ESCAPE LONDON FOR A WEEKEND
A countryside break in Southwest England - The New Forest
Guest post by Hannah Maxwell, travel passionista and writer
I love London, it’s exciting, vibrant, challenging and all consuming. However, to appreciate all its facets and personalities sometimes a weekend escape allows time to breathe and gain a new perspective on it all. Nothing is easier or better for this than the great British countryside.
The New Forest is like entering the days of Robin Hood, wild ponies roam the mass of forest and wide expanses of moors come complete with purple heather and yellow gorse. Its a complete escape that takes me from heels to wellies and ensures me returning to London with rosy cheeks and fresh air in my lungs. It’s an easy area to get to either a couple of hours drive down the M3 or the train from Waterloo to Brockenhurst (1 hour 32 minutes) or the National Express coach from Victoria to Ringwood.
The new ‘country-set’ is a world away from the stuffy image of yesteryear. The Pig epitomises this casual country cool with deep overstuffed sofas in front of roaring fires and terraces with an outdoor oven for home baked flat bread in the summer months. I love the feeling of being in a wealthy friends country house…special food and surroundings but cosy and laid back enough to kick your shoes off and take a nap by the fire! They can arrange fly fishing days or spa treatments.
The nearby town of Lymington is perfect for a wander, there are various markets and I enjoy seeing the the sail boats bobbing on the water along the marina. If you’ve got good sea legs you could head out sailing yourself. I like being immersed in the local culture wherever I visit and local art reflects the life of an area. The Coastal Gallery shows the work of local artists and I defy you not to be swept away by the seascapes.
Lymington has a hidden gem - ‘Graze’, where you could drop by for a drink and end up whiling away the rest of the day. Open from breakfast through the evening and specialising in small plates. There really is something for every taste on the menu- we delighted in the courgette fritters and lamb skewers and I found lots of options as a vegetarian. There is a friendly vibe and the candle light in the evenings reflects the warm glow of your countryside rosy cheeks.
Explore the history of the area with a visit to Highcliffe Castle. Feel like a Lord or Lady walking around this mansion from the 1830’s. As well as the architecture and history to take in, there are a number of exhibitions and concerts. Ensure you indulge in some traditional tea and scones in the tea rooms and burn it off with a turn around the gardens.
Photo credit: coastal-gallery.co.uk
