Cosy Victorian cottage set in a country park

Woodside Cottage was originally built in 1864 and formed part of the Royal Victoria Hospital. It is now nestled within the beautiful Royal Victoria Country Park on the edge of Southampton Water and popular coastal walks. This cosy cottage has recently been refurbished and furnished to a high standard with easy access to everything the park has to offer. Our private red brick cottage has double glazing throughout, a comfortable open plan living space with a light and airy lounge and wood burning stove for sociable living. The well-equipped open plan kitchen has integrated Bosch appliances Smart TVs are provided in all rooms and high speed internet is available. The stylish bathroom has a bath with shower over, heated towel rail and sensor lighting. There are two bedrooms, both with king size beds. The second bedroom can be converted into two single beds upon request. The enclosed garden provides an outdoor space in which to relax and a safe area for children to play. The patio has a table and chairs, plus a barbecue. Parking spaces are available for a maximum of two cars. Tea and coffee is provided as a welcome to our guests. A travel cot and high chair can be provided upon request. An initial supply of logs is provided. Guests have access to the whole property. There are two steps into and out of the cottage, but otherwise it is all at the same level internally. The country park itself is largely accessible to users of wheelchairs and pushchairs, with the local area being generally flat. We live locally and are generally available if you need assistance. Guests have access to the entire cottage at all times with self check-in via a lock box. Vehicle access to the property is via remotely controlled bollards for which a code will be provided. Private parking is available for two vehicles. Rich in history, the country park itself was the location of the former Royal Victoria hospital, of which only the former Chapel remains. A tour of the Chapel and a visit to the war grave cemetery are very worthwhile. Nearby the 13th century Netley abbey is one of best preserved ruins of medieval Cistercian monasteries in Southern England. Royal Victoria Country Park is situated on the edge of Southampton water with 200 acres of scenic parkland, mature woodland and shingle foreshore providing great views of shipping and cruise ships. It holds a range of events throughout the year. The park has lovely woodland walks, picnic areas and is great for children with plenty of space for them to run around safely. Just two minutes’ walk from the cottage is an adventure play area, a fairy garden and a mini-railway. The park has a coffee shop which serves breakfast and refreshments throughout the day, plus a gift shop and toilets. Sophie’s Pond near the entrance to the park is a lovely spot to sit and watch the bird life. The centre of the city of Southampton is just 4 miles away with great shopping. There are several cinemas and the Mayflower theatre has a programme of great shows throughout the year. The cottage provides an ideal base for guests visiting the annual Southampton International Boat Show. St Mary’s stadium and the Hampshire Bowl are easily accessed. Southampton is also the home of the cruise port and ferries to the Isle of Wight. The cottage provides an excellent location to stop over before and after cruising. Within roughly a 30 minutes’ drive you have a range of interesting places to visit, including New Forest, with Beaulieu and the National Motor Museum, Paultons Park (with Peppa Pig World), Marwell Zoo, Winchester and Portsmouth with its historic dockyard. The village of Netley Abbey has a local Co-op store, a post office and a number of pubs which serve food. It also has popular Indian, Chinese and fish & chips takeaways, as well as an Indian restaurant and a cafe. A large Tesco superstore is just 5 minutes’ drive away. The pretty nearby villages of Hamble-le-Rice and Old Bursledon are popular sailing locations which have a number of pubs and restaurants. The cottage is conveniently located for guests attending weddings at a number of nearby venues , including local churches, the park Chapel, Bradgate Manor and Victoria House (located within the nearby Hampshire Police training college). Netley village is just 10 minutes’ drive from Junction 8 of the M27. Southampton Airport and Southampton Airport Parkway train station are 8 miles away. There is a regular bus service connecting Netley to Southampton and Hamble. If you’ve had enough of driving, Netley train station is five minutes’ walk from the cottage with direct routes to Southampton and Portsmouth. Winchester and London can be easily reached from Southampton. The country park has lovely walks and is set on the Solent Way coastal path. Unfortunately we are unable to accept pets