History of Undercastle Cottage

We wanted to find a sanctuary where we could escape the routine of life, unwind and enjoy our newfound love of fishing. We didn’t want the formalities or schedules of a hotel for our breaks away, but we did want to be surrounded by luxury, quality and comfort and be able to take our beloved dogs with us as well as invite friends and family. Above all, we yearned for somewhere we could completely switch off and return feeling refreshed and re-energised. 

 

After two years of searching, we finally found a New Forest Cottage. It was its riverside setting in the woods and wonderful fishing on the Hampshire Avon from the garden that did it for us. We jumped in and set about creating an unpretentious and relaxing holiday home, retaining the beauty of the natural materials of the location. 

 

Rather than covering the structure of the building up, we’ve left the walls and architectural ceilings a tapestry of exposed beams and warm woods, set over chunky flagstone floors with underfloor heating, which is lovely to pad about on a chilly morning. 

 

Everything we’ve done at the cottage is done painstakingly ‘correctly’ the old-fashioned way with mortice and tenon joints, lime plaster walls, and solid oak. With so much wood on view, we wanted to make sure there would be plenty of natural light. And in the lounge, one of our favourite designs has been the wall of hand-made oak windows with views onto the garden, ponds and woodland. With those on one side of the room and French doors overlooking the river on the other, you don’t really need a TV, although we’ve put one in there in case you feel like settling down with a film in front of the fire.

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The interiors at this New Forest cottage all flow together with antique furniture and unique pieces, along with bespoke fabrics and textures that we’ve commissioned because we genuinely love them. The result is a place that feels like a home with sofas you actually want to sink into, beautifully restored beds paired with handmade mattresses and sociable spaces inside and out that we drift towards to be together.  

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​What began as our bolthole to relax and unwind has become something we love sharing with others. We hope that when you stay at Undercastle Cottage, you’ll feel the same sense of peace, comfort, and pleasure of being surrounded by nature and wildlife that first made us fall in love with it.

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All the very best, 

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Shabs Kay

Undercastle Cottage