Garden Bench – Wheelchair Accessible Family Cottage in the New Forest

Garden Bench is a purpose-built accessible self-catering holiday cottage sleeping up to five guests in Lymington, on the edge of the New Forest National Park and close to the Hampshire coast.

Designed to make family and group holidays possible where one or more guests have additional mobility or access requirements, Garden Bench is entirely on the ground floor with step-free access throughout. Both bedrooms are wheelchair accessible, so there is no part of the sleeping accommodation from which a wheelchair user is excluded.

The master bedroom has two electric profiling beds, including one height-adjustable profiling bed, with a ceiling-track hoist covering the sleeping area.

The second wheelchair-accessible bedroom sleeps up to three guests and has two electric head-and-foot riser beds, which operate independently, together with a standard single bed.

Garden Bench has a spacious level-access wet room with a large shower area, height-adjustable washbasin, grab rails and toilet with space for lateral transfer. A choice of shower chairs and other specialist equipment can be reserved in advance at no additional charge.

The open-plan living area includes an accessible kitchen area with work surfaces at different heights, flexible dining space and comfortable seating including an electric riser-recliner chair.

Outside, Garden Bench has its own off-road parking, a private enclosed garden and a large level patio with outdoor seating. There is also space for storing and charging mobility scooters and powered wheelchairs.

A wide range of specialist mobility equipment can be reserved in advance at no additional charge, including a mobile hoist, Sara Stedy, stand assist, Rotunda, tilt-in-space shower chair, other shower chairs, commodes and manual wheelchairs.

If a particular accessibility feature or item of equipment is essential to your stay, please tell us when booking so that we can ensure the equipment you require is available and working for your arrival.

Pet dogs are welcome at Garden Bench by prior arrangement. Assistance dogs are also welcome.

Garden Bench makes a great base for exploring the New Forest and Hampshire coast, as well as family days out to places including Beaulieu, Paultons Park, Longdown Activity Farm, Marwell Zoo, Portsmouth, Southampton and Bournemouth.

Detailed accessibility information is available in the Garden Bench Access Statement, helping guests decide before booking whether the cottage will meet their individual requirements.