VISIT & EXPERIENCE VISITING THE NEW SOUTHERN FOREST ENGLAND Just a stone’s throw from London, ponies, ca!le, sheep and pigs roam wild, the New Forest is a national treasure. Abigail Butcher explores how to get there, where to stay and what to do. UST AN HOUR and a half from London, the New Forest is a world of its own — proclaimed a Royal Plan a forest in 1079 by William 1 (William the Conquer- GETTING THERE Visit or) for hunting deer and wild boar. The “forest” is By Train: The New Forest is easily one England’s largest tracts of unenclosed areas reached from London with a journey of pastureland, heathland and wooded glades time of 90 minutes by train to J—150 square miles in Hampshire extending into south- Brockenhurst. Direct trains run twice an east Wiltshire and east Dorset. It is sandwiched between hour from London Waterloo and once Bournemouth in the west, Southampton in the east and an hour from Manchester; fares from £10 Salisbury in the north and bordered in the south by the each way if you book early, visit national- coast and a stretch of water between the mainland and rail.co.uk. the Isle of Wight known as the Solent. Back in 1079, the word “forest” didn’t mean a wooded By Car: Driving the 80 miles by car from area as we understand it today, but an area with its own London takes a similar time — or slightly separate legal entity, with courts and offcers. In Norman longer depending on when you travel times, interference with the King’s deer and boar was a (avoid Friday and Sunday afternoons if punishable offence and then, as now, the wildlife freely possible). grazed the New Forest side-by side with ponies, cattle, By Coach: National Express sheep and — during the autumn months — pigs, all be- (nationalexpress.com) runs regular longing to “commoners”, local people with rights to graze coach services from London Victoria to animals under forest law. Southampton or Bournemouth, slightly The Forest is a wonderful place to explore either on further afeld. foot (download walking trails from thenewforest.co.uk), by Southampton to Brockenhurst is just 20 bike (newforestcyclehire.co.uk is based in Brockenhurst minutes by train or car. train station) or Renault Twizy – a two-seater electric car (hireatwizy.co.uk). While the New Forest is a wonderful year-round des- tination, the highlight of the forest’s year is the three-day New Forest Show (26-28 July 2016, newforestshow.co.uk) with international show jumping, livestock displays and more than 600 tradestands including local producers. The coast is an important part of local life — The New Forest is bordered in the south by the Solent. Two major sailing events take place on the Isle of Wight every summer — Round the Island Race (roundtheisland.org.uk) dates back to the 1930s and this year runs 2 July. The race starts and fnishes in Cowes, and regularly attracts 16,000 boats of all shapes and sizes to race around the Isle of Wight. Get in the centre of the action at Cowes or watch 38 EXCLUSIVELY BRITISH | July/August 16 EXCLUSIVELY BRITISH | July/August 16 39 VISIT & EXPERIENCE FOOD AND DRINK Lunch: There’s nowhere better than an old-fashioned pub in England and The Oak at Bank (oakinnlyndhurst; 023 8028 2350) offers flagstone floors, a warm welcome, open log fire and cracking food. ROYAL YACHT SQUADRON AT COWES ISLEWIGHT OF DURING SQUADRONAT WEEK COWES © PETERYACHT TITMUSS / SHUTTERSTOCK ROYAL from vantage points along the way — The New Forest is home to wine, beer one of the best is the shingle spit at and cider producers, too, with the mak- Hurst Castle (hurstcastle.co.uk). Another ers all offering tours and tastings. Just iconic regatta not to be missed is Cowes outside Brockenhurst, Setley Vineyard A!ernoon tea: Enjoy truly British scones and Week, which this year runs from 6-13 (mange-toutcatering.co.uk) offers daily jam in one of the New Forest’s grandest hotels Rhinefield August 2016 (aamcowesweek.co.uk). wine tasting and shopping in a well- House Hotel (handpickedhotels.co.uk; 01590 622592). stocked farm shop. Or head to Burley to Built in 1887, the grounds of the hotel date back to 1097 Brimming with local produce sample cider straight from the barrel at when William the Conquerer “proclaimed” the New The New Forest is home to numerous the family smallholding of New Forest Forest. The dining room and lounge enjoy stunning views small, independent producers of food, Cider (newforestcider.co.uk), where over the Forest and its own 40 acres of gardens — enjoy drink and sweet treats, from fudge in apples are gathered from traditional ci- a traditional afternoon tea, a champagne tea or even a Burley, ice cream in Lyndhurst and der orchards and made into cider using