|
ABOUT THE NEW FOREST AREA (THE
NEW FOREST NATIONAL PARK)
(For a list of all the prime country
estate properties sold in the New Forest recently, scroll
down to the bottom of this page)
Sway, Boldre, Thorney Hill, Beaulieu, Norleywood, Lymington,
Burley, Lyndhurst and Brockenhurst area of The New Forest
National Park in Hampshire.
To live in the New Forest is a pure delight, the envy of
all that see it.
The whole area is heavily restricted regarding further
development, which is a bonus for those who make it their
home.
The New Forest was traditionally the haunt of the extremely
horsey, or those who wanted a second home, rather than a
primary residence, but since it won National Park status,
the Forest is becoming more popular with those who do not
have to be in London for every single working day of the
week, and who admire the wildlife and landscape such a place
provides, even if the tourists in summertime can be somewhat
taxing.
There is the benefit of many idyllic villages with beautiful
countryside where you can relax and enjoy the peacefulness
of the truly wonderful forest surroundings. In particular
Lyndhurst, Burley, Brockenhurst, Lymington and Beaulieu
are picturesque New Forest.
Forest ponies and livestock ramble free and with most gardens
backing directly onto the Forest, this presents a conversation
over the fence with a difference! Pony trekking, horse riding
and forest rambling are all available to be freely enjoyed
here.
The picturesque village of Beaulieu,
close to Lymington and Lyndhurst at the head of the Beaulieu
River, might best be described as "the Historic Heart
of the New forest", its origins date back to the 13th
century and the days of King John. No other place in the
forest can match Beaulieu for historic interest.
The village grew up around Beaulieu Abbey,
founded in 1204 by Cistercian Monks on land given to them
by King John, who had a royal hunting lodge at Beaulieu
- Bellus Locus Regis, the beautiful place of the King -
and the monks who came over from CITEAUX in France re-christened
it in their own tongue `Beaulieu' but it came to be pronounced
"Bu-Lee" as it is still today.
The abbey thrived until 1538 when, during
the Dissolution of the Monasteries, Henry VIII ordered the
destruction of the religious buildings beyond the possibility
of restoration. Some buildings which could be put to secular
use were allowed to remain.
Beaulieu passed into the ownership of
the present Lord Montagu's ancestor Sir Thomas Wriothesley
and has been the ancestral home of the Montagu Family ever
since, and remains thus to this day.
The 8,000 acre estate has been in the
ownership of the Montagu Family for nearly 500 years. The
present Lord Montagu of Beaulieu is a well known motoring
personality who founded Britain's National motor Museum,
internationally recognised as one of the finest in the world.
The museum holds over 300 exhibits and
include world class examples of automotive interest, from
early examples of motoring from the 1890's to legendary
motor vehicles from all over the world, including record
breakers such as " Bluebird" and "Golden
Arrow"
In the village of Beaulieu the visitor
can find many attractions and places to visit, the gently
sloping High street has an interesting variety of village
stores, ranging from specialist gift and chocolate shops
to art and craft.
Beaulieu River provides an ideal location for a leisurely
stroll or a place to relax beside for a picnic.
This large and attractive village lying just a few miles
south of Lyndhurst, is one of the outstanding locations
of the forest, making an ideal spot to stop and enjoy a
walk or picnic, and watch the ponies and other animals graze
around you.
Brockenhurst, meaning "badgers
home" in Celtic, is one of the largest villages in
the New Forest. It still retains an air of old world charm.
it is here the ponies, donkeys and cows roam freely, and
drink from the watersplash at the bottom of the main street
on their way to graze the open heathland and ancient woods
which surround the village.
Easily accessible by road and inter-city
rail service, Brockenhurst is within a few miles of the
sea and the heart of the forest is only a few minutes walk
away.
The village is well known for a diversity
of shops, tea rooms, pubs and high quality restaurants.
There are also forest tours with wagon and horses, forest
walks, of varying lengths, some waymarked with explanatory
notes to help visitors. Every year there is a village fête
on the Bank Holiday Monday in August.
Many parts of the forest, hidden to the motorist are easily
accessible by bicycle on designated gravel tracks, horse
riding is another activity well catered for by the town,
local riding establishments cater for all ages and abilities.
In Late July The New Forest show
takes place in New Park just a few minutes drive from the
centre of the village.
Buckler's Hard
was built in the 18th century as a ship building village
community. The village played host to the naval dockyard
in the late 18th century and many famous warships from the
era were built in the village using timber from the Forest.
The most famous boats built here were
Lord Nelson's Agamemnon and HMS illustrious. The original
shipbuilder's cottages still remain and now act as a maritime
museum. This is well worth visiting as the museum offers
an insight into the life and times of the naval dockyard
and the village community, and features many interesting
naval artifacts.
Burley: Set deep in the Forest
to the west of Brockenhurst, this village is extremely popular
with a wealth of tea rooms, gift shops, art galleries and
a Pick Your Own Farm. Burley features everything you would
expect from a traditional, old, New Forest village.
When in Burley do not be surprised to see ponies and cattle
roaming freely around the village, picturesque thatched cottages
tucked away in unexpected places help conjure up how life
was in the past. Burley has remained untouched by time, steeped
in old customs and history, enabling visitors to unwind and
enjoy its tranquil simplicity.
