UK Tourist & Leisure Attractions - New Forest

Here's a peek inside our Brockenhurst holiday cottage (well, the kitchen at least) and one of us was hard at work preparing a lip-smacking evening meal...

...which was rather spicy hot!  Never mind, at least we could tame it with lashings of that lovely Snake-Catcher New Forest cider we bought the other day.

Day 3 and off to Buckler's Hard to find out about 18th century shipbuilding.  The Buckler's Hard cottages run down to the Beaulieu River from where the ships were built and launched, including Nelson's 'Agamemnon'.

We like our picnics, and enjoyed ours by the Beaulieu River at the point where the ships of old were launched.  Just up the river is the famous Beaulieu Motor Museum, previously visited back in 2001.

Inside the Buckler's Hard Story & Maritime Museum we studied the many interesting displays bringing the village story to life and some fascinating reconstructions - a Labourer's cottage from 1790, the Master Shipbuilder's office and...

...the 'New Inn' from 1792.  The locals would have consisted of shipbuilding labourers chewing over the issues of the day and the Inn also served as a shop and business centre.  However, we were a little disappointed with Buckler's Hard which cost £5.70.

Next up was a visit to the wonderful Otter, Owl & Wildlife Park near Ashurst.  The park is home to many species, including wallabies, badgers, polecats, deer, foxes and wild boar... oh, and owls and otters of course!  Entrance was a reasonable £6.95.

The owls didn't seem to do much except just sit there.

As we arrived at Wallaby Wood the wallabies were having a scratching session, in the process showing just how floppy their fur was!

Oh dear!  Belinda found a Deer friend who insisted on following us all around the charming ancient wooded nature trail at the New Forest wildlife park.

In the Deer Meadow these two were having a bit of a barney and locking antlers!  Probably just a minor skirmish caused by one pinching the other's wife!

We hit the Otter Pens at feeding time - those noisy little guys seemed to sense the Keeper's arrival and ferociously enjoyed their feast.

The small village of Brockenhurst was only a short walk from our holiday cottage and we'd imagine it's pretty 'buzzing' during peak season.  We enjoyed several evening meals out there, including a culinary curry at the excellent Dynasty Indian Restaurant and a magnificent meal at...

...the Foresters Arms pub.  Brockenhurst is well located for New Forest travel; it's a rail/bus interchange and The New Forest Tour Bus calls there (but only runs May-Sept, maybe they don't expect 'green' tourists outside these times?).  Oh, there's also several cycle hire shops.

On our final day in the New Forest, with the weather still holding up, we left the car at the cottage and took a short six mile walk around Brockenhurst.

The stunning scenery was enhanced by the autumn colours and quaint bridges crossing small rivers - just perfect for playing Pooh Sticks!

We came across this friendly New Forest pony and a little later some wild pigs having a snooze in the warm autumn sunshine.  Eeek, mind your hand!

After yet another picnic we headed through this enchanted wood back towards civilisation - and the pub, for an 'end of short break' drink.

The ponies and cattle have priority in the New Forest and think nothing of ambling down the middle of the road - a fitting end to our New Forest short break!

Our conclusions?  Well, we had a grand time in the New Forest and, with so much wonderful countryside to see and things to do, next time we'll undoubtedly visit for longer.  Cycle hire is well provided for and an enjoyable 'green' way to tour, but we just didn't have time to check it out.

Fellow tourists - you may be interested in our tourist product reviews.

Want to find out more about the New Forest?  Then please take a look at our UK tourist resources where you can benefit from our research.