Accessible holidays, Reviewed by you

“Having two disabled daughters this was a wonderful place to stay all geared up wherever you may need with disabled. Helen and Matt are very helpful kindly left us a welcome Christmas card with Baileys cake introduced themselves once we had arrived and settled in...”

“Great stay, everything perfect for our needs. Weather poor but we enjoyed staying in with the wood burner roaring. Enjoyed the ginger cake that was left for us”

“Having the use of mobilty/access equipment makes this the best place for disabled people that we have ever stopped at. The home made cake waiting for us was lovely...”

“We had such a wonderful time at this beautiful cottage. From the moment we arrived, everything felt welcoming and peaceful. The place was spotless, well-equipped, and full of charm perfect for a relaxing getaway. The surroundings were lovely, and we really appreciated the equipment provided. It was clear that a lot of care goes into maintaining the cottage, and it made our stay extra special. We would absolutely recommend this place to anyone looking for a cozy and enjoyable break. We’re already looking forward to coming back!”

“Enjoyed our stay in Our Bench. They had everything you’d possibly need to cater for disabled guests , including good car parking. We will return as these fitted out holiday cottages are hard to find”

“It was all thought through for us, which meant our holiday could be about making memories, not managing stress. Too often, we’ve been let down by places claiming to be fully equipped for accessibility, only to find they aren’t. Helen and Matt genuinely take care of everything, making sure the holiday is completely stress-free.”

“Mike and I stayed at Bench Cottage for nearly two weeks, to be near where our son lives. We visited and walked and “trundled” to some special places: the Museum in Lymington, famous old oak trees at Knightwood and Anderwood, and the seaside walk at Milford on sea. We found the shops in Pennington Village very helpful, especially the pharmacy. The cottage and gardens are very well maintained and equipped, and help was at hand when needed. Having an EV WAV, it’s great that a charging point was installed. Definitely a good place for a wheelchair dependant holiday!”

“Lovely stay in Garden bench. As my husband is paralysed the ceiling hoist is something I look for before hiring a cottage. Accommodation was very clean, tidy and provided a good selection of equipment. The enclosed rear garden is ideal for pets and small children. The owners Helen and Matt are very friendly and welcoming.”

“Without question Bench Cottage is as good a venue to meet my needs as we have found. Excellent hoists and bathroom fittings including a good power shower made life easy. Our only constructive suggestion would be that Bench cottage might sleep 4 but it would be very crowded with this number of adults. The kitchen was really excellent.”

“A very clean and well equipped house and the owners are very helpful”

“Great facilities for severely disabled. Good garden for dog owners.”

“Absolutely great place to stay for anyone who had mobility issues. It's all level access and has the equipment you may need. The couple that own these cottages are really friendly and will help you in anyway possible. Would highly recommend to anyone!”

“Matt and Helen have a delightful accessible holiday home. We were able to manoeuvre an electric chair with little effort. It was all of a good quality and well maintained. The outside space was well utilised, especially as the sun shone most of the week. We appreciated the time taken to talk about the local area and there was a lot of info available in the home. Thank you both for making the week so special.”

“This was a return visit to Little Bench. The property has everything needed for a very comfortable stay. My husband uses a powerchair and there is plenty of room to move around the bungalow. Matt & Helen make sure that everything is set up to our needs and nothing is too much trouble for them. There is so much to see around the area. We hope to return again.”

“We had a very pleasant holiday and found the facilities in all aspects very good.”

“Excellent facilities for disabled quests. Every wheelchair users needs have been catered for and a high standard of cleanliness. It is very rare to find such a well equipped place to stay for a disabled person such as my wife who has MS. The location is also quiet and great for exploring the area. I have no hesitation in giving it a 5star rating and we will definitely visit and stay again, thank you.”

