10 minute read
Embrace The Magic Of The New Forest
Welcome to an exceptional destination featuring spectacular countryside and coastline for an unforgettable experience-led getaway. Head to the New Forest with Dream Escape in 2025 to discover the National Park’s enchanted woodland, native ponies, country piles and riverside retreats.
Step away from the humdrum of everyday and discover the romance of the New Forest. This glorious National Park provides the perfect spot to take time out and unwind to a backdrop of some of the most picturesque countryside. With its varied landscape, from rural parklands and ancient heathland (home to native free-roaming ponies) to miles of woodland and sweeping coast (teeming with birdlife and endless stunning walking routes), it’s a superb location with an expanse of spectacular countryside for an active or rejuvenating break.
Prepare for an adventure with 145-square miles of moorland, magical forest, enchanting woodland and some of the most beautiful stretches of coastline. England’s smallest national park is crisscrossed with walking and cycling trails, and peppered with pretty villages, making it a superb location for an experience-led stay; there’s the promise of chocolate-box hamlets and pretty pastoral villages with traditional pubs, serving local produce and English wines, and the allure of an afternoon tea at a country manor house, followed by a long romp in the countryside. With its endless woodland routes and miles of open space to explore, it’s no surprise that walking is one of the most popular activities – there is, quite literally, so much ground to cover – from vast areas of enchanting forest trails with rare wildlife to picturesque banks of the River Beaulieu.
This handsome part of the country is home to some of the most celebrated properties in the UK - from riverside dwellings and cosy gastro-pubs- with rooms to luxury country piles, lavish manors and slick spas. DreamEscape will take care of every detail when planning your trip, ensuring a truly memorable stay.
Experience-led stays at Chewton Glen Chewton Glen is a traditional country house hotel and spa, set within extensive grounds at the edge of the New Forest. The property has access to far-reaching views and myriad walking routes from its doorstep – a 20-minute stroll through the hotel’s gardens passes through a pretty stream and ancient woodland, marking the border between Hampshire and Dorset; this takes you to Naish Beach with views across to the Isle of Wight. It's also a luxurious spot to enjoy an awardwinning spa, featuring Europe’s largest hydrotherapy pool, aromatherapy saunas, crystal steam rooms and an extensive treatment menu. You will also find indoor and outdoor tennis courts, a nine-hole golf course, a fitness suite, archery and a croquet lawn, alongside an elegant dining room, offering seasonally-focussed fine dining.
There’s also The Kitchen, with its garden-toplate ethos, serving wood-fired pizzas, grills and sharing plates. Interiors are elegant with a touch of old-school grandeur, and bedrooms feature cuttingedge luxuries – including Bang & Olufsen sound systems, flat screens and tablets. Choose from a Garden to a Master Suite or immerse yourself in nature, and stay in one of the 14 contemporary treehouse suites, which are built atop stilts, high in the tree canopy with floor-to-ceiling windows and private decks.
Exceptional Experiences
Try something new in one of the most beautiful locations in the south of England; with miles of diverse countryside to explore, the New Forest offers some of the most sought-after experiences and activities, making the most of its glorious landscape. From powerboat charter, sailing and paddleboarding to forest exploration, guided walks, foraging and jam making to mountain biking and horse riding – the unique experiences ensure there is something suited to every taste. Dream Escape will take care of every element of your stay, including organising tailored activities and bespoke events.
Luxury powerboat to the Isle of Wight
Enjoy an exhilarating adventure across the Solentaboard the Technohull Attitude 35 - to the beautiful Isle of Wight, with its sandy beaches and famous Needles, Hurst Castle, Alum Bay and the Newtown Creek Seals. Head to the Hut for lunch – an iconic beach restaurant with a buzzy vibe, positioned at the centre of Colwell Bay, serving simple and delicious local seafood to a backdrop of stunning views.
Forest walk
Prepare to be spellbound and discover the beauty of the New Forest with a gentle walk through the endless nature trails, where you will learn about the history of these ancient woodlands, home to rare birdlife and free-roaming native ponies. Your private guide will brief you about forest folklore and identify plant and wildlife, offering extensive knowledge and anecdotes about the flora and fauna en route.
Horse riding in the forest
Explore the forest on horseback with a private riding lesson, or a groupriding hack, taking in the spectacular landscape, from wooded paths to heathland and open forest. It’s the perfect peaceful activity to enjoy the countryside at a leisurely pace, whether you’re a complete beginner or an advanced rider.
Elevate your experience further with a Pony Picnic Hack: riders will enjoy a two-hour scenic hack to their picnic spot for a chance to relax and tuck into a delicious alfresco spread while admiring the backdrop of sublime forest landscape.
Mountain-bike tour
For lovers of the great outdoors looking for an adventure, there’s no better way to explore the stunning landscape than on a mountain bike – a chance to cover miles of forest trails with a little added excitement along the way. The New Forest is home to over 140 miles of gravel tracks running through this ancient woodland and parkland, promising a thrilling day in the fresh air.
