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The New Forest

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William the Conqueror's favourite weekend retreat

The newest official National Park in the UK (it was only given the stamp in 2005), the New Forest is in fact as ancient a place as you’re ever likely to come across. Created in name in around 1080 by William the Conqueror as his royal hunting ground (the Crown still owns a good 90% of it), the 142,000 acres of forest, heathland and pasture has pretty much stayed the same ever since. So, if you’ve ever found yourself idly wondering. “Hmmm... William the Conqueror... I wonder where he spent his weekends?” - we know we have - just sit in the middle of this vast and unspoilt bit of countryside and knock yourself out.

As a weekend destination, the New Forest just makes sense. Less than two hours from London, it’s a real haven, with miles and miles of walking trails, some beautiful little villages and a pretty coastline. Anyone with a bit of a yearning to be on horseback will be in their element - this is prime hacking country - while there are enough great places to eat and drink to make sitting and doing very little a perfectly valid option too.

What to see?

With the whole National Park spread out around you, in can be difficult to know where to start. The New Forest Centre (Tel: 023 8028 2269) in Lyndhurst, right in the heart of the Forest, is a good place to start, with loads of maps and walking routes on offer. Alternatively, you can search the brilliant Walking World website (www.walkingworld.com) for a whole list of great routes and trails.

Spend any time in the Forest and you’ll come across the famous New Forest ponies at every turn (usually in the middle of the road and refusing to budge...). The ponies, together with New Forest cattle, are owned privately, but are free to graze anywhere in the Forest thanks to ancient by-laws. It’s not advisable (and probably extremely illegal) to try catching one for a ride, but there are plenty of other opportunities to get horse-bound. The Burley Villa Riding School (www.burleyvilla.co.uk Tel: 01425 610278) offers everything from one hour hacks to full-on riding breaks. But best of all, they have their own ranch that offers ‘Western riding’ on their Appaloosa horses - yes, that’s right, you can be a cowboy! Don your stetson and join one of their Sundowner trails, for a chilled-out hack through the beautiful Forest followed by a proper cowboy BBQ. Yee ha!

If walking or horsing aren’t your bag, then hire a bike and explore that way. New Forest Cycle Hire (www.newforestcyclehire.co.uk Tel: 01590 623407) in Brockenhurst, have lots of bikes, maps, and advice on how to get the most out of the Forest’s hundred miles or so of traffic-free cycle trails.

There’s no difficulty in finding parts of the Forest that are completely secluded, but if you are after a bit of company, visit some of the villages that pop up every now and again. Little, thatched Burley is a bit of a tourist honeytrap, but is a good place to enjoy a cup of tea and watch the world (including ponies, cows and donkeys) go by. The village is famous for its witch connections, and you can buy real cauldrons, wands and crystal balls in the famous Coven of Witches shop (www.covenofwitches.co.uk Tel: 01425 402449).

The Beaulieu Estate (www.beaulieu.co.uk Tel: 01590 612345) is a real highlight of the Forest, with the romantic remains of Beaulieu Abbey, the fairytale Palace House both great places to wander round. The National Motor Museum is also at Beaulieu - an amazingly huge collection of cars, including vintage greats, stars of motor racing history and lots of famous vehicles, from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang to James Bond’s favourites. There’s even a replica 1912 open-top bus that takes you around the estate. Two miles away is the gorgeous 18th-century village of Buckler’s Hard, also part of the Beaulieu Estate. Famed as the place where some of Nelson’s fleet were built, it’s a lovely place to while away hours by the side of the pretty Beaulieu River, venture out on a river boat trip or enjoy a pint at the famous Master Builder’s House while watching the sun go down.

The clanking masts at the tiny marina in Buckler’s Hard are a hint at the yachtie pedigree this part of the South Coast has nurtured. But for boats by the hundred, venture 8 miles west to the harbour town of Lymington, which is hugely popular with UK and international sailors alike. It’s a great place for a potter - the Georgian architecture throughout and winding, narrow streets in the old part of the town, lend it a real Austen-esque quality, which, thanks in part to the wealth brought in by the yachtie set, has been largely left unspoilt, but Lymington’s obvious attraction is its harbour, a huge estuary at the west end of The Solent with three marinas, filled with boats of all sizes. For keen or budding sailors it is paradise, with countless opportunities to get out on the water. Hurst Point Yachts (www.hurstpointyachts.co.uk Tel: 01590 623765) offer daily bareboat or skippered charters on their fleet of six yachts, ranging from 32ft upwards. For those more petrolly-minded, a speedy trip out on a RIB (Rigid Inflatable Boat aka ‘the ones lifeboat men use’) will definitely blow some city cobwebs away. Solent Rib Charter (www.solentribcharter.co.uk Tel: 07887 635000) are the best RIB outfit in Lymington.



If you’re after something a little more sedate, Lymington Quay is the place for catching a sightseeing cruise. Whether you fancy venturing over to the Isle of Wight, the pretty market town of Christchurch and the beach at Mudeford Spit along the coast, historic Hurst Castle or the gorgeous house and village at Beaulieu, you’ll find a boat willing to take you.

Or why not try?

The New Forest Tour (www.thenewforesttour.info)

Exbury Gardens and Steam Railway (www.exbury.co.uk Tel: 023 8089 9422)    

New Forest Cider (www.newforestcider.co.uk Tel: 01425 403589)

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