“Garden bench cottage is a very well equipped bungalow for people who like me,need equipment to help them with the usual everyday tasks ie getting out of bed, showering, etc. Because of this I was able to forget about the small things and enjoy a holiday. Helen and Matt are very welcoming and will do anything to make your stay as good as possible. This year there was also the addition of a care chair which is essentially an armchair on wheels that you can alter positions until you feel comfortable. I liked to transfer to it from my wheelchair at the end of the day to watch the TV and relax. On a personal note, I felt that as we were unable to use the mobile host because you need two people, it was quite a heavy chair for my husband to pull backwards and forwards from the lounge to the ceiling hoist in the bedroom. I wondered whether the lounge would benefit from a ceiling hoist as well. We have booked again for next year, it is nice to feel That although you're on holiday, you are also at home. Well done Helen and Matt. See you again next year!”

“A wonderful week in Garden Bench. Accommodation had everything we needed to make our stay relaxed. It is so nice to have profile beds and a hoist for our son, which helped us immensely. Hosts were really nice too, we shall return!”

“Weve Thoroughly enjoyed our second visit to the bench, we find all of the facilities to be most suitable for anyone that is a disabled and their families. Helen and Matt are very helpful and theires nothing that is too much trouble to ask for them.to do.”

“So good you will not get better than this been here for 10 years.”

“We absolutely loved bench cottage it had everything we needed and more . We could walk in to lymington which was great and only a short walk to the Tesco and chip shop would definitely recommend.”

“We stayed in Little Bench which is perfect for 2people. It was completely step free which was perfect for me. The bathroom is a wet room and Matt and Helen provided a shower chair for me on request. They are really lovely people and came to welcome us when we arrived. The beds were very comfy, not too soft or too hard. It was very quiet and we slept really well. I would happily stay there again. Thank you Matt and Helen.”

“Enjoyed our stay. well equipped comfortable accommodation.Owners very friendly and helpful.Bungalow very well situated in Lymington. Ideal base for visiting the New Forest, Lymington, Key Haven and surrounding area & beaches, too many to list. We visited Exbury Gardens, Highcliffe Castle, Hengisbury Head, Mudeford, Mudeford split, cycled from Hengisbury head to poole [paths flat] Many places to eat & drink highly recommended. We will return, health permitting.”

“It's a great place to stay, without a doubt it's the best holiday let I know of that is so suitable for disabled people. My wife and I have been on self catering holidays all round the UK and we both agree this is the tops. The hosts Helen and Matt are charming and very welcoming and we have no doubt we will be back next year.”

“Once again, we had a lovely stay at bench cottage, which has great accessibility with everything well thought through. As my Mum is able to stand transfer, she would benefit from a grab rail on the wall by the bed but was able to manage. It is hard to cater for every situation and this is one of the most accessible stays we have found. Lovely and clean and the apple cake was very welcome. Lots to do in the area with Beaulieu highly recommended.”

“We just stayed at Little Bench for three nights, and we can thoroughly recommend the accomodation. The property is well appointed and tastefully decorated. The owners are efficient and considerate and clearly want their guests to have an enjoyable stay. there are many maps and guides in the property for walks and visits. As a suggestion, try Hengistbury. Sea views over the Channel, and Purbeck, and a good wheelchair accessible road along the estuary to Mudeford beach.”

“1. Booking arrangements - very easy.5/5 2. Accommodation - spotless, very comfortable 5/5 3. Disabled facilities/equipment - excellent 5/5 4. Responsiveness/friendliness of owners - excellent 5/5 5. Location - 2m to New Forest. Accommodation is in residential area so one has to travel although there is a pleasant, well kept garden/seating area. 4/5 6. Value for money. Comparable with other disabled facilities. For our comfort and peace of mind, it was good value. 5/5.”

“stayed for a long weekend ( fri to mon) we had a warm welcome and delicious homemade apple cake waiting for us. the cottage was set up perfectly with lots of space and everything you need for a comfortable stay. welcome guide very useful we both said the beds were very comfortable. the cottage was in a good location for us to go out and do fun things. mitch said he really really enjoyed his weekend a lot . thank you”

“We stayed at Garden Bench for 2 weeks. The cottage is very well equipped and had every thing we needed. It had a lovely small garden and outside seating and a conservatory. The area also had good walking places for my elderly dog. We would definitely come back again.”

