrace, surrounded by lavender and aromatic herbs. Further shared courtyard with seating and pergola. Tennis court available on request.

Dogs :One well behaved dog would be considered although strictly not allowed on furniture. 

Children:  Of all ages welcome. A cot, highchair, stairgate and toys are available on request. There is a sandpit and slide, also  croquet and badminton. 

Welcome hamper:  A bottle of wine, biscuits, bread, jam, cheese, fruit and fresh flowers.  

Pantry items:   Olive oil, herbs, teabags, flour, sugar, pasta, eggs, milk, butter . 

There are parking facilities and also an outside plug to charge electric cars. 

Please note that a discounted rate applies for stays of 7 nights or more – please get in touch to enquire.

 

Location

Stableyard Cottage is tucked away in the tiny village of Blendworth, in the heart of the South Downs but easily accessible via the A3, or by train – there is a station at nearby Rowlands Castle. Blendworth, originally a Saxon village, that developed as a staging post on the route from London to Portsmouth.

There is plenty of walking, cycling and riding from the door – and the Queen Elizabeth Country Park is just over the hill for more walking and mountain bike trails. The coastal resorts of West Wittering, Hayling Island and Southsea are all easily accessible, as is Portsmouth, which in turn offers ferries to the Isle of Wight.

The historic cities of Chichester and Winchester are both about a half hour drive, more or less – as is the Goodwood Estate for horseracing, cars and more. The New Forest National Park is a short hop away, too. Stableyard Cottage is perfectly placed to explore both the best of both West Sussex and Hampshire.

Things to do

There is such a variety of things to see and do in this area that you really will be spoilt for choice.

History lovers will enjoy exploring Chichester’s roman past at the Novium Museum, and at Fishbourne Roman Palace. Nearby Butser Ancient Farm is a unique experimental archaeology site that features reconstructions of buildings from the Stone Age to the Anglo-Saxons. The Historic Dockyard at Portsmouth is now home to the completely captivating Mary Rose Museum, among many other wonderful tributes to the area’s naval history.

Keen gardeners will love West Dean Gardens, the Earl Collector’s Garden at Arundel Castle, as well as numerous other National Trust gardens such as beautiful Woodbeding and Uppark.

For seaside fun – West Wittering is widely recognised as one of the most beautiful beaches on the South Coast, with white sand dunes, beach huts and a great café, while East Wittering is shingle but popular with surfers and with a definitely laid-back vibe. There are surf, SUP and kite-surfing schools with hire across the two.

Walkers and mountain bikers will be in heaven being so close to the South Downs Way, but there are lots of other routes to follow, too. The Queen Elizabeth Country Park has some fantastic mountain bike trails, graded by difficulty – easier ones that are great for families and some more adrenalin-fuelled.

Culture and the arts are well represented by Chichester Festival Theatre and the Pallant House Gallery of Modern Art – there is also a stunning art collection at National Trust Petworth House.

That’s all without mentioning horseracing at Goodwood and Fontwell, Polo at Cowdray, riding, golf, English vineyards, and much more!

Food & Drink

The Sussex and Hampshire countryside around Stableyard Cottage is littered with great places to eat and drink. The Victoria Inn at West Marden is one of the owner’s favourites, and provides a great starting or finishing point for a walk or cycle. The George in Finchdean is a 20 minute walk through the woods and is very welcoming. The Three Horseshoes at Elsted is a little-known hidden gem, that has the most jaw-dropping views of the South Downs from its pretty pub garden.

If you’re heading to the coast, the Boat House at Chichester Marina offers relaxed breakfast, lunch and dinner in a stylish contemporary setting, and is great place to watch the comings and goings of the marina. The Crown at Dell Quay has a wonderful waterside terrace, and Billy’s on the Beach at Bracklesham is a fun, surf-inspired hangout with great seafood and relaxed menu.

Chichester and Portsmouth both offer everything from healthy café food (try Luckes, in Chichester), to pizzas and fine dining.

Reviews

What a wonderful stay we had at Stableyard Cottage. A beautiful cosy cottage perfect for our family. The cottage itself has amazing amenities and the little personal touches left by the host Sally were lovely. 

Delightful hosts who couldn’t have been more helpful. A stunning cottage, spotlessly clean and lots of thoughtful, welcoming touches. Highly recommended.

We had such a lovely stay at Stableyard cottage. Beautifully presented the house was just perfect for the few days we were there. Sally went out of her way to make us feel welcome and ensured that we had everything we needed at all times . We took the main bedroom downstairs whilst the kids had the twin room upstairs. This worked out perfectly for us.

From the minute we arrived we smiled. The cottage was immaculately clean, the decor was tasteful and inviting, and we were provided with all that we could have hope for. The cottage was brightened by beautiful flowers that lasted the 9 nights we stayed, and we enjoyed the thoughtful hamper containing lots of yummy treats. The bookshelves were lined with maps and guide books for the area which opened the South Downs to us. There are beautiful walks in the surrounding area, including those directly from the house. We also enjoyed the tennis court, located in a magical garden to the side of the property. To make the whole experience perfect, Sally and Richard are excellent hosts. We highly recommend this property, whether for a longer stay like ours or a short visit.

Sally and Richard are superb hosts! The cottage is just perfect with all the amenities you need. Location is great as you are just 30min away from everywhere, parks, towns, beach.. I totally recommend it if you are looking for a quiet weekend, for walks and nature!