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Smugglers Cottage

(Ref. 1098695)

Christchurch, Dorset Show on map

4.6

Sykes rating

  • 2 Guests

  • 1 Bedroom

  • 1 Bathroom

  • Pets Yes

Features

  • Open fire
  • Garden / Patio
  • Pub/shop < 1 mile
  • Washing machine
  • Dishwasher
  • Seaside
  • Broadband / WiFi

Reviews & Ratings

Accuracy of the listing
Cleanliness
Comfort
Facilities and Maintenance
  • All reviews
  • cottage (23)
  • garden (14)
  • well (12)
  • stay (11)
  • comfortable (11)
  • great (10)

24 Customer Reviews

  • "Beautifully quaint cottage with enclosed garden."

    Pictures on website did not do it justice. The fact that just a few steps away from the most amazing nature reserve and walk into town, without using main roads, was such a bonus and hardly mentioned in past reviews. we loved the log burner and the bathroom was spacious for such a small cottage. To "nit pick" I have never known cushions to shed their feather so much! Not a fan of feather pillows either. sorry. Would stay again.

    Reviewed by Derek4.4Oct 2024

  • "We had a fabulous time at the cottage and will definitely stay again."

    Very safe enclosed back garden for the dog as well. Everything we needed was provided at the cottage. The location is ideal for Mudeford Quay beach which is dog friendly and the two nearest pubs to the cottage are also dog friendly.

    Reviewed by Mary5.0Aug 2024

  • "Second time staying in this very well located property so many place to visit within easy reach."

    Cosy , pretty cottage, has everything needed for an enjoyable stay. The enclosed garden we appreciate as we take the dogs nice to know the can potter around & play securely. It catches the sun too lovely to sit out with a drink. The one negative thing we found that 1 bath towel per person wasn’t really adequate when staying more than a few days .However we had a great holiday and the good weather was bonus .

    Reviewed by Jayne4.1Jun 2024

  • "We had a wonderful holiday based in Smugglers Cottage."

    The cottage is comfortable, well resourced and perfect as a base for a holiday in the Christchurch area! The garden and garden room were just perfect for us. Evening sun allowed us to sit outside and just relax. Great WiFi meant we could watch subscription TV and we always got a parking space right outside… perfect! We would thoroughly recommend Smugglers Cottage!

    Reviewed by Andy4.4Jun 2024

  • "The cottage was delightful but I think more attention to detail is required for the price of the property."

    The furniture is tired. The settee in the front room has stains on it and although comfortable to sit on I felt a little uncomfortable because of the way the cleanliness made me feel. The bed although comfortable squeaked every time you moved…this needs looking at. The fridge had been cleaned with bleach prior to our arrival so smelt of bleach…fridges shouldn’t be cleaned with bleach. For some reason we couldn’t get the fridge to work…it kept freezing the food. The garden was nice but could be lovely with a bit more attention to detail. And it would have been nice if the garden furniture had been cleaned prior to our arrival. The conservatory was lovely but the skylight needed cleaning. Lots of cobwebs and dead flies. The bathroom had very large cobwebs in it. Overall the place is nice, cosy and peaceful but as said it needs a bit more TLC to make it better. It’s in a lovely location and we would stay again for that reason.

    Reviewed by Vicky4.1May 2024

  • "Lovely cottage in walking distance to Mudford Bay and island nature reserve close by ."

    Cottage is well kept .kitchen has everything you need for your stay . Comfortable bed .. we will come back .

