W
hen you have enough of the Dorset coast you may fancy the quieter New Forest, and a good place to start is Ringwood where you feel as though you are leaving Dorset and moving into a magical world of scenic beauty in which to enjoy your day out without the razzmatazz. People who live here will tell you that The New Forest is a lively, working landscape with many secrets to discover. The only way to reveal The New Forest’s hidden gems and truly appreciate the sights, sounds and smells of the forest is to get out there and explore. Try to escape from the confines of the car and head out on foot, bicycle or on horseback to get a more intimate feel of the forest, its coast and villages.
The New Forest is a genuine walker’s paradise with many circular and linear routes. There are many picnic and toilet facilities, all of which are carefully sited to allow visitors safe and easy access to a variety of forest landscapes. All year round there are guided walks where local experts will tell you about the history, geology, wildlife and folklore beneath your feet. You can even explore the forest on a ranger-led New Forest event. The New Forest is a fantastic place for cycling with miles and miles of traffic free tracks leading you right into the heart of the forest with few hills to worry about. Cycle Experience in Brockenhurst telephone 01590 624204 will be happy to help with hire, repairs & accessories.
No visit to the New Forest would be complete with visiting Beaulieu which is a guaranteed great family day out with lots for everyone to enjoy including the world famous NATIONAL MOTOR MUSEUM, home to a stunning collection of automobiles telling the history of motoring through modern rally cars and F1 Grand Prix machines, Palace House, home of the Montagu family, historic Beaulieu Abbey which was founded in 1204 by Cistercian Monks, World of Top Gear featuring vehicles from some of the most ambitious challenges and On Screen Cars where the car is the star and includes TV and film favourites.
Beaulieu is located within easy reach of the popular tourist destinations of Bournemouth, Southampton and Winchester. Then if you fancy a spot of golf, or some more seaside it’s all available as you travel out of the New Forest toward Lymington.
On the edge of the New Forest near Fordingbridge the magnificent BREAMORE HOUSE & COUNTRYSIDE MUSEUM is a must visit. The house overlooks the Avon Valley and looks today much as it would have done to its original owners when it was completed in 1583. Visitors can enjoy seeing a wide variety of paintings as well as tapestries, porcelain, 17th Century needlework and a rare James 1 carpet. There are also fine examples of period furniture in the house.
The Breamore Countryside Museum provides a fascinating insight into the days when the village was self-sufficient. There are full size replicas of numerous trades and crafts including a blacksmith, village shop, school and dairy etc. The museum boasts one of the finest collections of steam powered farm machinery, tractors, barn machinery and historical tools.
86
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100