Outside the village miles of open heathland
provide good walking, cycling and riding. Burley was a famous
centre for smuggling and is renowned for its association
with witches, both ancient and modern.
For some Lyndhurst is just a thoroughfare for the
journey to Southampton, but if those people driving through
stopped in the village they would discover just how much
it has to offer.
Lyndhurst has been the "Capital"
of the Forest area since William the Conqueror established
the area as a royal hunting ground in 1079, and has been
visited by Kings and Queens throughout the centuries who
came to stay at the Royal Manor.
A must for any visitor to Lyndhurst is
the New Forest Museum, an unique guide into the Forest's
history and heritage. The museum details the development
of the Forest since its creation by William the Conqueror,
and provides a first-hand exhibition of life and work in
the Forest and demonstrates the best the Forest has to offer.
Lyndhurst which offers the visitor a wide
range of shops, both high street names and those exclusive
to the village, popular with those seeking that special
souvenir of their visit to the Forest. And naturally there
is a wide range of tea rooms pubs cafes and restaurants
to discover.
Lymington is a bustling, colourful town with lots
to see and do. Its Georgian High Street is the venue for
a well-known street-market every Saturday morning. This
is the busiest time for the town, and the popular market
boasts a range of stalls selling everything from local fine
foods to craftwork and antiques. Visitors can enjoy the
hustle and bustle of this unique shopping experience, where
you can browse at your leisure. The high street also offers
an extensive range of shops, some very familiar, others
as unique and individual as the town itself. When weariness
sets in, there are many parks, cafés and restaurants
and, of course, pubs in which to relax and unwind.
The town's many features include
a unique series of cobbled streets leading down to the pretty
main quay area, popular with visitors who wish to sit, relax
and watch the world sail by. Boat trips around the Solent
can be taken from the quayside and private sailing, motor-boating
and fishing trips may be arranged at short notice. For those
wishing to adventure further afield, Yarmouth on the Isle
of Wight is reached by ferry in only 35 minutes, and caters
for both foot passengers and cars.
Other facilities in the town include a
well-equipped leisure centre with heated pool, and the historic
outdoor Roman seawater baths, very popular on a hot summer's
day and only a short walk from the main quay area.
Fordingbridge is a small
country town on the banks of the River Avon. It was recorded
in the Domesday book and the name has evolved through the
years from `Forde' and `Bridge'.
The first Great Bridge, built in medieval times, is up stream
from the ford and is a major feature of the town with its
seven graceful arches.
Once an industrial town and commercial
centre, Fordingbridge boasted many trades such as brickmaking,
pottery and textiles. It was also noted for its smuggling
and the infamous Captain Diamond, the `Smuggler King' spent
much of his time here in a local hostelry. The town has
developed into a wonderful place for visitors with its beautiful
scenery, nature havens, cycleways and welcoming people.
Nestling in the Southern edge of the New Forest, four miles
from the coast at Lymington, Sway is a shining example
of a quiet but thriving village community, renowned for
its friendliness and offering a good range of shops, services,
pubs, restaurants and accommodation.
In Victorian times Captain Marryatt used
the surrounding countryside as the backdrop to his "Children
of the New Forest", the somewhat eccentric Judge Peterson
built the 220 foot Sway tower as a celebration of concrete
and St. Luke's Church was established at the heart of what
was then principally a rural community.
The arrival of the railway in the late
1880s opened up new opportunities and the following decades
saw the village expand impressively. Today regular train
services link the village with Dorset and London and all
points North.
Accessibility & Surrounding Areas.
Both Dorset and Hampshire have excellent road links to London
through the much improved M3, M27 and A31 dual carriageway.
The New Forest is well served by regular daily fast trains
from Waterloo with journey times of approximately 1 hour
30 minutes.
There are also good airports at both Southampton and Bournemouth
servicing most Western European countries and the Canary
Islands.
Sailing to France and Spain is comprehensively served by
the main Ferry companies, Brittany Ferries, P&O Ferries
and Condor Ferries from ports at Poole, Weymouth and Portsmouth.
In addition there are regular ferry services to the Isle
of Wight and the Channel Islands of Jersey and Guernsey.
The larger towns such as Southampton
and Winchester offer more urban developments. Southampton
has the benefit of the port and quayside for which you can
spend many hours watching life pass by. Winchester is a
truly beautiful city, a pleasure to live in and around.
Schools
Hordle Walhampton School, Lymington, Hampshire, SO41 5ZG
01590 627013
Brockenhurst College
(01590) 625555
Leisure
Golf courses: Brockenhurst, Burley
Hunts: the Hampshire (HH), Mr Goschen's,
the Hursley Hambledon, the Isle of Wight and the New Forest.
Staghounds: the New Forest.
Yachting clubs: the Royal Southampton,
Ocean, Royal Solent, Royal Southern and Royal Lymington
Yacht Clubs; (Isle of Wight) Island Sailing Club, Cowes
Corinthian, Royal Corinthian, Royal London and Royal Victoria
Yacht Clubs and the Royal Yacht Squadron.
THE BEST NEW FOREST COUNTRY HOUSES FOR SALE IN 2004/05
(A breakdown of what was for sale & purchase prices)
The Tukal, Beaulieu, New Forest (Architect designed, 19,000
sq ft, 12 acres with direct water frontage): £5m click
here to read more
St Leonards Grange, Bucklers Hard (Grade II* listed, with
Grade 1 Abbey ruins): £2.75m
|