“We recently stayed at Bench Cottage and wholeheartedly and highly recommend it. The cottage was very clean, comfortable, and spacious for the four of us. It was the ideal space for my disabled mother-in-law, including the rise recliner and disabled bathroom. Parking was convenient and onsite only about 12 feet from the front door. The location was perfect, near several villages and the New Forest. The host prepared the cottage exactly as we requested and were so friendly, generous, and helpful. They provided us with a decorated christmas tree that really brought joy to my disabled mother-in-law. We will certainly return.”

“My name is David Grice and I supported Ian on his holiday to Little Bench Cottage in Lymington in the New Forest Hampshire, what a fantastic beautiful cottage, the hosts are friendly and are there if you need them, they communicated all the time and they have a wide range of mobility equipment if needed, we will definitely holiday there again in the future 10/10 thank you”

“We had a wonderful stay at Bench Cottage. My mum is wheelchair bound and the facilities we booked suited her very well. The cottage is very thoughtfully planned with plenty of space. Very comfortable too. Thanks to Matt and Helen for the lovely welcome cake! We have already booked for next year.”

“This was our third visit with Our Bench. Every time we have found a comfortable well equipped bungalow, and help when we needed it (not often). We had very good meals at the Gunn Inn at Keyhaven (they opened a garden gate for us to get in with the wheelchair, worth ringing ahead), and the Angel and Pig in Lymington centre. We also walked in the Blackwater arboretum in the best autumn sunshine. All manageable with Mike’s chunky powerchair. Thank you for being there, Our Bench!”

“We had a lovely week and enjoyed our stay at Little Bench. The bungalow had everything we needed for our holiday. We had a very good Sunday lunch at Rosie Lea House and visited Highcliffe Castle and the local garden centres.”

“I can honestly say this is the best wheelchair friendly holiday let we have stayed at, Not only was it ideal for my wife who uses a power chair it was well kept, spotlessly clean and cosy, we have tried plenty of different places over the years and always found something not quite right with most of them. Little Bench comes up trumps and we are looking forward to our next holiday here next year. PS the hosts are extremely nice also”

“This is the third time we have stayed in these lovely cottages. They are well equipped and comfortable. It is good to be able to book mobility equipment with Matt and Helen ready to ensure we had exactly what we needed. We have already booked for next year and are looking forward to spending another holiday at Bench Cottage.”

“We have Just spent a week in little bench cottage, fantastic accommodation, couldn’t fault It, we will definitely be returning. . One of the main points of the facilities in the cottage is that all the aids live up to a disabled standard, unlike many others.”

“Had a lovely week staying here. Accommodation well placed for visiting the area and adequately met our needs. Nice, friendly owners.”

“Really enjoyed our stay again The ceiling hoists in the main bedroom and bathroom of Bench cottage make life so much easier Will have to make a decision for next year Bench cottage or Garden Bench both great”

“We have just had another lovely week in Lymington at Our Bench's and this time in 'Little Bench'. Our 5th visit having previously stayed in both 'Garden' and 'Bench Cottage'. The accommodation is so spacious and comfortable with all the equipment facilities you could need. Our hosts were very welcoming, and with a lovely homemade cake upon arrival to add a nice touch. We were even invited and accompanied to an afternoons paddleboarding in Christchurch as this is one of our things. There is much information provided regarding the local area and good advice regarding levels of accessibility. Having stayed at all of the 3no Cottages we would highly recommend all of them as a comfortable, easy accessible, with fantastic range of equipment, holiday base to explore the surrounding area. All of our family love it here and we hope to be back again next year too.”

“A delightful, adapted bungalow to suit most people’s needs. As a powerchair user, there was plenty of room to manoeuvre. The profiling bed was great. Although as a paraplegic I did find the memory foam mattress hard to move on. But I’m sure great for most people. The Manuel hoist , to get onto the reclining chair, was very heavy to manoeuvre, when I was hoisted. But very comfortable once there. You just need a carer with some muscles. I would definitely recommend Little Bench as a lovely & accessible place to stay & visit Hampshire.”

