Posts Tagged ‘New Forest’

The New Forest – Not That New At All

Written by MichaelZ on August 19, 2009 – 9:32 pm -

If you every come to the South Of England on a vacation then you simply must not miss a trip to the New Forest , the newest national park in the UK and One of the Worlds Heritage national park sites.

The idea for national parks first started in the United States and one of the first world national parks was Yosemite of course.

Since that time many other countries have adopted this way of protecting and preserving the un-spoilt habitats of the world for future generations and for the preservation of endangered species as well.

The New Forest has a few endangered species itself but nothing like the American bald eagle that is now increasing in numbers due thankfully. There are animals roaming everywhere in the forest from pigs to cows but most visible is the world famous New Forest pony.

Centuries and centuries ago the New Forest was to all intents and purposes open land but then one of the kings on of the day decided to make it a royal forest only to be used for the royal pursuit of hunting, and local folk who had lived off the land for centuries found themselves unable to hunt the land for food to feed their family, penalties for contravening the law were severe and in later time fatal.

Fortunately over time sanity prevailed and today you will find many animals wandering the forest grazing as the local “commoners” exercise their right to graze their live stock on the common ground.

The New Forest is home to some very ancient and historic woodland which has been said to be some of the oldest in the entire country. One of the Forest oaks is over 4 centuries old which is remarkable by European standards.

The natural beauty of the forest is the reason many people come here but if you like a more strenuous break then there are plenty of other activities to choose from, which include kayaking , pony trekking on and off road cycling and of course the delightful forest walks to name but a few.

If you are having a family holiday the Park has a number of really olde worlde family and pet friendly New Forest cottages you can rent and if you have a penchant for the quaint then you will just love the old thatched roofs and if your lucky gardens that literally take you out into the forest from your back door.

If you prefer the outdoor lifestyle then the forest has a number of designated campsites with and without facilities so you can enjoy New Forest camping the easy way or the hard way , the choice is up to you.

One of the most popular areas of the New Forest has to be the picturesque Village of Beaulieu which is actually part of a massive 7000 acre estate (by UK standards) estate belonging to the Montagu family who’s ancestors have owned the land and property since the early 1500 after the dissolution of the monasteries by King Henry VIII.

Part of the estate is used for the National Motor Museum which must rank as one of the best museums of automotive history in the world with exhibits that span motoring history not only by age but also by achievement as a number of land speed record breakers are exhibited here.

There is also the Abbey to visit which whilst not to much to see these days still gives you an idea of the grandeur and power of the church in early British history.

The now Beaulieu Palace house itself was originally the gatehouse to the abbey here although it has been subsequently extended.

Tourists to this part of the country often miss out on other natural attractions in the area so don’t restrict your visit just to the New Forest area, because not to far away either by motorway or across country you can find some of the UK’s best beaches. They are even building the northern hemisphere’s first artificial ref here as well for the local surfing community so if you like to surf you can try it out UK style.

Poole in the County of Dorset is not only famous for having one of the worlds largest harbours, but also for the number of famous people who live here, and one particular area has the most expensive house prices in the whole of England, still. That is simply one of theh crosses.

If your visiting the UK on a European vacation then England is a must country destination, particularly the English south coast

Tags: , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Air Travel | Comments Off

New Forest Walks – The Best Way To Experience Nature

Written by MichaelZ on June 30, 2009 – 2:31 am -

The National Park offers something for everyone. Whether you want to see it from its miles and miles of trails on cycling trips and New Forest Walks, boat rides along the coastline, or perhaps just to visit some of the many museums and historic sites located within The national park boundaries, no visitor will be disappointed. The only let down is that one has to go home sooner or later!

To ensure you get to see the absolute best and beauty of the New Forest it is a good idea to take up one of the many guided tours that are available within the Forest. The choice is yours and what your preference might be but experienced Forest Rangers offer tours either cycling, walking or horseback. This is a way to ensure you capture the entire beauty of the forest.

Expert guides can inform you about the natural marvels of the park, with walking tours given by wildlife experts, geologists and more throughout the year. No matter when you plan to take a holiday, there is always something to see, as events seem to happen somewhere in the park every single day of the year!

Throughout many of the guided tours and walks – the experienced ranger or tour guide will offer some history about the places you are visiting. Bucklers Hard for example was where Admiral Nelson’s fleet was built. The forest as you can imagine has a lot of history about it including formerly being the hunting ground of kings.

You will find the Visitors Centre will have an abundance of information for visitors to the New Forest. Because the Forest includes many miles of coastline and rivers on the south coast there are considerable aquatic attractions to be found in this marvellous park as well. Perhaps not surprisingly you can partake in water sports such as kayaking, wind surfing and sailing here or if not too keen in being too close to the water, there are many beautiful guided boat tours available.

The wildlife lover can quite literally have a field day walking around the park. Its status as a wildlife preserve means that there are many animal species here to be observed in their natural habitats. One of the best way to observe them is on one of the multitude of walks, whether guided or solitary in nature.

Amongst all the wildlife you will find deer in abundance hiding out in the depth of the trees. You might come across a herd of cows blocking your path in the road with all the time in the day and not bothering to let you pass. Horses and pony’s wandering aimlessly across the village green. This is life in the New Forest and just a tiny part of the beauty that this park has to offer.

There are considerable walks throughout the forest, many marked and guided and many that are not. It’s always wise to have a map, especially if you like to head off the main track. Exbury although not a forest walk but is a lovely place to visit, with its gardens set in 200 acres, there are miles of lovely pathways to experience here.

If your planning a trip to the New Forest National Park and plan to stay over night there is a good variety of New Forest hotels in the region where you can stay which can be found on the New Forest guides website.

Also while you are in the area make sure you visit the nearby city of Southampton which is renowned for its shopping experience and museums.

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in Air Travel | Comments Off