Whispers

With direct forest access and enjoying a tranquil setting nestled within grounds of approx 0.75 acres in the New Forest National Park, the property has stunning walks literally "on the doorstep". The property comprises four bedrooms (including two suites to the first floor) and three reception rooms with a farmhouse style kitchen leading into the conservatory, ample outbuildings and parking. The whole offers a wonderful opportunity to blend beautiful forest living with the benefit of an income from the successful and long established onsite cattery. (est. 1978 and licensed for up to 55 cats).

This setting will appeal to those buyers that wish to live within a sylvan setting with the option to also run a thriving business located within the glorious New Forest National Park. This ancient landscape offers extensive opportunity to enjoy outdoor pursuits and there is a plethora of beautiful forest pubs and places of interest to visit. The woodlands and heath lands within the "cattle grids" are where horses, cattle, pigs and donkeys can freely roam. Locally, there is a well-regarded primary school, a church and a public house. The M27 is easily accessible providing fast road links to London and the south coast. The nearest mainline railway station is at Ashurst New Forest which is just over 2 miles away with direct links to London Waterloo.

This extended chalet style property offers flexible and well-proportioned living accommodation with two bedrooms on the ground floor and a downstairs bathroom. There are generous reception rooms and a kitchen/dining room with AGA leading to the conservatory. There is a delightful sitting room with a log burning stove and an attractive bay window, a corridor library as well as a study with access to the garden.

From the hallway, the staircase leads to the first-floor accommodation and two double bedroom suites. One suite has a large en suite bathroom and eaves storage. The further suite is served by an en suite shower room incorporating a dressing area.

The Cattery

Nestled within the New Forest National Park yet within easy reach of Southampton, Whispers is a wonderful opportunity to blend beautiful forest living, whilst having the chance to run a quiet and successful cattery, established in 1978 and having a core of loyal customers who entrust the care of their loved pets to this sanctuary. Owned by the current vendor since 2003 a program of improvements has been completed so that Whispers is now regarded as one of the best in the area.

There are 26 animal chalets with a permit to accommodate 55 cats, as well as several ancillary buildings to include the cat kitchen/storeroom and laundry, a very popular “family” cat chalet and the visitor’s “welcome” office. 

The grounds extend to approximately 0.75 acres and are an abundance of landscaped areas from which to enjoy the peace and privacy with direct forest access to the rear, providing extensive walking opportunities.

The property is approached via a private cattle grid leading from a quiet forest lane to ample parking within the grounds to the front of the main house. There is also an open oak car barn, separate garaging, outbuildings and a log store. The gardens offer several separate areas of lawn interspersed with mature planting and rose covered walkways with discreet seating to enjoy different sunny aspects throughout the day and views. There is an ornamental pond with shaped gravel and brick pathways meandering through the front and rear garden. A wooden gate accesses the open forest to one corner. The whole offers a good degree of privacy. 

The cattery is discreetly positioned to one corner of the plot with a welcome office and parking at the front and separated by wooden gates. The whole is in very good condition with separate wooden chalets for the cats and wire fenced partitions and individual exercise areas, all designed for easy of cleaning and maintenance with light, water and power.