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New Forest England Travel Exploring Her Quaint Villages
The New Forest was named by William the Conqueror the new hunting forest in 1079. It was given National Park status in 2005, covering an area of approximately 580 square kilometers. The forest includes the largest tracts of unenclosed forest, heathland and pastureland remaining in South-east England today.
The uniqueness of this landscape provides habitat for rare wildlife and plants. These lowland areas are a rare occurrence in the UK today. In the forms of wet heaths, dry heaths and valley bogs these areas are home to adders, grass snakes and lizards.
Everywhere you go in this region, there are activities for all ages and interests. You will find guided walks, tours, bicycle tracks and much more. There are also a number of museums, galleries and quaint villages to explore. Some of the best are Lymington and Beaulieu.
If you should venture to Beaulieu, which is actually part of a rather large English estate, be sure not to miss the National Motor Museum. Simply one of the best museums on automotive history in the world. This is also one of the most visited places in the New Forest. Extremely picturesque. Do not miss the tidal estuary of the Beaulieu River.
If you are up for just a short drive, you can find some of the best beaches in all of England. One of these is Bournemouth, where they are planning on building its own artificial reef. This will be the first of its kind in the northern hemisphere.
Another village, Lyndhurst, has always been considered the 'unofficial capital of the New Forest'. Here you will find the New Forest Museum which tells the history of the area. This is definitely a recommended first stop for the visitor. There is a very beautiful village church which dates from the 1860s. And do not miss the Queens House. Lyndhurst also has two excellent cricket pitches.
Brokenhurst, meaning broken wooded hill, is the largest of the New Forest villages. There are many fine pubs and even a railway station. You can get a train from London right to the village, since it is on a main line. Near the local church there is the New Zealand war cemetery. Over one hundred soldiers who died in a nearby hospital during World War I have been laid to rest here. It is not unusual to see forest ponies meandering down the villages roads since this is also the starting point of the New Forest Cycle Experience.
There are also many other excellent small villages dotted throughout the New Forest. Trust me, once you are there, you will be hard pressed to leave.
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