The New Forest National Park takes in some 90,000 acres of ancient forest, heathland and coastline within the English county of Hampshire.
Within driving distance of London, and sandwiched between Southampton and Bournemouth, it is a place that seems immune from the frantic rigours of modern life.
The landscape here is little changed over the centuries and offers the chance to enjoy fresh air and open space, through all the four seasons.
The New Forest is a gentle environment and a short break here offers the chance relax and appreciate an area of relatively untouched England.
There are over 100 miles of cycle and walking tracks to help visitors experience the natural lure of the New Forest.
And binding the experience are the New Forest ponies, who roam free and where they please, and with only a passing interest in our great interest in them.
Images : www.newforestnpa.gov.uk
Where the ponies have right of way - and rightfully so
One of the things that sprang to mind when we thought of a break in the New Forest was its ponies.
And so, on this first trip to the national park, we noted the need to seek advice on where best to spot the ponies. As if, as it were, on safari.
No need.
Leaving the M27/A31 and passing the sign alerting visitors to their arrival in theNew Forest National Park and, well, there they were.
About a dozen ponies grazing peacefully on the moorland that one is suddenly upon.
From this first sighting we came across the ponies at almost every turn.
Criss-crossing the national park, on winding country roads, we would turn a bend in the road to find two or three ponies in our way.
Having found something succulent to feed in the hedgerow, they were obviously in no mood to move at our behest.
And so one stops and waits for the animals to decide it's time to move on.
And though a mini-queue formed, no one seemed particularly preturbed at the hold up. It's part of the unique charm of this area.
Their right of way
The ponies enjoy official right of way within the park and their presence epitomises the pleasure of a short break in the New Forest.
The area is one of the largest tracts of gently rolling pasture and heathland and forest scattered with small country towns and villages.
It is an enclave of tranquillity in what is otherwise, a heavily populated south east of England.
Western Europe's oldest trees
And this 'forest' also has the highest concentration of ancient trees in Western Europe.
It is particularly humbling to gaze upon woodland whose trees would have been fully grown when Roundheads and Cavaliers were locking swords during the English Civil War or when Elizabeth I was 'seeing off' the Spanish Armada.
Quickly into routine
We quickly fell into a regular, relaxing, routine for our stay.
A long leisurely breakfast before getting 'out of doors' and making for a possible destination - Lymington or Lyndhurst, Fritham or Fordingbridge.
We would then meander towards this destination as, and how, our whim took us.
Regular stops, in the designated parking spots, we would amble the short moorland or forested walks or be tempted by the sound of a village name on a signpost and deviate to explore for 15 minutes.
Come time for refreshments there would invariably be an - often centuries old - pub for the real ale or, in the towns or larger villages, a choice of fine country restaurants or tea shops.
Come late afternoon it would be back to the hotel and the chance to read the newspapers, in the lounge before a final short walk to work up an appetite for dinner.
The perfect base for a stay
Finding the right accommodation is particularly important for a break in the New Forest, because one will want to exploit the facilities to the full.
We chose the Burley Manor Hotel, which overlooks the grazing deer in Burley Park and is stroll to the village of Burley itself.
While the current Manor was built in 1852, it has a lineage that stretches back to before the Domesday book of 1086.
It was requisitioned by Field Marshal General Bernard Law Montgomery, 1st Viscount Montgomery of Alameinduring, who was commander of the British Eighth Army in North Africa, WWII.
This was particularly poignant as my father served under Monty and would tell me, when I was old enough to understand, what a great man he was.
A place to stay in the New Forest : Burley Manor
By Ann Mealor
A beautifully refurbished historic mansion, Burley Manor is everything a country house should be – magnificent, luxurious, cosy and comfortable.
A beautifully refurbished historic mansion, Burley Manor is everything a country house should be – magnificent, luxurious, cosy and comfortable.
Built in 1852, it is Grade II listed and has a history which goes back to before the Domesday book of 1086.
Overlooking the red deer park and forest, Burley is situated in its own eight acres of lovely grounds offering stunning views from every angle.
A roaring fire greets the visitor in the impressive tiled entrance hall, home to a majestic, oak carved staircase.
The bar and lounge is filled with comfortable leather chairs and sofas in rich purples and gold with wooden, rustic style coffee tables.
It's a very relaxing place to sit and read the papers after morning breakfast or sip coffee after a filling evening meal.
An eclectic mix of culinary styles
The restaurant is an eclectic mix of styles with its chunky, farmhouse Mediterranean tables, original dark wood panelling and mix of antique style chairs, upholstered in bright, fabrics – contemporary, yet still retaining an authentic feel.