“We stayed at Garden Bench for a week, it was absolutely fantastic. Everything that you would want for your stay with a dog and a disabled person. Everything has been thought of even down to an extra gate in case your dog gets a little adventurous. We thought it was super, everything was clean, neat and fresh, and there was even a homemade cake to welcome us which was lovely. This is the best assessable holiday cottage we have been in, and I have looked for years on the net for one that is so well equipped and spacious as this , I would give this 💯 percent perfect and fully recommend this property Fantastic”

“We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Garden Bench. It was very comfortable having everything we needed to make it home from home. We had access from there to see and do everything we wanted to.”

“Bench cottage we stayed for two weeks, the cottage is beautifully kept spotless. There is everything you need and we requested extras which were ready and waiting even supplied an extra shower chair when we asked . Helen and Matt are friendly and obliging owners nothing is too much trouble. Lymington is an ideal location to see lots and do lots in the area I.e New Forest, Milford on Sea, Mudeford Quay ( which we loved) Christchurch and you can even get the ferry to the Isle of Wight . We well recommend a stay here”

“The property meet all my husbands needs as a wheelchair user was spotless and well equipped Helen and Matt were wonderful hosts who helped make our stay perfect.”

“We had a fantastic stay in Bench Cottage with all the facilities we could wish for overhead tracking in the bedroom and bathroom with a shower bed made the easier as my daughter could use these with our guest who is wheelchair bound. It was nice having rising beds in the second bedroom. Everything was there for us to cook evening meals with wheelchair accessible sinks and hob. We had a fun filled week doing a boat trip with Wet Wheels a trip to the IOW a day at MonkeyWorld Treasure Trail in Havant. It was easy to have a food shop delivered the first morning with plenty of room for storage. But I think the highlight of the week was a last minute ask of Helen was a photo shoot for our guest which was done on the last night. A place we will certainly keep in mind for a return visit and definitely a place to recommend.”

“Lovely accommodation, providing all the facilities needed for a safe and restful break. The option to borrow additional items of equipment for no charge is great. Set in a peaceful residential area, 2 minutes drive into the New Forest, and with plenty of shops and takeaways close by. The website is very helpful indeed, providing lots of information enabling planning in advance, about restaurants and places to visit, which is of course very important for those with additional needs. Difficult to see how it could be improved! We look forward to visiting again.”

“Fantastic place. We stayed for 3 nights and it allowed me to cook for the first time in 13 years which to some people probably doesn’t sound like a big or even a good thing but I loved cooking before I became paralysed so just being able to get safe access to the cooker and hob meant the world to me. Although it wasn’t massive it was a mighty little bungalow allowing me to safely shower, cook and relax to the full in complete comfort. Those 4 days I felt free so thank you from the bottom of my heart”

“Another lovely week at Little Bench. Ideal for the two of us with every need catered for. Already booked for Autumn half term so we can see family. Also lots to do in the area. Helen and Matt very helpful and always leave delicious cake for our arrival. Thank you both.”

“We had a wonderful relaxing weekend at garden bench , the kitchen is great as so is the whole bungalow and grounds . Simple but beautiful all round and spotlessly clean ! And the erea is great ! We visited the new forrest ponies and pig beer highly recomend this acomidation catering for all disabilities”

“We had an excellent week in Little Bench. The unit was fully equipped to meet our needs. There are many accessible places of interest in the area. We hope to revisit next year.”

“Excellent facilities, lovely and clean, thoughtful layout and all equipment we requested ready and waiting for us. The most relaxed holiday we've had for a long time and the best "disabled" holiday accommodation we've stayed at... Thank you and well done to Helen and Matt.”

