Bijou Boltholes

Hazel Grove House is a wonderful Georgian residence, originally a farmhouse, which has benefited from extensive upgrading. Notable changes were made by a gentleman doctor owner in the 1840s, and full renovation by the current owner, who lives in an adjoining cottage, means that the property offers an excellent level of comfort and facilities. Spacious and well-presented living spaces provide families and groups the flexibility to spread out a little and utilise the space to their own requirements. The kitchen flows beautifully into the dining area, sure to be a hub for socialising and enjoying time shared around the table. The more formal drawing room is complemented by the cosy snug, complete with a decorative wood-burning stove for cosy evenings in, and the additional relaxation area on the top floor allows guests a separate TV or quiet area. The generous bedrooms are beautifully presented and benefit from bathroom facilities for each room. Guests will no doubt appreciate the convenience of such an arrangement when holidaying in larger numbers.
Whilst first impressions portray a grand country residence with a formal frontage, the charm of the original farmhouse remains, giving a homely and comfortable feel to this spacious property. Sitting in 2 acres and tucked away in countryside on the edge of the Lakes, this fabulous holiday property has a lot to offer families and groups of friends looking for a high standard of accommodation in a most convenient location.
The delightful formal gardens, with year-round interest, are a joy to wander around, being well stocked with a variety of colourful and scented plants. Nature lovers will delight in the regular visits to the gardens of the roe deer and fallow deer which inhabit the surrounding fields, as well as hedgehogs, frogs, toads, a green woodpecker, curlews, herons, pheasants and owls. A short drive away in the Silverdale and Arnside Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty you can explore the Leighton Moss RSPB Centre great for nature lovers.
Hazel Grove House offers an ideal location from which to explore a choice of popular destinations within a 30-minute drive, including The Lake District, Yorkshire Dales and the Forest of Bowland. The popular market towns of Kendal and Kirkby Lonsdale are both well worth a visit, offering a selection of cafés, bars and restaurants for all tastes and occasions, along with a good mix of independent traders and popular stores. For those drawn to the coast, the Kent Estuary and Morecambe Bay are within easy reach, and walkers and cyclists will enjoy the routes available for all abilities. Inland, Farleton Knott is a popular local attraction and visible from the gardens, and from here and neighbouring Hutton Roof Crags, the Lake District Fells across Morecambe Bay can be seen, as well as the Howgill Fells and Middleton Fells in the Yorkshire Dales, together with the moors of Bowland Forest. Farleton Knott has some of the best-preserved limestone pavements in Britain and is a designated SSSI. Beach 4 miles. Shop 500 yards, pub 1 mile, restaurant 2 miles.

A spacious, detached house furnished to a good standard, with some sea views from upstairs. Situated in a quiet residential area, just a few minutes’ walk from sandy Seagrove Bay. At low tide you can walk miles along the sands in either direction to unspoilt Priory Bay or to Puckpool Park for cycling and play area. Seaview village is ½ mile away with excellent pubs and food, right on the seafront. There are many attractions on the island to suit the whole family, including Carisbrooke Castle and Ventnor Botanic Gardens. Visit Osborne House and gardens, once the summer time home of Queen Victoria, now open to the public during the summer season. The nearby town of Ryde offers something for everyone including bowling alley, ice rink and indoor swimming pool, as well as many shops, pubs and restaurants. The picturesque maritime town of Cowes, the yachting centre of the world offers a shopping area, museums and historic buildings, and car ferries from Portsmouth to Fishbourne or Lymington to Yarmouth offer alternative days out. With its temperate climate and superb sunshine record, this makes an ideal location for holidays to suit all the family, at any time of year. Shop and pub ½ mile.

This delightful holiday property is comfortably furnished and well placed for relaxing, and enjoys views over the open countryside. Noted for its temperate climate, the island is easily explored from the scenic beauty of West Wight to the sandy beaches of Sandown Bay, Shanklin and Ventnor. Also worth a visit is the busy yachting haven at Cowes. Osborne House, holiday home of Queen Victoria, and Carisbrooke Castle, are both easily accessible, as are the picturesque villages of Godshill or Old Shanklin. Shop 1/4 mile, pub 1 mile.

