Romantic Ideas for Valentines

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, and if you’re like any of us, we haven’t quite thought about booking anything yet! If you are considering whisking your loved one away for a romantic break the New Forest has plenty on offer for a fun packed, relaxing weekend. Here are a few of our favourite romantic suggestions.

Prestige Restaurants

The New Forest is home to some fantastic award winning restaurants.

Looking for fantastic fish, visit Verveine Fishmarket Restaurant in Milford on Sea. If you are looking for something slightly more rustic then check out The Pig just outside Brockenhurst with a fantastic 25 mile menu. Alongside these greats, there are plenty of restaurants across the New Forest currently offering great set menus for the Valentines weekend.

Romantic Walks

The New Forest is a great place to explore on foot. If you are keen walkers and prefer 5 miles or more I would highly recommend one of the walking books you can buy on thenewforest.co.uk/shop. If you are more the ambling type there are a few select way-marked walks scattered across the forest, allowing you to wander through some of the most talked about locations. These walks can be found at the following car parks, Blackwater, Whitefield Moor, Bolderwood and Wilverley Inclosure.

Fun Activities

If adventure is what you’re looking for why not enjoy a Valentines Paddle with New Forest Activities.  Based on the Beaulieu River, instructors will guide you in and around the boats, letting you view the forest from a different perspective.

Cosy Pubs

The New Forest is home to many great pubs, most serving local produce with the New Forest Marque. With many pubs dotted around the area, most with a lovely open fire, you are sure to find the perfect pit stop on your romantic day out.

Like the sound of what the New Forest can offer you, we have put together a couple of properties currently offering short breaks ideal for the Valentines weekend, and although Valentines gives us an excuse to getaway these properties are also available across the year!

Megs, East Boldre

A charming one-bedroom cottage, originally built in 1909 as a stable, has been tastefully converted to provide a comfortable, relaxing place to unwind. With direct forest access, the cottage is perfect for walkers and cyclists who can enjoy the two local pubs after a day spent exploring the New Forest.

A three-night break until the end of March is only £266 for two people!

Little Cottage, Tiptoe

Built 200 years ago, this beautiful thatched and partly cob cottage has one bedroom and is situated on a private forest track just on the edge of the New Forest National Park.  Renovated and furnished to a high standard the cottage is ideal for exploring the surrounding forest and coastline and has a lovely gas log-effect fire offering a wonderful and hassle free space to relax after a day spent out enjoying the New Forest.

A three-night break until the end of February is only £315 for two people!

The Old Barn, Exbury

Originally part of Exbury’s village forge the Old Barn has been beautifully renovated to provide a stunning and spacious space to unwind in front of a cosy real log-burner. Exbury is a small and charming village close to the Beaulieu River, surrounded by countryside and home to Exbury Gardens and Steam Railway.

A three-night break until the end of March is only £242 for two people!

For more properties available for short breaks throughout low and mid-season please visit our website. 

New Forest Cottages Discount Card

Special offers are what we crave. Since the recession started all of us are constantly looking out for ways to save money where possible. New Forest Cottages have recognised the need to make your holiday more affordable and so have joined with some of the best local businesses in the New Forest to create a discount card for you to use during your stay with us.

The discount card is exclusive to New Forest Cottages guests and offers discounts at various venues across the area including golf courses, horse riding, pubs, restaurants, beauty salons, spas and water sports.

Enjoy a relaxing treatment at SenSpa, dine in style at Lanes of Lymington or explore Lymington’s fascinating history at St. Barbes Museum. Whatever your interests the discount card can make your favourite activities more affordable on your New Forest holiday.

To qualify for a New Forest Cottages discount card, simply book one of our cosy, comfortable cottages and upon receipt of the balance payment we will email you your copy. It’s that easy!

To discover what fantastic properties we have on offer for your special break away this year visit our website. 

New Forest Ideas

Whether you’re planning a relaxing break, an action packed family holiday or a site-seeing trip away the New Forest offers this and so much more with tranquil walks, adrenaline pumping action to relaxing country gardens you’ll be spoilt for choice of things to do, that is, if you can pull yourself away from you cosy New Forest cottage.

We have put together a list of some of our favourite activities and attractions in the New Forest to help you plan your holiday itinerary.

Walking

Getting out into the forest on foot allows you to enjoy the stunning sites and really submerge yourself in the natural beauty of the area. You do not have to go far before meeting with one of the famous New Forest ponies and keep your eyes peeled for other incredible wildlife including deer and the odd pig let loose at certain times of the year to fatten themselves up on fallen acorns!

With 193,000 acres of unspoilt heath land and ancient woodland, there are a number of easy trails to follow throughout the National Park as well as guided walks benefiting from the local knowledge of a resident expert.