“We had a wonderful week at Bench Cottages, in fact the only thing that spoilt it was the heatwave on the 18th & 19th that prevented us going out for 2days. Fortunately, the cottage is so comfortable and homely that we were fine and the garden is perfect to enjoy the warm evenings outside. The cottage is very well adapted for someone with severe disabilities and permanent wheelchair users and there are lots of nice extra touches which make it feel like home from home. The dogs are also well looked after with a bowl of fresh water ready for their arrival and a jar of treats, plus the sports field and common are only a few minutes walk away for their early morning walks. A pub, fish and chip shop and Tesco are only10 minutes walk away and the footpath is wheelchair friendly. The area is peaceful and relaxing and Helen called round to welcome us shortly after we arrived and gave us lots of useful information about places to visit. Definitely want to return and highly recommend.”

“As always 10 out of 10 for Service. This is the 3rd time we've visited Lymington and Our-Bench and haven't yet been disappointed. This is definitely a home from home and we couldn't have wished for any better accommodation in the New Forest. All requirements including our disability needs were met 100 percent. We'd just like to thank our proprietors Helen & Matt for all their efforts in making our disabled holiday such a great achievement. Thanks and kind regards. Michael & Denise Sheard”

“Garden Bench was comfortable, quiet and peaceful. The disabled access was excellent and the disabled facilities were well thought out. The property is well positioned with shops and Lymington within walking or motorised wheeling distance. Sadly the weather stopped us exploring much of the forest but we hope to rectify that when we return in September.”

“we had a lovely stay. clean, equipment good. would definitely stay again.”

“a lovely stay with everything we needed to make our holiday so comfortable. Many thanks”

“Exceptional property, we will most definitely be returning, next time for a week, this is without doubt the best property we have stayed in with our daughter, it was home from home, ceiling hoist was amazing. Weather wasn’t great, but we made the most of our stay, stunning meals at the Royal Oak Downton & The Wheel, both within minutes of the cottage, fine for a powered wheelchair user, we will return to both, exceptional quality food & drink. Day trips to Poole, Promenade is lovely, flat for wheelchairs, likewise Marwell Zoo, lovely trip out. Overall a lovely few days, our daughter is already planning the next trip, so much to see and do, in this beautiful part of the world. Oh, I cannot forget the lovely lemon drizzle cake, which was kindly provided by the lovely owners on our arrival.”

“Just spent a wonderful weekend with my husband at Little Bench. Great to find somewhere with a ceiling hoist and there was so much more as well! The cottage had everything we needed and was clearly designed by people who understand the needs of those with disabilities. We also loved the gardens and the bird song! A big thank you to Helen and Matt. We hope to return!”

“A wonderful 2 weeks at Garden Bench. The accessibility and range of disability equipment is exceptional. Lovely hosts and the phot shoot a wonderful extra. We will definitely steely be returning. Thank you.”

“Great last minute find. Helen and Matt are great hosts and the bungalow was perfect for what we needed for the week. Felt like home, clean and comfortable. We will definitely be back! Thank you”

“We've just returned from a lovely week at Bench Cottage. The cottage was a perfect base. It is beautifully kept with everything needed for holidaying with someone with disabilities. The gardens are a beautiful oasis of peace and so pretty, with fairy lights which come on in the evening. Being able to request extra equipment was an added bonus but there are also games, a BBQ (coals and tools all available) and buckets and spades and crabbing kit which was perfect for my 8 year old grandson. I think Helen and Matt have thought of everything.”

“Bench cottage was lovely, all the equipment was perfect for me. My sister and I had an absolutely wonderful week, lots to see and do. We will definitely be back next year. Thank you for having us.”

“We have just had another lovely stay in Garden Bench. The facility is perfect for us with our disabled Son who has advanced Duchene Muscular Dystrophy. The profiling beds, with ceiling hoists service, makes our stay very comfortable. The enormous bathroom/wetroom is fantastic, along with the whole layout of the fully accessible cottage. The garden is very nice with adequate furniture for outdoor time. Spotlessly clean. The off street parking makes transporting easy and safe. Lovely friendly host's, who even found time to take me Paddleboarding to the local ideal spot once I explained my interest, with full access for my family to come along and watch too. Our 3rd time holidaying here and we will certainly be back again.”

