Chalets in New Forest

England’s New Forest is considered an area of outstanding natural beauty and it therefore comes as no surprise that this 375 square kilometre area of Crown land is such a popular destination for visitors! Located about 145 km west of London and flanked by Bournemouth to the left and Portsmouth to the right with splendid access to the Isle of Wight for day trips, this lowland nature park offers so many opportunities for walking, cycling, wildlife viewing and appreciating the mixture of ornamental and ancient woodland, heathland, rivers, gorgeous farmland. There is even a beautiful coastal zone of salt marshes and mudflats!

You will find yourself surrounded by majestic woodland, quaint towns and villages that have been popular holiday getaways for over a century and a selection of gorgeous local pubs and upmarket eateries. Enjoy beautiful days at the beach near Milford on Sea as well as scenic coastal routes and historical sites in this nature paradise that has so much to offer. Find a perfect, cosy, whimsical New Forest chalet just for two with everything you need for a wonderful stay or find a perfect, spacious holiday chalet for families or groups of 4, 8 or even 12 guests. Many of these lovely chalet rentals feature contemporary wood build architecture and boast breezy, contemporary, beautifully furnished interiors, a pool and an outside terrace.

Holidaying in the New Forest really offers you the best of both worlds as you are near to dozens of incredible New Forest trails as well as the beaches of Milford on Sea and close enough to the Isle of Wight for day trips to walk the stunning cliff walks on the island. The Solent Way is a popular long distance coastal walk that begins in the lovely seaside town of Milford-on-Sea all the way to Emsworth Harbour. Along the way you can enjoy shingle beaches, exhilarating views, deserted coastal marshes, promenades, a seaside picnic and cosy riverside pubs!

If you are a nature enthusiast you will love the walk from Stuart Pond and Keyhaven Marshes Nature Reserve to Lymington and back. The pond is a gorgeous haven for a number of bird species such as mallards, Canada geese and grebes, while the marshes have an abundance of wading birds. You will need several lifetimes to explore the spectacular natural scenery on the Isle of Wight and in the New Forest. More than half of the Isle of Wight is recognized as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty as is the entire New Forest with its heathland, gorgeous forest trails and native ponies.

The world famous National Motor Historical Museum near Beaulieu is a fabulous attraction that showcases one of the world’s finest collections of incredible vintage motorcycles, cars and motoring memorabilia. Admire legendary Formula 1 cars as well as the pioneers of motoring in this extensive collection with the oldest car dating back to 1875! This wonderful motoring industry heritage museum is just 3 minutes from the centre of gorgeous historical Beaulieu, the perfect spot to lunch!

Pack a picnic to enjoy under a shady tree by the banks of the Beaulieu River! Be sure to explore the gorgeous, historical hamlet of Buckler’s Hard where the ships for Nelson’s Navy were once built. Discover the fascinating history of the village in the Maritime Museum and pop into the Shipwright’s Cottage for a peep into a bygone era. In summer you can enjoy a pleasant 30 minute cruise down the river! There is a delightful tea room called Captain’s Cabin where you can get a fine cream tea as a grand finale!

Exbury Gardens and Steam Railway is a fun destination for the whole family! Here you can admire a breathtaking variety of horticultural wonders as you stroll through 200 acres of landscaped woodland and formal and contemporary gardens. Hop on board the whimsical narrow gauge steam railway for a ride through the gardens departing from a quirky replica Victorian station! Visit in May to appreciate the splendour of the world famous collection of rhododendrons and azaleas in full bloom alongside thousands of beautiful spring bulbs in Daffodil Meadow. In autumn clever planting highlights the glorious colours of layered deciduous shrubs.

In the heart of The New Forest, just outside Lyndhurst lies the secluded Bolderwood Deer Sanctuary. Between August and September visitors can admire a beautiful group of over fifty majestic New Forest deer gathered in a large, tranquil meadow where the herd waits expectantly to be fed by a New Forest keeper. There is a viewing platform for enjoying this delightful sight and you will find a wonderful picnic area under majestic tall trees for the perfect picnic lunch! There are 3 lovely loop hikes in the area to further enjoy the beautiful scenery.

There is plenty of family fun and action in store at New Forest Water Park. Spend a few leisurely hours kayaking or enjoying stand up paddleboarding. Adventure junkies will love having a go at cable wakeboarding and the inflatable obstacle courses are an outrageous amount of fun. This lovely water park is close to Kingswood and Fordingbridge, an easy and scenic one hour drive from the New Forest National Park area. Fordingbridge is a gorgeous town with pretty streets, delightful architecture and lovely places to eat.

Hurst Castle offers visitors a fascinating opportunity to step back in time to when the English Coast was heavily protected by fortresses. The castle was built by Henry VIII and was one of the most advanced artillery fortresses in England at the time! Climb the steps to the Tudor to see where Charles I was kept prisoner in 1648 and imagine the role of the castle in defence during the Napoleonic wars during a tour of this heritage site. There are incredible views from the roof of the tudor all the way across the Needles Passage to The Isle of Wight

The town of Lyndhurst is a gorgeous historical gem of a place and you will be able to spend a delightful few hours strolling about admiring the quaint architecture and discovering tea rooms, pubs, cafes and restaurants. Lyndhurst dates back to the time of William the Conqueror who established the area as a hunting ground as far back as 1079! Take a peek into the remarkable Saxon history of this heritage area at the New Forest Centre in town.