Offering far-reaching views over fields and surrounding countryside, this compact, detached, single-storey holiday property offers superb walks from the door across miles of countryside. Standing next to the owners’ home on an unadopted lane on the edge of the charming village of Niton, a 10-minute walk, with a church, local shops, post office, library, chemist, hardware/gift/pet supplies shop, a GP centre and a pub serving food. The island is renowned for ramblers and has a 500-mile network of footpaths, including a 68-mile coastal walk with spectacular views. The nearest beach is a 10-minute drive, an observatory and St. Catherine’s Lighthouse are also nearby. Water sports, cycling, riding, sailing, fishing and golf can be found on the island. Blackgang Chine Theme Park is ¾ mile. Shop, pub and restaurant ¼ mile.

Directly opposite Sandown’s popular sandy beach and offering superb far reaching sea views, this delightful terraced Victorian former coastguard’s cottage is one of a row of similar properties set back from the road which leads to the town in one direction and Bembridge in the other, with local buses stopping close to the property. Having been refurbished, Culver Cottage offers comfortable and homely family accommodation. There is a sun room to the front of the holiday property, which is also ideal for storing beach kit or bikes. Sandown is well known for its seaside entertainment, including a zoo (where Tiger Island is filmed), amusement arcades, and outdoor fun such as putting, trampolines, crazy golf, as well as a leisure centre with indoor pool and various pubs and restaurants along the seafront. Scenic walks can be enjoyed along cliff-top paths, and much of the coastline is designated Heritage status. Also for the outdoor enthusiast, try watersports, golf, riding, fishing, hang-gliding, sailing or birdwatching. Other places of interest include Carisbrooke Castle, Osborne House, Ventnor Botanical Gardens, the rock formations of The Needles, Blackgang Chine, Robin Hill Adventure Park, the Garlic Farm, the Donkey sanctuary, Amazon World, the steam railway, Flamingo Park, Falconry centre, Dinosaur Museum, Pearl Centre and butterfly park. There are many hidden coves dotted around the island, or why not enjoy a cream tea at one of the various tea rooms located in the historic villages of Godshill, Old Shanklin or Brighstone. Shop, pub and restaurant 200 yards.

Shoreline Cottage is a charming, Victorian, former navy coastguard cottage, situated on the sea front, overlooking Sandown’s popular wide sandy beach. This delightful terraced, three-bedroom, three reception room cottage has undergone careful renovation, yet still retains some original features, such as exposed brick fire surround. Stunning sea views can be enjoyed from the rooms at the front. Perfect for families, there are plenty of games, books, DVDs and a bike store.
Sandown is ideal for families and those who like cliff-top walks, cycling, fishing and golf. There are plenty of shops, bars, cafés, restaurants and the pier and its amusements, all within 5 minutes’ walk. Also nearby is the Isle of Wight Zoo, Dinosaur Isle, pitch and putt, trampolines, crazy golf and the Heights Leisure Centre with indoor pool, gym, sauna and steam spa. Further afield, visit Carisbrooke Castle, Osborne House, Flamingo Park, Blackgang Chine, Robin Island Adventure Park, Amazon World, steam railway, the garlic farm, Ventnor Botanical Gardens or a donkey sanctuary. Shop, pub and restaurant 200 yards.