Beaulieu and Buckler's Hard guided day
Take a guided tour of the sublime Beaulieu and Buckler's Hard, a unique area within the New Forest drenched in history, dating back to 1204, with historical maritime importance. Follow up with a trip to the Beaulieu Motor Museum and Palace House. For history lovers, and anyone keen to learn more about the heritage of the area, it’s a superb spot to explore, with many scenic spots to picnic or enjoy lunch in the local tavern. Dream Escape can also arrange a river cruise.
Walk with a Verderer
Seize the opportunity to spend time in the National Park with a Forest Verderer, where you will learn about their primary role – the protection and regulation of the New Forest's unique agricultural common practices – alongside how the Verderers help to conserve the traditional landscape, wildlife, and aesthetic character, including its flora and fauna, peacefulness, natural beauty and cultural heritage. View the roaming wildlife and appreciate their role in keeping the National Park an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Top New Forest Experiences
Days on the Water
Chewton Glen is set minutes from the New Forest National Park and the waters of The Solent. Dream Escape can arrange a charter in The Solent - the stretch of water between the mainland and the Isle Of Wight, home to the famous Needles, Hurst Castle, Alum Bay and the Newtown Creek Seals. There’s even opportunity to arrive by seaplane.
Sustainability events
Enjoy events that have little to no effect on the environment within the hotel’s beautiful grounds and gardens. Take a foraging tour around the estate, and create cocktails using the local foraged ingredients from their house-made liquors. The hotel also offers jam-making workshops with a renowned artisan jam maker, where you can have fun creating your very own seasonal jam with estategrown fruits and products following sustainable practices.
Cookery School
Whether you’re a master chef in your own kitchen or not, The Kitchen Cookery School offers an insightful experience – a place to develop a new skill and try something new under the watchful eye of chef tutor, Gerard Molloy. There’s a large range of classes to take part in – including half and full days - from Persian Grill, Street Food and Beginner’s Breadmaking to Mediterranean Tapas, Thai Aromatics and Incredible Italian; all of which are sure to take your cookery skills to new heights. Much celebrated chef James Martin also hosts a selection of exclusive classes throughout the year.
Learn a new skill
Watercolour art classes in the hotel’s walled garden provide a relaxing way to spend time within a picturesque environment. Take part in private tuition that will teach you the fundamental techniques of working with watercolours – an experience that will leave you inspired and confident in creating your masterpieces.
Stay In Luxury
From traditional country piles with award-winning cuisine to sprawling estates with extensive grounds or a peaceful retreat set in nature – Dream Escape will tailor your stay to your preferences for a relaxing break.
Stanwell House
A considered space, Stanwell House is an elegant Georgian townhouse in the heart of Lymington – a charming market town, brilliantly positioned just a short walk from the harbour, set at the edge of the New Forest with Lymington Sea Water Baths a short drive away. The boutique property has been thoughtfully restored, with contemporary comfort and beautifully designed rooms that feature country-inspired interiors. The overall sense is of a warm, inviting atmosphere or a home away from home: think pretty floral wallpaper, outsized mirrors and original flagstone floors leading through to a buzzy, low-lit bar, The Orangery and a pretty courtyard space. It’s a place to sink into a little sophistication, with personalised service and Michelin-standard dishes that use local and seasonal produce from the land and the sea.
Lime Wood
A truly elegant retreat, this wisteria-clad mansion is eclectically styled, with every corner a visual feast – think Palladian features set against vibrant floral wallpapers, contemporary artworks and polished wooden furnishings. Each room has a distinctive style and there’s a luxury lake cabin set apart, for total privacy. Guests can enjoy an impressive skylight bar at the centre of the hotel, Italianinspired seasonal small plates. Don't miss the stunning walled garden and Herb House Spa, dedicated to natural wellbeing and inspired by its forest surroundings, with a sauna, a mud house, an outdoor hot pool and holistic treatments by skincare guru Sarah Chapman.
Montagu Arms
The Montagu Arms sits at the hub of the pretty village of Beaulieu, a peaceful base for exploring the New Forest, just a short drive away from Calshot Beach and Castle, hiking trails and historical sites. A characterful Grade-II-listed building, it’s full of historic charm, with a panelled sitting room, open fires, exposed brickwork and wooden beams. Light-filled rooms are individually styled with a fresh, contemporary design. Enjoy the paddleboarding, kayaking and cycling packages that offered along the picturesque River Beaulieu, and dining that’s centred around local produce and seasonal plates. Choose from The Terrace for fine dining and tasting menus; or Monty’s Inn, a country pub serving traditional fare.
AMY HUMPHREYS - TRAVEL DESIGN MANAGER
Nothing beats breathing in the fresh New Forest air and setting out on foot (or bike or even horse) to discover its wide-ranging landscapes, from the woodlands briming with rare species to the stunning coastal paths and perfect chocolate-box villages – I find it is a freedom of the best kind: Buckler's Hard is a personal favourite. And after all that fresh air, you are not short of a cossetting pub or two to refresh, and a stay at Chewton Glen is a must.
Words | Natalie Millar-Partridge