Rooms with splendid views of the grounds
Our bedroom was one of the Garden Suites, large and comfortable with views over the grounds.French doors lead straight out onto a small, decked veranda and onto the gardens.
Burley Manor is dog friendly too, so your four legged friend can enjoy a break with you.
Food glorious food at Burley Manor
Dining is a rewarding experience at Burley Manor.
Breakfast is a real treat and can be eaten in the restaurant or the sunny conservatory overlooking the gardens. Tea and coffee is drunk out of oversized white cups and food is served on brightly coloured glazed Mediterranean pottery.
Breakfast here is not the usual 'help yourself' affair, everything is made to order and guests can choose as many items as they want off the menu.
Ashley and I went for the fruit salad, Greek yoghurt and granola followed by the Burley Full English.My eggs, bacon and sausage were delicious and perfectly cooked.
Ashley said his vegetarian sausages were some of the best he had ever tasted – spicy with real flavour.Toast and a selection of home made jams are bought to the table.
So worth the extra calories
We also shared a portion of cinnamon French toast with a berry compote and orange yoghurt.
This was a real treat and worth the extra calories – we could always walk them off afterwards.
Food is sourced as locally as possible with priority given to origin and quality.Chefs cook traditionally, in a wood fired oven, which brings out the best in the fresh ingredients.All the suppliers used are listed on the menu.
On our first evening at Burley we ate in the plush yet homely lounge.
It is not often you find tapas on a bar menu in a traditional English manor house, so we decided to try it.
We ordered the Tiger prawns al pil pil; New Forest wild mushroom croquettas; Crispy squid, garlic, chilli and parsley; Garlic oyster mushrooms; Crispy baccala salt cod and a basket of artisan breads served with balsamic vinegar and olive oil.
Authentic flavours
Each dish was bursting with authentic flavours and was a welcome change from the usual bar food.
On our second evening, we ate in the restaurant which took on a more refined atmosphere in the evening with the lights dimmed and the candles lit.
A Mediterranean twist
Again the menu had an interesting Mediterranean twist.
Ashley and I both started with the scallops which were large, succulent and attractively served in a scallop shell.
We mopped up the juices with focaccia bread served to the table in a small, hessian type basket.
For mains I chose the beef sirloin with patatas bravas and rocket.
The smokey paprika on the potatoes gave the dish a spicy twist and the steak was juicy and flavoursome.
Ashley chose the roasted lemon sole with vegetables and rocket which was moist and sweet.
A great combination
We also shared a dish of courgettes with smoked garlic and red chilli which proved to be a great combination of flavours.
We decided to take dessert and coffee into the lounge where we enjoyed a creamy stone baked rice pudding with prunes and coconut and a fig and almond tart with a spiced cardamom crème fraiche.
This mix of the familiar with the unusual worked very well with the sweet selection too.
James is the man
The man behind the Burley Manor menu is executive chef, James Forman.
Classically British and French trained, James is a member of the slow food movement and his menu is inspired by superb quality and precise simplicity. That ethos is clearly evident in the dishes.
The restaurant has an extensive wine list, with all wines available in third of a bottle carafes (250ml) at no extra cost, so diners can select personal wines to accompany dishes across the menu – a great idea.
For the future
Plans for the future include a kitchen garden providing fresh herbs, fruit and vegetables for the restaurant, and two spa treatment rooms with a health and beauty treatments.
Two excellent reasons for a return visit to Burley Manor.
www.burleymanor.com
A short break in the New Forest
We were able to spend three days in the New Forest and would happily have extended the stay had time permitted.
It is no surprise to learn that research shows that many visitors to the New Forest are frequent 'returners'.
It is an area that captivates those looking for a natural counterbalance to modern day life.
The New Forest ponies
The New Forest would not be the delight it is, were it not for the ponies.
The New Forest Pony is a formal British Isles breed that can be traced back to 1016.
It was at this time, and some 50 years before the 'Norman Conquest' that the rights of common pasture were granted to the people living in what was a royal hunting ground.
Over the centuries, however, other breeds were introduced including and so, today, there are Fell Ponies and those from the Yorkshire Dales, Scottish Highlands and Shetland and ponies originally from Dartmoor and Exmoor.
Although wild, in the sense that they are free to roam where they please, the ponies are owned by New Forest Commoners.
And, being hardy breeds, they are well able to thrive year round with the ample water, shelter, shade and grazing available.
Many of the ponies will spend all their lives roaming freely within the Forest while others are sold by their owners to be trained for all equestrian pursuits.
And while the ponies are obviously more than happy to roam and graze where the inclination takes them, there is also a need to have a hierarchy of support to ensure their continued presence in the New Forest.