Located in the village of Lake, between the popular resort beaches of Sandown and Shanklin, the property is set adjacent to the owner’s home. The chalet benefits from a fully enclosed south-facing rear garden and has a rear gate that provides access directly out onto the cliff top coastal path, presenting you with a stunning view over Sandown Bay and its pier.
The beach at Lake can be accessed from a set of steps from the top of the cliff path, alternatively you can gain access from Shanklin or Sandown Esplanades via a short walk in either direction along the sea wall. Because this beach is tucked away and not as straightforward to reach, it is very often quieter than its resort neighbours Sandown and Shanklin during the busier months, making it a peaceful alternative for a day on the beach. As the waters are quieter, this is a great beach for surfing and water sports, as the sea is shallow and clear. There is an instructional school which is located nearby that offers a whole range of activities for all ages and abilities, there’s also a café and barbecue area which is always popular during the summer season. There’s also beach huts which you can look to hire and a number of benches to sit on along the sea wall path when the tide is further in. The walk along the sea wall between Sandown and Shanklin along the back of the beach is highly recommended as it offers a wide, flat path which is ideal for both walkers and cyclists.
For guests choosing to visit the island without their car, a favourable way to reach the property is to take the Wightlink Fast Cat service to Ryde Pier head and then the train to Lake Station which is only a 3-minute walk from the property. The island has become a real hot spot for cycling enthusiasts, with a choice of challenging off-road bridleways, peaceful byways and level purpose-made tracks running along former railway lines. You can cycle across the width of the island to the famous Needles landmark, or try the full round the island route, which is 66 miles long and is used for the annual Isle of Wight Randonnee held over the bank holiday in May. You can also travel along the route at a more leisurely pace, stopping off along the way at one of the many restaurants, pubs and cafés that can be found in the quaint villages and towns.
Sandown is a truly traditional British beach resort with pier, amusements, pitch ’n’ putt, Isle of Wight Zoo, children’s play area and the Dinosaur Isle attraction at the northern end of the esplanade towards Yaverland and Culver Cliff. The town is brimming with attractions to entertain visitors, most of them right on the beach front itself, so you never have to stray too far from the golden sands. At the other end of the path you will reach Shanklin Esplanade which is again packed full of amusements and crazy golf, as well as several places to eat. Away from the beach the main town hosts a multitude of shops, cafés, bars and restaurants to enjoy. The old village is world famous with its pretty thatched cottages, cosy tea rooms, pubs, restaurants and craft shops to discover. Outdoor pursuits on the island are well catered for and include horse riding, fishing, paragliding, golf and water sports. There are numerous attractions across the island to discover for all ages, such as The Needles (with its chairlift, amusement park, boat rides, lighthouse and coloured sands of Alum Bay), Blackgang Chine, Dinosaur Isle, the Isle of Wight Steam Railway, Ventnor Botanical Gardens, Tapnell Farm Park and Carisbrooke Castle - or why not pay a visit to Queen Victoria’s favourite holiday residence, Osborne House and its gardens? The sailing towns of Yarmouth and Cowes also make for a great day out. Beach 500 yards. Shops, pub and restaurant ¼ mile.

Golden Hill Fort is situated within 50 acres of Golden Hill Country Park. Originally built in 1863 in a distinctive hexagonal shape, which is elevated 60 metres above the north west coast of the Isle of Wight. This spectacular Grade I listed building has now been beautifully converted into 18 luxury houses.

Internally, the property offers brick barrel vaulted ceilings with coloured LED mood lighting, solid oak floors with underfloor heating and high quality appliances. Externally, the communal rooftop gardens (approximately 5,500 square metres), offers stunning, panoramic 360 degree views across the Solent, English Channel and the countryside. These are the only landscaped rooftop gardens on a Grade I listed building in the country. The central courtyard is where the parking spaces are located and features a large water fountain.

West Wight is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and is the ideal spot for catching a glimpse of the local wildlife, walking or just enjoying the beautiful countryside. From here take a visit to one of the island’s many attractions including Freshwater Bay, Alum Bay’s famous coloured cliffs or the Needles, one of Britain’s most famous landscapes.

The perfect setting for a family gathering or a stay with friends, Hampton House is bright, elegant and chic. This friendly home from home welcomes twelve guests and a dog, and if it’s been too long since you whiled away lazy evenings with your favourite people you’ll find everything you need to relax.

The living space has a crackling log burner perfect for those cosy evenings spent catching up with a bottle of bubbly, and the French doors lead straight out to the garden. There’s an Xbox 360 to keep the group entertained, and you’ll find another living space on the first floor complete with a window seat with views of the bay. There is also a new large glass first floor balcony overlooking the stunning Freshwater Bay, new for 2024!

Outside, the enclosed, lawned garden has plenty of space to sit back and watch the food sizzle on the barbeque, and we can’t think of a better way to while away a summer’s day. There’s patio furniture for those of you happy to sit back, close your eyes and just enjoy the setting, and if you fancy some time on the beach, you’ll be able to pack up a picnic and head across the road to the sand.

Those of you hoping to take in some of the Wight’s scenery with coastal walks will be in your element, and with the iconic Tennyson Down nearby, you’ll have plenty of reason to get your walking boots on. The surfers amongst you will enjoy nearby Compton Beach, and for other water sports enthusiasts, you’ll find Freshwater Bay a stones throw away - where you can hire sea kayaks to explore the caves or even go coasteering.

This charming detached cottage is peacefully located 100 yards down a leafy unmade lane opposite miles of NT heath and woodland, perfect for walking. An ideal base for discovering the delights of the south. Within easy reach are Chichester, Farnham, Guildford, Portsmouth, Winchester, Isle of Wight and London (about 1 hour by train). Numerous attractions to discover include Jane Austen’s 17th century house, Mid Hants steam railway, Selborne, Bird World, Uppark, Weald and Downland Open Air Museum and Hollycombe steam collection. Shop 400 yards.