“Bench Cottage is a wonderful little cottage with everything you need in a home…we had a lovely week catching up with elderly relatives and just enjoying the local area. So good to find somewhere accessible, safe, clean and ideally situated for our holiday.”

“We are booking so soon for next year... your accommodation meets all our disabled requirement needs. Shops and supermarkets are all within walking distance, which for a disabled person is quite unique.”

“It's a real home from home. Fully wheelchair accessible throughout. Profiling beds, wet room, great kitchen. Lovely peaceful location. Already planning for next year!”

“Garden Bench was a very well-equipped bungalow... every single thing had been thought about to make the time there as easy and comfortable as possible. Helen and Matt were most helpful.”

“Lovely accommodation, very clean and works very well for people with a disability. The owners are very nice and so helpful. Would definitely recommend to anyone.”

“They are superb and what a joy to visit truly accessible holiday accommodation. You've taken such care to ensure that everything is available.”

“Thank you so much for making our mini break with Mum so comfortable, accessible and enjoyable. It was refreshing to have such a well-equipped cottage. Mum thoroughly enjoyed herself and would certainly love to come again.”

“Thank you Helen and Matt for a lovely week. It's really great to have ceiling track hoists and a changing bench for Mr S. We will be back next year.”

“Thank you for providing such fab accommodation. Only place with a ceiling hoist we've been to. Lovely to have a garden for the dog, she loved her walks to the park. Very friendly area, home from home.”

“Dave and I found the holiday at Little Bench life-changing. It opened my eyes to what is possible despite Dave’s illness. There is a different way of living.”

“I am paraplegic and found everything was completely accessible. The homemade chocolate cake waiting for us was polished off immediately. Very useful dog equipment too.”

“This accommodation caters for the severely disabled person who is confined to a wheelchair 24/7! Profiling beds, ceiling hoists, wet room everything a disabled person would want.”

“Both my husband Jeff and I were very impressed with Garden Bench... toilet access and shower facilities were excellent. We will definitely consider returning.”

“What can we say... it's absolutely amazing. Perfect in every way. We have stayed many times and would never consider staying elsewhere. The ceiling track hoists make a huge difference. It's the best holiday accommodation we have ever stayed in.”

“This is the first time we have stayed in a property adapted for the needs of the disabled. It was wonderful for my wife to be able to have a shower whilst on holiday, and to move around freely in her wheelchair whenever she wanted. The homemade scones went down a treat!”

“A lovely location... 5 minutes in one direction and you are in the New Forest, 5 minutes in the other and you overlook the Needles on the Isle of Wight. Highly recommended and would definitely book again.”

“This was a real home away from home. All the equipment we needed was ready. The wet room was brilliant. Owners popped round to check we had everything. Good location. Would definitely stay again.”

“I've been here twice and absolutely love it. The bungalow is perfectly adapted, the owner is very helpful. Lovely garden and a beautiful area.”

“Having just arrived home we wanted to thank you both. Little Bench is everything we could have wished for: spacious, well equipped, spotlessly clean and perfectly located. We’ll definitely be back.”

“Great holiday cottage, lots of equipment for disabled guests. Our daughter found it easily accessible with riser beds and wheel-in shower chair. Lovely flat walks at Milford on Sea. Highly recommended.”

“This bungalow is really fantastic, all we needed was there and we had lots of space. I can't recommend it enough! Lovely location with sea, city and forest nearby.”

“When they state accessible they really mean it! Everything we asked for was ready. Scones and jam on arrival. Excellent location and comfortable beds.”

“A lovely, well thought-out bungalow. Refreshing to find somewhere with hoists that’s also stylishly decorated. Too many places feel institutional not here!”

“At last, accessible accommodation that understands disabled people’s needs. Free hire of accessories like walkers and raisers was brilliant. Lovely and clean, great location.”

“Excellent accommodation for our needs; spacious rooms, ceiling and portable hoist, beautiful gardens with bird feeders. Helen’s personal touch and welcome cake made all the difference.”