    Thank you for the lovely feedback, we love the location of Smugglers Cottage too, being walking distance from Mudeford Quay and Christchurch, it gives us all the opportunity to have some car free days out whilst staying. We love to receive positive comments about the bed, as it is so important to get a good nights sleep when you are away. Michaela Property Owner

    Reviewed by Jeffrey5.0Oct 2023

  • "The cottage is great and well equipped in a very central position for pub ,shops and walking although the road can be busy day and night ."

    was disappointed with unkept garden grass very long which made it difficult to pick up dog waste. also starter pack for log burner. only consisted of 3 pieces of kindling and 3 logs no fire lighters or paper to start fire. and no recycling facilities

    Thank you for giving us the feed back, the grass was still being cut but just fortnightly then, so sorry if it’s persistent growing at that time of year meant it appeared unkempt. The log burner starter pack should have included a means to start the fire, apologies. We haven't found the road noise to be an issue, as there is a 30 mile an hour limit and generally the traffic reduces itself to single file, it’s location opposite the marshland, makes it ideal for both leaving the car and exploring locally or easy access to the New Forest, surrounding area for day trips with the car. Glad you found the cottage great overall though. Michaela Property Owner

    Reviewed by Robert4.4Oct 2023

  • "Perfect cottage and perfect location."

    Weather was on our side admittedly but the most enjoyable holiday with our dogs for a long time. Cottage extremely well equipped and cosy. The small, pretty and fully enclosed garden caught the sun for most of the day. The nature reserve opposite provided joyful walks amongst the wild ponies and rabbits. Short walk into Christchurch centre one way and the Quay and beaches the other. Highly recommend.

    Thank you for the great feedback, hopefully we will be able to welcome you back again soon. Michaela Property Owner

    Reviewed by Dawn4.4Aug 2023

  • "Such a welcoming cottage in a good location and very comfortable with attention to detail in the furnishings."

    Well equipped throughout, even though we ate out mostly, as the Ship in Distress pub opposite was just fab and dog friendly. Parking was more of a challenege (owner was honest about this) as mostly locals parking outside but using the pub opposite, meant we could park there as the nature reserve was busy. However, being so close to the nature reserve, literally 2 mins away was perfect for the dogs and the enclosed garden was a god send.

    Reviewed by Sarah4.7Jul 2023

  • "Lovely cottage with great facilities close by especially for the dogs."

    Very well stocked with herbs/spices and kitchen utensils and a dishwasher too. The only negative was the height of the door frames as my husband at 6'2" kept banging his head... Would definitely stay again - thank you

    Reviewed by Wendy4.7May 2023

  • "The cottage is ideally situated , to explore various locations , brilliant for dogs with lovely walks right on the doorstep."

    Pub over the road, short walk to chip shop, other shops within close proximity. Very good garden centre few mins drive serving carvery Sunday lunches and light snacks including delicious homemade cakes. Enclosed private pretty garden is great feature for those with dogs but also to enjoy sitting out , weather permitting. Cosy pretty cottage with modern facilities, to be critical could have been a bit cleaner , but on the whole a lovely holiday cottage , would look at returning.

    Thank you for taking the time to write a detailed review, it sounds like you enjoyed exploring all the local facilities. Apologies if you found the cottage could be a bit cleaner, I will reach out to you privately to get some detailed feedback on the areas of concern so we can make sure the team concentrate on those areas in future. We would love to get the opportunity to welcome you back to stay again soon. Michaela. Property Owner

    Reviewed by Jayne4.1Mar 2023

  • "We had a very comfortable stay, the cottage was great and the garden totally dog friendly."

    There is great walk just five minutes from the cottage and local beaches not far away. Hopefully we will be back.

    We would love to welcome you back, perhaps in the Autumn? We love staying anytime of year, as the wildlife and local views across the marshes are always changing and especially the colours throughout the nearby New Forest National Park. Thank you for taking the time to write your review. Michaela Property Owner

    Reviewed by Janice5.0Mar 2023

  • "The cottage was really lovely."

    Comfortable and felt like home. The cottage had everything you could possibly need. Great location and just had a really nice time there.

    That is what we always aim for, that our guests are comfortable and feel at home. Thank you for your kind review. Michaela Property Owner

    Reviewed by Helen5.0Jan 2023

  • "Perfect location."

    Very well kept cottage and comfortable. Everything required was there. Will recommend.

    Pleased to hear you enjoyed your stay and will recommend it to anyone you know wanting to stay in the area, hopefully we will be able to welcome you back too again soon. Michaela Property Owner

    Reviewed by Neil4.1Jan 2023

  • "Hugely appreciated the seasonal touches put in kindly by Michaela for our stay."

    Thank You.

    Reviewed by Nikki4.4Dec 2022

  • "In the coldest December weather, we stayed blissfully warm in this wonderful cottage, that has been thoughtfully adapted and fully equipped."

    Very comfortable bed, lovely linen, lots of space in the dressing area and a very well-fitted bathroom. The garden room was a real bonus. Perfectly situated within a short walk's distance to Mudeford Harbour or to Christchurch itself, and with the beautiful Stanpit Marsh just across the road.

    We are really pleased you had a lovely time and found the cottage so warm given how chilly the week was you stayed! Thank you for your review. Michaela Property Owner

    Reviewed by John5.0Dec 2022

  • "Excellent cottage near Mudeford Quay."

    Very well equipped and spotless. Bedroom and bathroom very good; kitchen easy to use with modern crockery and all the necessary utensils to hand. Enclosed garden for dog and plenty of space for a couple. Good walking in the area, easy to access and near to Christchurch. Highly recommend.

    Thank you for your lovely review, we are very lucky to have a holiday home that is so close to the waterside including Mudeford Quay and Christchurch harbour, the walks across the marshes have some stunning views. We hope to get the opportunity to welcome you back again soon. Michaela Property Owner

    Reviewed by Annie5.0Oct 2022

  • "Smugglers Cottage was well located and generally comfortable and clean."

    The proximity of the Ship In Distress which served good food and had very friendly staff was an advantage. The on-road parking was relatively easy, with the back up of free parking on the Sandpit March car park. There was an issue with the hot water and bath, which was resolved but only after 1.5 days. The process for resolving the issue was difficult given the need to contact the property owner directly.

    We are sorry that you could only have a shower and not a bath when you arrived at our cottage. We did organize a plumber to be there at 8am the following morning who turned up the hot water temperature and returned later that day, with a replacement plug. Glad to hear you enjoyed the location though and especially the local pub. It’s an amazing area to stay right on the coast but with the added advantage of having the New Forest National Park just a short drive away, best of both worlds! Property Owner

    Reviewed by Steve3.4Oct 2022

  • "Great cottage, lovely area, fantastic weather, a very enjoyable stay."

    . Philip and Janet Allen

    Thank you, really pleased you enjoyed your stay, hopefully we will get to welcome you back soon. Property Owner

    Reviewed by Philip5.0Sep 2022

  • "Overall the cottage was lovely, however, we could not use the living room because it was so hot and stuffy with non-opening windows and the sofa was stained and there were crumbs under the sofa cushions."

    We spent the week either sitting on the love seat in the sunroom or outside, which was fine because of the weather, but not the most comfortable. The rest of the cottage was lovely.

    I’m sorry the lounge was too hot for you to use, the temperatures were 35 degrees whilst you were staying (I have spoken to the cleaning team about the stains and crumbs, all sorted now) and the sun does shine straight into it in the middle of the day, closing the blinds first thing in the morning may help if you return when there is similar extraordinary weather. Generally as an old thick walled cottage it stays cool in the Summer. But pleased you were able to use the sun room (which just gets the morning sun) and garden and that you loved the cottage. Hopefully you were able to spend some time exploring the local area with all that Christchurch, Mudeford and Hengistbury has to offer. Property Owner

    Reviewed by Claire3.8Jul 2022

  • "Smugglers Cottage is an ideal place to stay for a couple with one or two dogs."

    The location is perfect with a large recreation area for dogs a 2 minute walk away and a very good pub serving a excellent food 2 minutes walk in the opposite direction. It's also an easy walk to the beach or into Christchurch. The accommodation is very comfortable with all amenities that one needs. We stayed for 5 nights but could easily have stayed longer and still have found different things to keep us occupied. I would highly recommend Smugglers Cottage and would be happy to return in the future.

    Reviewed by Keith5.0Jul 2022

  • "Lovely cottage in a great location."

    Really enjoyed our stay.

    Reviewed by Hannah5.0Jul 2022

  • "The cottage was extremely well equipped and spotlessly clean."

    The decor was in the best possible taste. The enclosed garden was very useful, and I was impressed by the washing machine in the shed, even though I didn't need to use it. It didn't matter that the wifi was slow. I would have preferred a walk in shower, but still managed to master the entry over the bath, and the actual shower was brilliant. I could always park outside the cottage, and Sanpit Marshes were excellent for dog walking.

    Really pleased you enjoyed your stay and thank you for the review. I’m glad to say that the new broadband has now been installed just sorry it happened directly after your stay and not any sooner. The walks from the cottage across the marshes or round the whole harbour via the Mudeford ferry, the sand spit and it’s famous beach huts, hengistbury head and Christchurch are fantastic, really glad you were able to make the most of the local area and look forward to welcoming you back soon. Michaela Property Owner

    Reviewed by Jennifer5.0Jun 2022

  • "An really enjoyable holiday- great location, plenty of space and nice garden to sit in."

    facilities were first class. Would book the cottage again without hesitation. One drawback was the poor Wi-Fi but I understand the owner will be changing the router.

    We are so pleased that as our first guests since buying the cottage last year and refurbishing it, that you enjoyed your stay. The Virgin Broadband is all booked with an installation date in the 2nd week of June, I just hope that just having use of the 4G router didn't impact your stay too much and we look forward to welcoming you back again in the future. Property Owner

    Reviewed by Stephen5.0May 2022

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Summary

  • One king-size bedroom
  • Bathroom with bath, shower over, basin and WC
  • Kitchen
  • Dining room
  • Sitting room with woodburning stove
  • Conservatory
  • Newly renovated property
  • Gas central heating with woodburning stove
  • Electric oven, gas hob, microwave, fridge, washing machine and dishwasher
  • Smart TV, WiFi
  • Fuel, power and starter pack for woodburning stove inc. in rent (Oct to Mar)
  • Bed linen and towels inc. in rent
  • Roadside parking or free nearby general car park
  • Enclosed rear garden with lawned area, patio, furniture and barbecue
  • Two well-behaved dogs welcome
  • Sorry, no smoking
  • Shop 0.2 miles, pub 0.1 miles, beach 1.3 miles
  • Note: The cottage has steep, winding stairs and are not suitable for anyone with mobility issues
  • Note: This property has a Good Housekeeping bond of £100
  • Please note: This property does not allow children.

The property

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

Note: This property has a Good Housekeeping bond of £100.

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About the location

CHRISTCHURCH

Bournemouth 6 miles.

The attractive Dorset waterside town of Christchurch is situated on the estuaries of the Rivers Stour and Avon, where they come together to form a magnificent natural harbour. Christchurch is a real gem of a town, offering visitors a wonderful and diverse holiday experience. The town centre boasts an array of charming shops and quality restaurants, whilst the 11th century castle ruins and the glorious Medieval priory, the longest parish church in the country, are well worth visiting. No trip to Christchurch would be complete unless you have strolled down to the pretty quayside, where you can enjoy refreshments whilst watching the ever changing boating scene, or you may wish to take one of the regular boat trips along the peaceful River Stour. Take your buckets and spades to one of the gorgeous sandy beaches nearby, and enjoy a ferry trip across the mouth of the harbour from Mudeford Quay to the sandbank with its colourful array of little beach huts. Should you tire of all the local attractions you’ll find plenty to do in the nearby family-friendly resort of Bournemouth, or venture into the New Forest National Park, both just a short drive away. Alternatively head to the local beach at Southborne which has a promenade that takes you through to Boscombe and on to Bournemouth. The lovely waterside town of Christchurch offers visitors a delightful and interesting year round holiday destination.

Please note: This property does not allow children.

This property offers the following short breaks:

  • Winter
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