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Cycling is fun for people of all ages and fitness. Being in the countryside and enjoying views with friends and family is a great way to stay fit and appreciate nature’s beauty. The New Forest provides great cycling opportunities on quiet roads and off-road trails, and everyone can find the right route for them, whether a gentle ride or fitness training. Below is a couple in the heart of the forest. Road ride from Boltons Bench, Lyndhurst, to Beaulieu and back (16½ miles) Boltons Bench car park is a good size but is popular, so don’t get there late on a sunny day! From the car park, take the road towards Beaulieu (B3056). There’s a slight climb after 1 mile, but your reward is the view to the left towards Matley Heath. Continue on the B3056, over the railway line … Continue reading →

The wildlife, ponies, cattle, donkeys and pigs are a huge part of life here in the New Forest, and these beautiful creatures attract visitors from all over the world to see them out in the open Forest and the towns and villages. The ponies are semi-wild but are actually owned by the commoners (people who have “rights of common of pasture” over the Forest lands) who pay an annual grazing fee known as the ‘marking fee’. As all the animals depastured on the Forest are owned by commoners, it is their responsibility to ensure that their ponies are in good health. However, five ‘agisters’ are employed by the Verderers to watch over the forest stock and ensure that their owners meet the requirements of the Verderers regarding stock welfare. They attend road accidents and other incidents involving Commoners’ animals. Each … Continue reading →

Lymington is best known as a mecca for all things nautical being located on the Lymington River which feeds into the infamous sailing waters of The Solent. This stretch of water between the Isle of Wight and the South Coast plays host to many yachting occasions such as Cowes Week and Round the Island race as well as being the perfect boating playground for ribs, sailing boats and closer to the shore paddle boards, canoes and body boards are the order of the day. History and Must-See’s Lymington was well-known back in the early 19th century for having a thriving ship-building industry and was also a major salt-producing area on the marshland area of the Lymington river. Remnants of both these industries can be seen with the marinas and boatyards along the water’s edge which offer moorings, yacht chartering, chandlery … Continue reading →

As the summer season gets underway and our booking calendar fills up, we look to September and October when the busy season is over and the days start getting a little shorter. An Indian summer, in recent years, has been the holidaymaker’s paradise in the New Forest, with warm beach days a plenty and balmy BBQ evenings all round. Once the school holidays are over and the tourist hotspots quieten down, our holiday properties in and around the New Forest area are open to short breaks for a midweek or weekend booking. Aside from the more obvious activities of walking and cycling across the Forest, many attractions are open year-round for people to explore during their cottage short break in the New Forest. Key hotspots include the Motor Museum in the beautiful village of Beaulieu, Hurst Castle, and its long … Continue reading →

Focus on Brockenhurst for a family self catering holiday in the New Forest Brockenhurst New Forest, steeped in history and nature Brockenhurst Village lies in the heart of the New Forest National Park, which is steeped in history – William the Conqueror’s forest is a unique landscape and Europe’s largest surviving area of ancient pasture woodland, providing an unforgettable backdrop for a self-catering holiday in Brockenhurst. Brockenhurst is the beginning of a marvellously natural and spectacular route northwestwards along the Ornamental Drive, incorporating the tallest trees in the forest, stately at all times of the year, which seem to reach up and touch the sky. From there, the route continues across the A35 towards the Knightwood Oak, the largest and most famous oak tree in the forest, and the higher reaches of the open forest heathlands beyond. Forest and Waterways … Continue reading →

All the perks of living like a local Self catering holidays give you the benefits of home from home living with none of the hassle Whether you choose a small cottage or a large sprawling house, self catering holidays offer great flexibility. Camping in the New Forest can be absolutely fabulous and bring you close to the nature and wildlife especially if the weather is kind – but it’s so much easier NOT to have to take all that paraphernalia! Far nicer to pack just your clothes and wellies or walking boots, and arrive in a comfortable house with all mod cons provided! Hotels in the New Forest are splendid in some lovely “on forest” locations. If you’re holidaying with the family though, having your own large space in which to spread out and chill gives you so much more … Continue reading →

…has been nominated as holiday destination of the year by BBC Countryfile Hot off the press, we are delighted to see that our beautiful New Forest has been  nominated by Anita Rani, BBC Countryfile presenter, as Holiday Destination of the Year! http://www.countryfile.com/article/holiday-destination-year On days like four out of five crisp, clear and sunny this week we are blessed indeed and it’s a privilege to live and work here. Do take a look at our selection of holiday cottages for couples, families and groups.  You can now take a “Virtual Tour” of all our self catering properties and for most there’s also a floor plan. Or just pick up the phone and give us a call to discuss your self catering holiday requirements!

Every season is fabulous in the New Forest Winter has its own magic in the New Forest, especially on crisp clear days Those of us fortunate to live and work in the New Forest are blessed in winter.  When the sun shines as it has done a great deal in the later months of this year, vast areas of forest which heave with holiday makers in summer are practically empty.  And by winter sunshine and indeed moonlight too, many parts of the forest enjoy a special magic. There’s plenty of space in winter – for everybody to play The sense of getting away from it all is even more pronounced in winter. We’d love more visitors to enjoy this very special time of year in the New Forest – and there’s plenty of space for everybody.  It’s a veritable winter … Continue reading →