Hendricks Gin afternoon tea, from £21.95pp. Afterwards, chocolate in Beaulieu. old-fashioned methods (pressed during enjoy a walk along Rhinefield Ornamental Drive with its Although there are farm shops across October and November). What was once giant sequoia redwood trees and rhodedendrums. the region, one well-kept secret worth a cow shed and the village dairy is now a visit is Lisa’s Larder (lisaslarder.com), a friendly shop and gallery — and the a pop-up shop just east of Milford-on- farm also offers B&B and self-catering Sea. The shop is open once a month accommodation. and stocks only seasonal produce Take a tour of Ringwood Brewery which includes lamb from the family’s (ringwoodbrewery.co.uk) where you will own wartles pedigree sheep oc, taste the malted barleys, have a sniff of the their home-reared turkeys along with hops, and see the fermentations bubbling local fsh, chutneys, preseres, cheeses away in the TunRoom. The tour includes a and meat including local beef and New complimentary drink in the brewery’s bin Forest wild boar. room and another on departure. EXCLUSIVELY BRITISH | July/August 16 41 VISIT & EXPERIENCE FOOD AND DRINK Dinner: Sample fresh fish at Milford-on-Sea’s Verveine (verveine.co.uk; 01590 393096). The locally-renowned, award-winning restaurant offers a variety of freshly caught local fish and shellfish, with a tasting menu with matching wine pairings of up to 10 courses (£135pp with wine). GROUP OF RED DEER IN THE NEW FOREST © MIKE CHARLES/ SHUTTERSTOCK A STARBURST OF SUNLIGHT THROUGH A A THROUGH SUNLIGHT OF STARBURST A SHUTTERSTOCK © MIKE CHARLES/ FOREST THE NEW RED DEER IN OF GROUP © HELEN PARK SHUTTERSTOCK VIEW NATIONAL HOTSON/ INTHE NEW FOREST BRATLEY PINETREE AT SCOTS PLACES TO VISIT were stationed in the New Forest across museum at Beaulieu (beaulieu.co.uk) tells Bucklers Hard Maritime Museum OVERNIGHT The New Forest Centre, 1 different airfelds including eneral the story of motoring in Britain from its Step back in time with a visit to this Lyndhurst Eisenhower, General Patton and even pioneering origins to the present day, peaceful little 18th century shipbuilding This free-to-enter museum (newforest- President Obama's grandfather. More with more than 250 vehicles from the village (bucklershard.co.uk) that once Enjoy a coffee with a pastry, eggs bene- centre.org.uk) in the centre of Lyndhurst Than A Tour (morethanatour.com) offers a earliest motor carriages to Formula 1 produced vessels for Nelson’s Navy. Visit Breakfast: dict or a “full English” overlooking the water in Lymington’s is the best place to start learning about chance to explore the unique relationship racers on display. The museum also fea- the museum to learn about its origin as a Haven Bar & Restaurant (havenrestaurant.co.uk), part the forest. It’s packed full of displays and between the New Forest and the allies, tures the “World of Top Gear” exhibition, port for the trading sugar from the West owned by Top Gear presenter and TV/Radio personality activities, teaching visitors about the especially the US during WWII. Priced and a ticket also includes access to the Indies and tour a replica timber-framed Chris Evans. Situated within the Yacht Haven Marina, you’re ponies and other wildlife as well as how from £59pp. medieval Beaulieu Palace, home to the shipwrights worshop fnishing up likely to see sailors coming and going while you eat. “commoning” works. The museum also Get on the water Montagu family since 1538, its Victorian with a cruise on Beaulieu River, one of the For something different, take a Red Jet kitchen gardens and the ruins of Beaulieu few privately owned rivers in the world. hosts regular themed exhibitions (such BEST FOR LUXURY as the current “The New Forest Remem- high-speed ferry (redfunnel.co.uk, one- Abbey. There is a monorail to help less Highcliffe Castle Limewood: This five-star hotel in bers WW1”, ending 1 May). way fares from £7.90) from Southampton able visitors around the grounds. Priced This Grade-I listed cliff-top mansion, Lyndhurst is a New Forest gem. Set in parkland, to the renowned sailing town of Cowes from £9 when booked in advance. The New Forest Tour built during the 1830s by diplomat Lord the main house dates back to the 13th century, (newforesttour.info) – this open-top on the Isle of Wight or a Wightlink ferry Lymington Market Stuart de Rothesay, has been described when it was established as a hunting lodge. hop-on, hop-off bus tour links many of from Lymington to Yarmouth (wightlink. Starting at 8am every Saturday, this “char- as “arguably the most important surviv- Opened in 2009, Lime Wood exudes laid-back the major towns, villages and attractions co.uk, return fares from £8.20).