The New Forest Commoners
The ponies are owned by 'practising commoners', who exercise their ancient Right of Common of Pasture.
This 'Right' is free but commoners will pay an annual 'marking fee' for each of their horses.
The Agisters
The marking fee helps pay for the agisters, a small group of experienced 'rangers', who oversee all aspects of the ponies within the Forest.
The Verderers
The agisters, in turn, report to the Verderers, a group of ten appointed persons who administer the New Forest.
Towns and villages in the New Forest
While the chance to walk or cycle the wide open spaces of the New Forest makes the national park the pleasure it is, there are also a number of quintessentially English country towns and villages that will reward a visit.
Barton-on-Sea
The seaside village of Barton-on-Sea has a long stretch of beach with fine views across the Solent to the Isle of Wight.
Beaulieu
While in this small village one can well see ponies and the occasional donkey strolling freely through its narrow streets.
The village offers small shops and a pub located around a wide tidal river that attracts a range of wildlife.
Beaulieu will best known for the National Motor Museum and Palace House, home to the Montagu family (see below).
Bramshaw
Piper's Wait, the highest point in the New Forest is near Bramshaw (a hamlet of Lyndhurst).
The village church, built over the centuries in a variety of architectural styles, is of particular interest.
Burley
The village of Burley is a focal point for tourists and the ponies, donkeys and cattle that wind their way through the village along the ancient forest tracks used for centuries by commoners and their livestock.
Emery Down
Emery Down is a small hamlet on a hilltop overlooking Swan Green and Lyndhurst.
Exbury
A small village on the bank's of the Beaulieu River is where one finds Exbury Gardens with it's steam railway (see below).
Fordingbridge
The medieval stone bridge with its seven arches provides the crossing point in this small ancient town on the banks of the Avon.
There are plenty of shops, pubs and cafes to keep you entertained, while children will love the riverside playground.
Fritham
The Royal Oak pub in this small village on the northern edge of the New Forest is called the forest "parliament".
Lymington
The small Georgian port town of Lymington sits on the west bank of the Lymington River on the Solent and from where one can catch the car ferry to the Isle of Wight.
Lymington's bustling high Street leads down the picturesque, cobblestoned, Quay Hill to the Old Town Quay itself with its fishing boats and yachts and where fresh fish is sold.
The town is known as a sailing resort and there are two large marinas Berthon and Haven and two sailing clubs RLYC and Lymington Town.
Lyndhurst
The large village of Lyndhurst became the natural 'capital' of the New Forest when William the Conqueror established his hunting grounds here.
A first call here should be to the New Forest Visitor Centre.
There's also a range of antique shops, art galleries and pubs and restaurants.
Lyndhurst was once the home of Alice Hargreaves (born Liddell) who was the inspiration behind Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.
Alice's ashes are burried in St Michaels & All Angels Church.
Major attractions
Although the pleasure of a visit to the New Forest is the chance to it's wide open spaces, there the Beaulieu Estate and Exbury Gardens are two major attractions worth considering.
The Beaulieu Estate
The Beaulieu Estate has been in the ownership of the Montagu family for over four centuries.
The land on which Beaulieu now stands was once a royal hunting lodge and the property of the Crown.
In 1204, King John gifted the land to monks of the Cistercian order. The Abbey flourished, growing in size and status until the 1530s when Henry VIII launched the dissolution of the monasteries as part of his schism with the Roman Church.
Visitors have been exploring the ruins of Beaulieu Abbey since 1912.
In 1952, Edward, Lord Montagu opened Palace House and Gardens to the public for the first time – making Beaulieu among the first 'stately homes' to admit visitors.
The Montagu Motor Museum, supported by the British motor industry and enthusiasts, is now the National Motor Museum.
Exbury Gardens
Exbury Gardens is 200 acre area known for the Rothschild Collection of rhododendrons, azaleas, camellias and rare trees and shrubs.
This riot of colour in spring is followed by tranquillity in summer and a blaze splendid of autumn colour.
There is also the chance to take a 20 minute trip aboard the 12 ¼ inch gauge Steam Railway.
What's on in the New Forest
There are a number of annual events enhance a visit to the New Forest.
Milford-On-Sea stages a Food Week during the spring featuring celebrity shows, dining offers, themed dining evenings, cooking demonstrations, educational talks, wine tastings and its Great Dining Bus.
Thee three-day New Forest and Hampshire County Show, takes place in July at Brockenhurst.
In September there is the New Forest Marathon and the New Forest Food and Drink Festival is held during the autumn (31 October to 6 November 2016).
Finally, the New Forest Walking Festival also takes place each October.
The facts
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