Sleeps 8 | 4 bedrooms | 4 en-suite bathrooms | 3 adjoining cottages | 1 dog | Near New Forest & coast

Overview of Sopley Cottages

Sopley Cottages offers an unusual style of large group accommodation on the edge of the New Forest. Rather than placing eight guests in one large house, the accommodation is divided between three adjoining cottages: Bell Hatch, School House and The Study. Booked together, they sleep eight across four bedrooms, each with its own en-suite bathroom.

The layout is particularly appealing to groups who enjoy spending a holiday together but appreciate having separate places to retreat to. Bell Hatch sleeps four and forms the largest of the three cottages, while School House and The Study each provide a self-contained base for two. Parents with younger children might choose Bell Hatch while grandparents, another couple or friends take one of the smaller cottages.

The rear courtyard gives the group an outdoor area where everyone can meet, while each cottage has its own kitchen and living space. Bell Hatch also has two ground-floor bedrooms, an entrance ramp and wider internal doorways, making it a useful option for a guest who would find stairs less convenient.

Sopley itself sits in an enviable position between the New Forest and the Christchurch coast. The Avon Valley Path passes through the village, a traditional pub is a short walk away and the open landscapes of the National Park are close at hand. Head south and Christchurch Harbour, Mudeford and Avon Beach quickly replace woodland and heathland with estuary and coast. Discover our full range of large holiday cottages near Christchurch here.

For families or friends searching for a large holiday home where different parts of the group can retain their own space, Sopley Cottages offers something genuinely different from a conventional four-bedroom house.

Sopley Cottages at a Glance

Who are Sopley Cottages Best For?

Sopley Cottages works particularly well for a group made up of different households. Eight guests can holiday in the same place without every couple or family needing to share the same kitchen, lounge and daily routine.

Bell Hatch is likely to suit the main family group, sleeping four across a king bedroom and twin bedroom. Both are on the ground floor and both have private bathroom facilities.

School House and The Study each sleep two in a king-size mezzanine bedroom. These cottages can work particularly well for grandparents, adult children, couples or friends who want their own front door and somewhere private to relax in the evening.

The arrangement also suits groups attending a celebration or event nearby, as everyone can be based together while still having separate accommodation.

Why are Sopley Cottages a Great Large Holiday Home?

• Sleeps eight across three adjoining self-contained cottages
• Four bedrooms and four en-suite bathrooms
• Gives different families or couples their own kitchen and living space
• Bell Hatch provides two ground-floor bedrooms
• Rear courtyard provides a communal outdoor area
• Village pub is only a short walk away
• The Avon Valley Path passes through Sopley
• Excellent base for combining the New Forest with Christchurch and the coast

Frequently Asked Questions

How many people do Sopley Cottages sleep?

The three cottages sleep eight guests in total. Bell Hatch sleeps four, School House sleeps two and The Study sleeps two.

How many bedrooms are there?

There are four bedrooms altogether. Bell Hatch has two bedrooms while School House and The Study each have one.

Does every bedroom have its own bathroom?

Yes. All four bedrooms have their own en-suite bathroom or shower room.

Can the three cottages be booked together?

Yes. Bell Hatch, School House and The Study can be booked together as Sopley Cottages for a group of up to eight.

Are dogs allowed at Sopley Cottages?

One dog can stay with the group, but the dog must be accommodated in The Study.

Is there parking?

Yes. Allocated parking is provided on the private driveway.

Bedrooms & Bathrooms at Sopley Cottages

The sleeping arrangement is divided between three separate cottages, which is the defining feature of a stay here. Bell Hatch sleeps four guests in two ground-floor bedrooms, while School House and The Study each provide a king-size mezzanine bedroom for two.

All four bedrooms have private bathroom facilities, avoiding the usual morning queue for shared bathrooms when eight guests stay together.

Group Accommodation Layout

Bell Hatch contains the two ground-floor bedrooms. The king bedroom also has French doors opening towards the rear courtyard.

Its second bedroom has two full-size single beds, giving families a straightforward room for children, teenagers or friends.

School House has a first-floor mezzanine king bedroom reached by stairs from the living accommodation.

The Study follows a similar arrangement, with its king bedroom on the mezzanine level above the living space.

How does the layout work for a group of 8?

For two families sharing, one family of four can occupy Bell Hatch while the remaining four guests divide between School House and The Study. This gives each couple or part of the group considerably more privacy than they would usually have in a conventional large cottage.

