Do you ever want some breathing space away from the hum-drum of traffic jams and day-to-day urban living? Do you dream of a little oasis surrounded by nature to truly unwind, de-stress and enjoy the peace?
The New Forest is the perfect place to literally ‘get away from it all’. Imagine walks across acres of purply pink tinged heather plains dotted with yellow gorse. Pack a picnic and head to dappled woods and settle beneath ancient lofty trees for an afternoon by the stream in what feels like the middle of no-where. No matter what time of year, there are always pockets of this beautiful National Park where you can spend a whole day without seeing another sole. In fact, beside picture-postcard landscapes and wildflower meadows, the only life you’ll spot is the abundant wildlife this area is so famous for – free-roaming ponies, cattle, donkeys and deer complemented by plentiful displays from birds of prey high in the sky. Not so much the sounds of silence, but of nature, at its most relaxing and very best.
Take a look at five of the most remote and secluded cottages in the New Forest National Park…
Holmsley Gate House, sleeps 6, near Burley
This unique holiday home is surrounded by open forest with no other dwelling in sight. Inside is comfortably contemporary, with feature windows in all shapes and sizes framing panoramic vistas. Watch swooping bats perform at dusk and bring your torch for late night walks along the adjacent disused railway line and spy badgers at play. There is a great pub for food within a half hour walk, and more options in Burley Village, two miles away.
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The Coach House, sleeps 8, near Beaulieu
The Coach House is down a quiet country lane on the way to what is reputed to be the New Forest’s prettiest village – Beaulieu, which is also home to the National Motor Museum, Palace and Abbey. OK, so you’re not totally alone here, as the owners live in the Georgian Mansion behind, but The Coach House is very much detached and a stunningly beautiful property, with grand rooms to gather and socialise. It’s wonderfully quiet and very peaceful with open countryside and heathland on one side and woods on the other.
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Dilton Glen, sleeps 6, near Brockenhurst
This little cottage is beautifully positioned and perfect for those craving quiet, quality time immersed in nature. You’ll love seeing the ponies, donkeys and woodland wildlife grazing right outside the windows, and forest walks start the second you step outside the front door. Dilton Glen is certainly remote and off the beaten track, yet only a short drive to the village of Brockenhurst for supplies and a good selection of lovely eating pubs and restaurants.
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Dell Cottage, sleeps 7, near Bank
Yearning for a place to stay in the middle of nowhere? Well, Dell Cottage fits the bill perfectly. It’s at the very end of an unmade gravel track that leads to a clearing in the woods. It’s special because ponies, foxes, badgers, deer, cattle and other woodland creatures come to graze here and tip-toe around the cottage, offering guests a viewing platform from almost every window. An enclosed, well-planted garden surrounds most of the house with lush lawns on which to relax with a glass of something cold. For meals out, there’s an amazingly good pub, The Oak, in the hamlet of Bank which is less than a mile from the cottage. Dell Cottage’s location and wildlife never fails to impress and, guests return year after year.
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Shell Seekers, sleeps 6, near East End
If you’re thinking of a remote, luxury house for this year’s holiday, Shell Seekers ticks all the boxes. This period home is in the sparsely populated southern tip of the National Park, and the perfect holiday those looking for somewhere plush and stylish to detox and really get back to nature in the peace and quiet. It’s not far from Lymington for day trips to the Isle of Wight, fishing trips and eateries. But if all you’re looking for is to be surrounded by rolling countryside, woods, streams and ponds, just stay put. This divine holiday home is also just a stone’s throw from the beach. But you’ll have to share it with the forest’s ponies who come to paddle The Solent and roll in the sand. Book a stay here and get ready to switch off and relax.
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See our full range of New Forest Cottages and Dog Friendly cottages in the New Forest and surrounding areas.