It’s a luxury, dog-friendly cottage set deep in the woods with only woodland wildlife and the National Park’s famous free-roaming ponies as your neighbours.
The location is perfect for Valentine’s; it’s a place to relax, unwind, and natter as swans, ducks, kingfishers, and wild otters play in the river at the bottom of the garden. The river is The Hampshire Avon, often hailed as the best fly-fishing river in the UK, and guests can enjoy 2,500m of private fishing. Fans of the TV programme Gone Fishing may also recognise Undercastle Cottage, which featured in series one when Bob Mortimer and Paul Whitehouse stayed here.
Inside is packed with romance, personality and opulence by the bucket load: There’s a large log burner, vaulted ceilings, and underfloor heating, and it’s furnished with beautiful antiques, squishy sofas and the most comfortable beds topped with handmade mattresses that you’ll ever sleep on. There’s a great foodie pub up the lane and award-winning restaurants close by. Or, book the fridge to be filled with bubbles and home-cooked meals to pop in the oven when you’re ready for easy, relaxing suppers.
The cottage is super cosy and perfect just for two – but it can sleep up to six. There are two bedrooms (a King upstairs and a double on the ground floor), with an additional ensuite twin in the Fishing Lodge, a few steps across the sun terrace – great for friends, Grandparents or teens wanting privacy.
Step outside the front door for forest walks or hop on a bike to explore over a hundred miles of cycle paths. If you want to get active, there are first-class golf courses, a shooting range, horse riding, Canadian canoe tours (you won’t need to get wet!), and even a dry ski slope close by. And, if you fancy a change of scene, Christchurch Harbour and Highcliffe’s dune-fringed beaches for a winter wander are just a half-hour drive south.
Stay Valentine’s long weekend (14 – 17 February 2025) £3,276 www.undercastlecottage.co.uk