A multi-generational family could use Bell Hatch for parents and children, giving grandparents their own cottage next door. Alternatively, adult children or couples travelling with the wider family can use School House and The Study and keep their own living space.

Because every bedroom has an en-suite, the cottages also work particularly well for four couples where bathroom privacy is important.

Bathroom Layout

Bell Hatch has two en-suite bathrooms. The king bedroom has a bathroom with a bath and shower over, while the twin bedroom has an en-suite shower room.

School House has an en-suite shower room with a large walk-in shower.

The Study also has a private en-suite shower room with a walk-in shower.

This gives the complete group four bathrooms for four bedrooms.

Facilities & Information at Sopley Cottages

Each cottage has its own cooking and living facilities, so the group can choose whether to spend much of the holiday together or allow different households to follow their own routine.

Bell Hatch has an open-plan kitchen, dining and lounge area. Its dining table seats six, making this the most natural cottage for part of the group to gather together. The kitchen has an electric oven and hob, fridge with ice box, microwave and Nespresso coffee machine, while the living area includes comfortable seating and a Smart TV.

School House has an open-plan kitchen and dining room leading into a separate lounge. The kitchen includes an electric oven and hob, fridge with ice box and Nespresso machine, with dining space for four.

The Study combines its kitchen and dining space with a conservatory-style sitting area. The kitchen has an electric oven and hob, fridge with ice box, microwave and coffee machine, while the conservatory has comfortable seating, a Smart TV and doors outside.

A separate laundry building contains the shared washing machine along with an iron, ironing board and outdoor clothes line. Covered bike racks are useful for groups planning to explore the surrounding countryside on two wheels.

Outside, the cottages share a sunny rear courtyard with furniture for drinks and meals in the fresh air.

Facilities

Category	Facilities
Bell Hatch Kitchen	Electric oven and hob, fridge with ice box, microwave, Nespresso machine
Bell Hatch Living	Open-plan lounge, dining area and Smart TV
School House Kitchen	Electric oven and hob, fridge with ice box, Nespresso machine
School House Living	Dining area and separate lounge with Smart TV
The Study Kitchen	Electric oven and hob, fridge with ice box, microwave, Nespresso machine
The Study Living	Conservatory seating area and Smart TV
Laundry	Shared washing machine, iron, ironing board and clothes line
Outdoor Space	Rear courtyard with outdoor furniture
Cycling	Covered bike storage
Parking	Allocated private driveway parking
Heating	Underfloor heating
Connectivity	WiFi

Important Information

Information	Details
Preferred Changeover	Friday
Check In	4pm
Check Out	10am
Dogs	1 dog in The Study only
Dog Conditions	Dog must be over 1 year old unless agreed in advance, house-trained and well behaved
Pet Charge	£30 per week
Children	All ages welcome
Cot	Available on request
Highchair	Available on request
Linen & Towels	Included
Beach Towels	Guests should bring their own
Short Breaks	Available throughout the year
Smoking	Property is non-smoking

Location & Things to Do Near Sopley Cottages

Sopley Cottages occupies an excellent position for groups who cannot decide between a New Forest holiday and a break beside the sea. The village lies beside the Avon Valley on the eastern side of the National Park, while Christchurch and its beaches are only a short drive south.

Walking can begin close to the cottages. The long-distance Avon Valley Path passes through Sopley on its route between Christchurch and Salisbury, following the river valley through countryside, woodland and water meadows. The wider New Forest opens up a much larger network of walking and cycling routes through ancient woodland, heathland and villages such as Burley and Brockenhurst.

For a day beside the water, Avon Beach is around ten minutes away by car. The Christchurch coastline also gives groups a choice of Highcliffe, Friars Cliff and Mudeford. Mudeford Quay is particularly good for a relaxed day, with harbour views and the passenger ferry across to Mudeford Sandbank. From there, walkers can continue towards Hengistbury Head for coastal scenery and views across Christchurch Harbour.

Christchurch itself makes an easy half-day or evening trip. Explore the historic centre and Priory, walk beside the harbour or choose from pubs, cafés and restaurants around the town and waterfront. The harbour is also a popular setting for boating and other water-based activities.

Heading inland changes the character of the holiday completely. New Forest villages, woodland trails and designated cycle routes make it easy to spend a day away from the beach. Burley is a good choice for cycle hire, cafés and forest walks, while the wider National Park offers miles of routes through woodland and open heath.

Sopley's position means a group can spend one day walking beneath forest trees and the next beside the beach, without needing to commit the whole holiday to either coast or countryside.

Nearby Places