Special Places to Stay - More than a bed for the night

Lymington is a yachtie hub: a very pretty harbour and town with bags of maritime history, close to beaches and trips to the Isle of Wight. Three miles from these pleasures, opposite a leafy graveyard and a church, is the Corner House, a contemporary L-shaped house that cuts a dash among its neighbours. London-based owners imported this stylish structure in kit form from Austria – a pine frame with larch cladding and a green sedum roof. Sunlight pours in through sliding glass windows, there's underfloor heating and an amazing revolving wood-burner with a red ceramic surround: all feels deliciously cosy. Floors, doors and staircases are of beautiful mellow oak, walls are pure white with splashes of colour from modern art; DVDs, books and games make you feel at home. Off upstairs' small landing are three simple white bedrooms, one a cute bunk room for kids; from the big shared bathroom you overlook the pine trees. Down in the basement – ideal for a teenager – is a secluded fourth room and a shower. Walk to the shops, return to a sleek, well-equipped kitchen and dine al fresco in the suntrap courtyard. Bring bikes and you can pedal off into the New Forest, this is ideal biking and trekking terrain.