Southern Bell South Hayling

This is Southern Bell. It's a bungalow on the seafront on Hayling Island. The house is detached, but the main thing is it's been built around two old railway carriages. You'll see them straight away.

It sleeps nine. Five bedrooms, two bathrooms. Everything is on one level, which is good if you don't want stairs. The toilets and showers are in the newer part of the house, not in the carriages.

The garden is enclosed. There's a gate at the bottom that opens straight onto the pebble beach. That's the big draw. You can be on the beach in about thirty seconds. The beach is a mix of pebble and sand, it's dog friendly all year.

Inside, it's light and the rooms in the carriages still have the original sliding doors. It's got a five star rating, which means it's well equipped. There's a dishwasher, washing machine, WiFi. Bedding and towels are included.

You can have up to two dogs. There's a highchair and a travel cot if you need them.

For parking, there's space for a couple of cars on the drive.

The local shop, a pub, and a restaurant are about a five minute walk away. The sailing club and harbour are nearby too. Hayling is well known for watersports, especially kitesurfing and sailing. You can hire kit or get lessons close by.

If you want to go further, Portsmouth is about a twenty minute drive. You've got the Historic Dockyard with the Victory and the Mary Rose, and the Spinnaker Tower. Chichester is about the same distance, for the cathedral, theatre, and shopping. Goodwood is just outside.

For walks, the South Downs National Park is on the mainland, about a fifteen to twenty minute drive. There are plenty of National Trust places around if that's your thing.

Useful links for planning: South Downs National Park and National Trust South East.