With summer in full swing and the schools about to break up, now is the time to book a last-minute family break to the New Forest and the south coast’s wonderful beaches. New Forest Cottages have just launched some gorgeous new cottages, and because they are new to our portfolio, they are available for bookings this summer!
Kids and grown-ups alike love this enchanting national park and its surrounding area. It’s packed with fun-filled attractions and a huge amount of wildlife, including the forest’s famous free-roaming ponies and donkeys clip-clopping through the villages. There are hundreds of scenic walks, picturesque beaches, festivals and events to discover, making it the perfect destination to get the kids off their screens and adults to chill and return home feeling refreshed and relaxed.
Take a look at these beautiful places to stay in the New Forest this summer.
For Beachy Bliss: Genesta House | Sleeps 6
Genesta House is set in the seaside foodie village of Milford on Sea. While the New Forest is primarily known for its woodland charm, it is also blessed with nearby stunning beaches. Genesta House is the perfect seaside retreat for friends and families. Take in the views of the Isle of Wight from the terrace while having dinner or stroll to the beach for a swim in the clear waters, where you may be lucky to see dolphins and seals playing.
Find out more about Genesta House
Discover All the Local Attractions: Reinbek | Sleeps 5
Stay at Reinbek in Lyndhurst for an informal and inviting dog-friendly holiday home that sleeps 5, with a pretty garden sprinkled with colourful blooms. Lyndhurst offers easy access to routes across the New Forest and beyond for trips to the region’s family-friendly attractions such as Paultons Park – home of Peppa Pig World, Beaulieu Palace and Gardens, The New Forest Wildlife Park, Longdown Activity Farm and Adventure Wonderland.
Find out more about Reinbek
For Encounters with Wildlife: Chamberlains Cottage | Sleeps 6
Book the handsome and effortlessly quaint Chamberlains Cottage in Brockenhurst, which sleeps 6 guests in 3 bedrooms. If you can drag yourselves out of the comfort of the cottage and its big, bountiful garden, you’re only a wander from the open forest with views across dappled woods, sweeping plains of lilac and pink heather and a network of pretty streams. Pack a picnic, find a private spot to throw down the gingham, and listen and watch the birds, deer, ponies, donkeys, butterflies and dragonflies.
Take a look at Chamberlains Cottage
For Sailors, Coastal Walks and a Nature Reserve: Fisherman’s Keep | Sleeps 6
The Georgian town of Lymington is a stylish market town with two large marinas, a treasure trove of great places to eat, shop, and while away the time people watching, eating ice creams and swimming in the seawater lido. Seaside walks through Keyhaven Nature Reserve are a must before hitting the beach at Milford on Sea. Stay at the period, character-filled Fisherman’s Keep cottage, which sleeps 6. It’s close to the High Street for easy dining options. Inside is teeming with comfort and luxurious furnishings, and the sweet garden feels like it’s from the pages of a magazine.
See more about Fisherman’s Keep
Mixing Forest Life with Wild Beaches: Argentor Cottage | Sleeps 6
Stay at Argentor Cottage, sleeps 6 in East Boldre. The 18th-century cob cottage has a gorgeous Scandi-inspired interior and a large bloom-filled garden. It’s in an idyllic location where you’re more likely to see free-roaming donkeys and ponies than humans. It’s only a quick stroll up the lane to a fab eating pub, and close by are ‘wild’ beaches overlooking Hurst Castle and the Isle of Wight, where ponies may join you for a paddle.
Find out more about Argentor Cottage
Dip into Culture and Heritage: Garden Cottage | Sleeps 4
For a touch of history, visit the captivating city of Salisbury for its impressive architectural wonders, medieval streets lined with timber-framed buildings and picturesque alleyways, but most notably, the awe-inspiring Salisbury Cathedral, with its soaring spire. And a few miles north is the iconic and intriguing Stonehenge. Swap streets for the rolling countryside and explore Cranborne Chase, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and maybe hire a bike to venture into the Northern Commons of the New Forest National Park. Book the simple but stylish Garden Cottage in Rockbourne as your base. It comfortably sleeps 4 guests and is super dog-friendly, with a large, fenced garden.
Take a look at Garden Cottage
See New Forest Cottages portfolio of 190 properties in and around the New Forest
For more inspiration on what to see and do in and around the New Forest for families this summer, take a look at these blogs: