Dog Friendly Villas In New Forest

Reviews

What our customers say about their holidays

• Mark - Verified booking

  We had a fabulous time staying in West Lodge.

  Access on arrival was easy, arranged before we got there with the owner. Laura, the owner let us settle in and then came by later to meet us both and tell us if we needed anything to contact her, which was comforting. The property itself was spotlessly clean and welcoming. There was nothing in the lodge that we could think of that was missing for our stay. We had fresh scones with jam and fresh cream, waiting for us, a vase of fresh flowers on the table was a lovely touch too. There was tea, coffee, herbal tea, cappuccinos, fresh orange, milk and a bottle of prosecco waiting for us :) It was much appreciated. We found the bed very very comfortable with quality bedding. There is a handbook with all the information to help with things in the Lodge and plenty of information with places to go and walks from the door too. There are useful maps and torches for navigating lanes and paths if you are out walking into the evening for your safety. We enjoyed sitting in the garden and listening to the birds with a glass of wine or two :D it's very private. You can order a breakfast hamper as an extra from Laura, the owner, how to order is in the handbook. We ordered one and it was delicious, all fresh local produce from Hockley's farm shop, topped off with a fresh loaf, made by Laura. It was enough for two days of breakfast, and it was delicious. The area is pretty, Rockbourne with it's thatched cottages and little bridges over the stream leading into the owners gardens. While walking we stopped and chatted with a lady netting some trout out of the remaining water and place them back in a safe place, she told us the stream is spring fed and dries up so she tries to rescue what she can. The Rose and Thistle pub was closed during our stay sadly, it literally is a stones throw away from the lodge too. Fordingbridge is good for a walk around and children like to paddle in the river, pretty little place with a large co-op which we used. We visited the Roman Villa which is well worth a visit if you are interested in history. We went to the New Forest, Godshill to start with after the lodge's gardener had a chat with us during our stay while he was mowing grass and told us it was beautiful up there, so thank you to him. The New Forest is vast and is absolutely gorgeous, stopping at the various car park areas and having a wander. We had never been to the New Forest before and had no idea there was going to be donkeys, horses and cows wandering around freely, we absolutely loved it, such a fantastic place to unwind. Oh, and grab an ice-cream while you are there! We travelled to Durdle Door and Lulworth Cove which is around an hour from the lodge, well worth going to visit if you have never been before, we had been before though. Parking was £10 half day or £20 for a full day. We had fish and chips from Finley's while we were there, they were delicious. All in all we had a great 4 day break and we will return one day, everything was perfect from the lodge to the surrounding area. Thank you! Alison and Mark.

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• Paula - Verified booking

  The house itself was clean and well equipped.

  The wifi connection was poor and every hour or so buffered, meaning I could not watch on demand TV or use zoom. I would not recommend relying on the wifi if you want to work from there. I struggled with the parking clock. I could never get parking at the small Gosport parking area and had to change every 20 hrs between Cannon Street and St Thomas street. For stays of a few days I imagine this is fine, but for me having to every day move my car back and forwards was hugely annoying (and wasted 30 minutes every morning especially if i dont want to leave at 8am). It meant having to plan your car usage strategically: either parking just before closing to get a lie in (consequently parking and walking around a car park in the dark) or waking up early before the car park opens. This was not an enjoyable experience and felt like a hassle for a holiday. The property description should accurately state what free means i.e "free public parking for 20 hours each day - guests will have to move their car each day to a different car park due to the no return rules." The road directly out front is extremely busy and very noisy. This is fine if you are planning on not staying in during the day and definitely explains why children are not permitted at the house. Finally, whilst it says pet friendly, I would give caution, as the road out front is extremely busy and has a very small pedestrian pathway. I had to keep my dog on a very tight lead and step out in front first for safety.

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• Guest's Review On TripAdvisor - Verified booking

  We booked West Lodge via Hideaways Cottages, and had decided on a 4 night stay, Friday through to Tuesday.

  Easy to find on the edge of the attractive West Hampshire village of Rockbourne, we arrived just after 3pm on the Friday with our dog, Nessie. I had read some reviews and had an awareness that West Lodge was to be to a high standard, and this was confirmed when we drove up to the lodge, which appeared very sweet, and entered to the hallway. The underfloor heating was immediately apparent, which was welcome as dusk approached and the temperature cooled. We were very impressed with the box in the hallway containing a variety of dog items, eg a towel for her muddy feet and fur, a pack of poo bags, even a spare dog lead! Oh, and a tub of dog biscuits in the kitchen! And so to the kitchen/dining room/lounge. Beautifully appointed, with comfy furnishings, well equipped modern kitchen, and table chairs. The open grate and stack of wood whetted our appetite for a fire later, and there was a very comprehensive array of books, leaflets, and of great value two Ordnance Survey maps of the New Forest and Salisbury areas. They came in very useful! A couple of binders contained more information about the lodge and the wider area (eating out, walks, etc). Oh, and scones, home made damson jam, butter, milk and eggs!! The kettle was on in no time. The other rooms were all very clean and neat, with an excellent bathroom, very modern! The garden area was surprisingly large, with an outhouse full of more wood for the fire, which we didn't need in the end.

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• Guest's Review On TripAdvisor - Verified booking

  If you're looking for a quiet and cosy little hideaway from your busy hectic world, then you would be doing yourself a favour by booking some time in this fabulous little cottage.

  The owners have obviously gone to a lot of trouble to make your stay at West Lodge as care free, easy and comfortable as possible, and in that they have succeeded, and then some. The living accommodation is clean and open plan, with a lovely open fire to relax with on a cold winters evening, or afternoon!! The small but very well equipped kitchen is thoughtfully laid out.The bathroom is also a well- thought out luxury, with both shower and bath to relax in, and the bedroom with it's oh so comfortable bed, which trust me you won't want to leave, although if you don't you'll be missing out on a stunning part of the world, with The New Forest on your doorstep, and The World Heritage site that is Stonehenge just up the road, not forgetting The Historical Dockyard at Portsmouth, all within easy travelling distance. And last but not least the kind welcome from Laura and her homemade goodies with free range eggs, to give this little treasure of a cottage that local flavour. \ If you book, do enjoy, I certainly did, so much so I didn't want to come home, and judging from the comments book in the cottage, neither does anyone else who stays here.

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• Susan - Verified booking

  We had a lovely relaxing short break at West Lodge.

  The accommodation is perfect for the two of us and our dog. Everything was thought of, from dog treats and bowls and maps for walks and even a hose which we needed for cleaning him up before going back in the lodge. There were lovely welcome items such as scones and bread and many extras .Information packs about the area and maps and ideas were many. It is so well thought out and cared for. The lodge is cosy and warm too with underfloor heating and i guess in the summer sitting outside the french doors would be lovely after a days activities. The village is quiet after the rush hour to work and again at home time.. There is a pub also but walking the road needs care as there are no pavements especially at night. There are many dog walks around although our visit was somewhat waterlogged i am sure the summer is lovely. This place is a real retreat but also a visit to Salisbury is not far and worth a visit as is Shaftsbury and Fordingbridge. We loved our stay at West Lodge and were very impressed in the work involved in restoring the lodges, so well done to Laura and all involved.

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