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Our Bench – New Forest Accessible Self Catering

Hampshire, New Forest, United Kingdom
A flat, paved backyard patio with a black outdoor dining set and umbrella, next to a white bungalow with a glass-enclosed sunroom.

Accessible Holiday Cottages in the New Forest, Hampshire

Sleeps 1-6

Parking

Pet friendly

Click here for Our Bench website, bookings or more information.

Finding truly accessible holiday accommodation in the UK can be challenging, particularly for people who rely on specialist equipment or travel with carers or family members. Our Bench Accessible Holidays offers a thoughtful and practical solution, with three wheelchair-accessible self-catering cottages located on the edge of the New Forest National Park, close to the coastal town of Lymington.

Designed and run by a family with lived experience of disability, Our Bench focuses on removing the everyday barriers that often make holidays stressful. Each cottage is step-free throughout, with wide doorways, accessible kitchens, wet rooms, and space to move comfortably using a wheelchair or mobility equipment. The emphasis is on dignity, independence, and feeling at home rather than feeling “adapted”, and they provide a whole variety of equipment to make your stay easier from specialist seating, to wheeled shower chairs, hoists and transfer equipment.

The cottages:

Bench Cottage is particularly suited to guests with more complex needs. It features a Changing Places-style wet room, ceiling tracking hoists in both the bedroom and bathroom, a height-adjustable changing bench, and profiling beds. This cottage works well for families, couples travelling with carers, or guests who need a high level of physical support during their stay.

Little Bench offers a more compact, calm space for one or two guests. It retains the same core accessibility features, including step-free access, an accessible wet room, and profiling beds. It is often chosen by couples or solo travellers who want an accessible break without excess space or complexity.

Garden Bench combines accessibility with a private, enclosed garden and is dog-friendly. It includes a wet room, profiling beds, and level access to outdoor space, making it a popular choice for guests travelling with assistance dogs or family pets, or for those who value fresh air and outdoor relaxation as part of their holiday.

Accessible bedroom featuring an electric profiling bed with a colorful throw, an overhead ceiling hoist, and a blue mobile shower commode chair positioned next to the bed.
Wheelchair-accessible kitchen with lowered countertops and open knee space under the sink and stovetop for easy access. Features include a modern extractor hood and cream-colored cabinetry.
Accessible bathroom with a roll-in shower, toilet equipped with drop-down grab rails on both sides, and a blue shower chair. Includes a wall-mounted washbasin and non-slip flooring.
A group of people, including a man using a manual wheelchair and several children on bicycles, enjoying an accessible wide dirt trail in a forest setting during autumn.
Two people cycling on a flat, gravel coastal path next to the water on a sunny day. A sailboat and a calm shoreline are visible in the background, illustrating accessible level cycling routes.
A family group having a picnic at a sturdy wooden table in a forest clearing. The area features flat, grassy terrain and large ancient trees, showing accessible outdoor recreation.

All three cottages are close to accessible forest walks, the Solent coast, shops, cafés, and medical services. Additional equipment should be reserved in advance, and guests are encouraged to discuss their needs directly so the right setup is in place on arrival.

Our Bench Accessible Holidays offers more than accommodation; it provides reassurance, understanding, and a genuinely accessible base from which to enjoy the New Forest at your own pace, and their web site offers a comprehensive accessible guide to the New Forest.

Key Features include:

  • Step Free level access, from parking to bedside
  • Masterbedroom with height adjustable profiling bed, head and foot riser bed and ceiling hoist – can be configured as a King or twin Room
  • Large accessible wet room with a choice of accessible aids
  • Riser recliner chair in the open plan sitting rooms
  • Accessible kitchen and dining area
  • Easy access to the outdoors
  • Fantastic area to explore – the New Forest National Park and Sunny South Coast are waiting for you to discover.
Click here for Our Bench Website, bookings or more information.
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