Estate Agents Hythe
Hythe Marina Village, as well as being the first, is arguably the “prettiest” marina village on the UK’s south coast. Inspired by the French Mediterranean marina of Port Grimaud, it constitutes a collection of waterfront homes each with its own pontoon mooring.
Brought to life from mudflats opposite the port of Southampton by the developers Dean and Dyball in 1985; 2010 saw the 25th anniversary of this prestigious development.
It is small by comparison to some of the later marina villages, with only 228 properties. There are additional moorings in the purpose-built and locked marina, giving the whole development a real “lifestyle” feel. In fact, Hythe Marina Village is the most pure lifestyle village in the UK; all properties have moorings and so there is a focus for buyers wanting to enjoy a real waterside lifestyle with no obvious commercial or investment distractions. Consequently, Hythe Marina Village is a rare jewel. Taking ones boat out through the lock gates directly in to Southampton Water, a short motor or sail navigates boat enthusiast to the Solent, probably the most famous boating area in the world, with its full catalogue of regattas such as Cowes Week, yacht clubs, pretty coastal towns, river inlets and harbours only a stone’s throw away.
Some use the marina village as their base to plan and set off on their lifetime sailing adventures, returning months or even years later as circumnavigators or blue water ocean conquerors. Their houses are easy to “lock up and leave”, enabling them to retain a property investment in the UK, and sure in the knowledge that all will be well upon their return. Others nip to France for “Le weekend” or cruise the South Coast in search of their own boating dreams.
The marina facilities are top notch, with 24 hour manned lock gates, security, a friendly operations crew, lift-out and boatyard facilities, brokerage, estate agency, property letting and management, pub and restaurant. The residents themselves have an active social scene with events, activities and barbecues throughout the year. MDL, the marina operator, also offer a berth swap facility for owners in their network of marinas along the coast.
For the landlubber, there is also much to enjoy in and around Hythe Marina Village; just 3 miles up the road is the New Forest, a newly formed National Trust area of outstanding natural beauty with its gorgeous picture postcard villages, coastal towns, cycle routes, donkeys, pubs and whatever else floats your boat.
The small market town of Hythe nestles on the waterfront and has all the relevant amenities from golf clubs to Waitrose, sports complexes, library, surgeries, as well as its quay area and cobbled high street.
Perhaps the main draw to Hythe Marina Village however is what happens out on the water. Many home-owners look directly out over Southampton Water and to the port of Southampton. There is a never a dull moment as ships, cruise liners and vessels of all shapes and sizes come and go.
You can drive to Southampton to do your shopping, but why not take the victorian train along the longest jetty rail track in the world to board the Hythe Ferry, which in 20 minutes will land in Southampton, and from there it’s just a short walk to the centre of this rapidly modernising city.
Hythe and the surrounding environs have a long and illustrious history of seafaring. A few miles away at Buckler’s Hard on the Beaulieu River, the British fleet was built from tudor times until Nelson’s day. The seafront played a major role in the preparation and embarkation for the D-Day landings. Sir Christopher Cockerell, the pioneer and inventor of the hovercraft in 1956 lived just adjacent to what is now Hythe Marina Village.
Transport and accessibility are key if this is your second home, away from the hustle and bustle of your day job and you want to arrive here for the peace and quiet and camaraderie, with the minimum of hassle and as quickly as possible. Hythe Marina village is only 5 miles off Junction 2 of the M27, which via the M3 gives you easy road access to London, whilst a short trip by boat or road from Southampton Rail station with regularly services to taking 1 hour 10 minutes to London Waterloo, or if you need air connections, Southampton Parkway rail station provides the quickest train to plane connection anywhere in the country, being literally at Southampton International Airport, with its myriad of UK destinations, “breeze through attitude” and overseas destinations.
If you are looking to buy a coastal or marina home, you could do a lot worse than take a look at Hythe Marina Village. Estate agents and letting agents Waterside Properties, have been selling houses here for over 20 years. Their knowledge of the marina is second to none – and through their sister company, Waterside Boat Sales, they also sell your boat!
Networked with other Waterside Properties estate agency and letting agency offices along the coast in Eastbourne, Brighton, Chichester Harbour, Portsmouth, Southampton and Poole, Waterside Properties are the first port of call for buying renting or selling your waterside home.