Cycling

One of the most popular ways to experience the New Forest is on two wheels; the Forest is tailored towards cyclists with an extensive choice of off road cycle routes, bike hire and parking available throughout the National Park. Being pretty flat it is easy to experience the tranquil beauty of the Forest without over exerting yourself but still improving your fitness and stamina at the same time.

Visiting Attractions

There are lots of different museums and attractions throughout the New Forest perfect for rainy days or a family day out.

The Beaulieu National Motor, voted best large visitor attraction 2013 by VisitEngland, offers a stunning collection of automobiles revealing the history of motoring through to modern rally and F1 cars, your ticket also gives you access to the spectacular Palace House and Abbey.

Home to Peppa Pig World, Paultons Family Theme Park is a great day out with over 60 rides including white-knuckle roller coasters, Jurassic caverns and Water Kingdom for smaller children. Peppa Pig World allows you to meet Peppa and her friends as well as enjoy lots of different ride tailored towards younger children.

Exbury Gardens and Steam Railway offers a tranquil setting in over 200 acres of grounds and offers incredible colours throughout the year, you will be sure to unwind while enjoying the serene grounds and beautiful flora.

Watersports and Adventures

The many breath-taking waterways and lakes throughout the New Forest present the perfect opportunity to get out on the water and enjoy the Forest in this unique way. From canoeing, kayaking, yachting for those who prefer to enjoy serene waters to wakeboarding and water-skiing for adrenaline junkies the New Forest is perfect place to try something new and enjoy yourself out on the water.

The New Forest Water Park set over 50 acres of stunning countryside and lakes enjoys a whole host of different water sports with experienced instructors including wakeboarding, water-skiing, kayaking, paddleboarding and banana and ring riding offering a great day out for all the family.

For those looking for something a little bit different New Forest Activities has all sorts of different sports including Archery, Bushcraft and combat simulation as well as canoeing, kayaking and raft building along the peaceful Beaulieu River.

Shopping

The different towns and villages scattered around the New Forest National Park boast many interesting and unusual independent shops. Just to the South of the National Park and sitting on the coast, Lymington offers the perfect shopping opportunity with a traditional street market along its Georgian High Street.

Eating and Drinking

With a wealth of locally produced food and drink, the New Forest offers a great location for foodies to enjoy some of the best produce available. With locally produced venison, beef, pork, honey, mushrooms, cheeses and freshly caught fish the different restaurants and pubs offer a range of different choices to suit all diets.

Pubs in the New Forest offer a cosy space to relax in after a long walk or cycle and most have roaring fires during the colder months or outside seating areas during the summer.

There are also lots of different farm shops throughout the Forest and surrounding towns offering some of the most fantastic food available anywhere in the country, perfect to enjoy in your New Forest cottage.

 

Horse riding

Going back centuries, the New Forest has long had a connection with ponies and horses, and many people come to the National Park to see the wild ponies roaming across the stunning heathland or within the ancient forests.

Whether you are an experienced rider or a complete beginner there are many different riding centres throughout the Forest offering horse riding. We also have a few different properties that offer stabling if you would like to bring your own horse.

Golf

For golf enthusiasts the New Forest offers a wonderful setting to enjoy a round on one of the many 9 or 18 hole golf courses in the region. For those wishing to try the sport for the first time many of the courses offer PGA qualified officials to tutor you on your technique. 

Image provided by Paultons Park, Peppa Pig World

New Forest Cottages, Winter short breaks

Now the hustle and bustle of Christmas is two weeks behind us we’re all feeling a little deflated. I’m pretty sure all of us are looking at warm, sunny photos to get us excited for our up and coming holidays this year. We certainly are!

If you can’t possibly wait until Summer for your next break away why not plan a visit to the New Forest for a Winter short break. We have plenty of New Forest cottages with log burners, open fires, direct forest access and beautiful coastal views. Here are just a few properties currently offering Winter short breaks and at a discounted rate.

2 & 3 The Vinery A915 & A918

5 miles from Peppa Pig World and just over 2 miles from open forest, these properties situated next door to one another are ideal for a family weekend get together with small ones and the pet pooch.

4 Coastguard Cottages B209

This beautifully finished cottage, with views of the marina and saltmarshes visible from the top floor bedroom, is great for a weekend getaway. Find Lymington marina a two minute walk away and Lymington’s shops, pubs, restaurants and boutiques close by. 

Elmers Court ESCH & ESPI

Book a weekend away at the Elmers Court Country Club & Resort situated just outside of Lymington with attractive grounds overlooking the Solent to the Isle of Wight.

Enjoy free use of the indoor pool, squash court, sauna and gym.

For more properties offering short breaks this winter, visit our website.