Charlottechicken Posted June 5, 2013 Share Posted June 5, 2013 OH and I are off on holiday to the New Forest soon, we are staying on the coast. We are members of both English Heritage and the National Trust so have all the buildings covered. Do any Omleteers know of any particularly interesting things to do or visit which will be free (reasonable parking rates excepted!) or less than a fiver? We have happened across ancient wells and standing stones before now, which have been brilliant finds and enjoyable visits. Also, any particularly nice coves or beautiful views which we could stop to look at. I'm trying to find the best place to view the Isle of Wight, so we might try Lepe Country Park. I have found something quirky which I would like to see, I discovered that Ben Ainslie had a post box painted gold in Lymington High Street (illegally) by a fan, so might go through to have a look Also, we are hoping to pop along to Highcliffe Castle, which I believe is just £3.25 each to visit. Any ideas, the more random the better, although please bear in mind that OH is allergic to built up areas and shops Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluekarin Posted June 6, 2013 Share Posted June 6, 2013 While at Highcliffe you can go down a hue flights steps to the beach. A bit further to the west along the beach is Mudeford where you can go crab fishing if you like (lots of people do) or watch the boats come in. There is a boat which you can get from there across the water to Hengistbury head, not sure on costs for that but if it is a bit much you can drive round and then have a long walk to the beach that way. There is a small train you can get as well back to Hengistbury head car park which is a slow one so you can take in the sights. In the forest itself is Boldrewood where at certain times of the year you can see deer and there are several signposted walks around there for different distances depending on what you'd want to walk that day. There is usually a New Forest icecream van there with delicious icecreams Also you are allowed to have BBQs here. You could visit King Rufus stone near Cadnam, it can be quite a boggy area. I remember going there when I was young with my family and my mum lost one of her shoes when her foot got stuck in the mud! I think the forest offers a lot of walks, which are all free, and lots of cycling routes. Get a map for the area so you can explore and have a fantastic time. We love it there Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freddie Posted June 6, 2013 Share Posted June 6, 2013 Mind out for the ticks. New forest is fairly popular for them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluekarin Posted June 6, 2013 Share Posted June 6, 2013 I have to say I have never got a tick in the New Forest. The only time I got one was in Dinton, the other side of Salisbury! You do need to be aware of the wildlife there though. It is home to some snakes. I haven't seen any but we did come across a huge slow worm once. I say we, it was my ED when she was about 10. I did laugh and laugh as she was already jittery after being spooked by a horse she though was chasing her Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlottechicken Posted June 6, 2013 Author Share Posted June 6, 2013 Ooh, bluekarin, thank you for the info We will have to watch out for ticks, so thanks for that freddie, I'm never bitten out and about (apart from the flea episode in the office ) but OH is very attractive to insects He managed to get bitten over 20 times whilst walking in the gardens at Packwood House last year! I have an ordnance survey explorer map for the area so will be checking out the places mentioned. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted June 7, 2013 Share Posted June 7, 2013 Spent most of my life there and not one tick. Never even saw an adder. I did see a dead grass snake though. If you go to Sway there is a huge field which is great to run around on - disused railway embankment to climb up and run along the ridge. If you want to fly kites then Hengistbury Head is great for that, but if you want to stay in the forest area then Fritham is brill. It was an airfield during the war and when I went kite flying there was still concrete runways left. All gone now and grass and probably gorse and heather reclaiming it. Rhinefield drive has different walks to do which used to consist of 3 different circuits - an old badger sett was pointed out. I don't know if you can get into Rhinefield House itself (now a hotel I believe) but the ponds and the views from the back are stunning. There is also an owl place in Ringwood but I think it would be a costly day out, but you get to see flying displays. Have been to the New Forest wildlife park several years ago - they had harvest mice and my son loved the tame deer. I think that is quite expensive. And don't feed the wild ponies - they kick! Well they didn't kick me! There are lots of little streams running through the forest - you can fish for tiddlers. Or paddle if the water hasn't been paddled in by the cattle! Yuk! My regular fishing spot was at the back of Linford - used to be a nice secluded area to play. I used to climb up the look out tower but the access has now been built across (spoilsports). The Alice Lisle Pub has been there forever - tell the children it's haunted by a headless coachman and horses! Mwah ha hahhhhh! But I don't know what the food is like now. Popular place so it should be reasonable. Moyles Court has yet another stream - and a ford crossing. Now that is where I have fallen in many a time and had to go back to my grandmothers wearing her cardigan round my nether regions being the most memorable! Half the time we played cricket or just ran around. Or Boscombe/Studland to swim. But hey ho I'm an old fogey! Whatever you do and wherever you go - enjoy. You can always nip across to Pompey to see the Victory. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlottechicken Posted June 17, 2013 Author Share Posted June 17, 2013 Thanks for your suggestions, folks. We came back a few hours ago after a week away. We visited Mudeford and watched more experienced folk crab fishing (OH thinks he saw a famous footballer of old too), Bolderwood, where we saw the deer, including a white one , we visited the Rufus stone and it wasn't boggy but there were several ponies also visiting at the time. There were no ticks, thankfully and no snakes either, but lots of ponies, pigs, cows and other animals along the roadside (sometimes in it!!). We also drove down the ornamental drives, both Rhinefield and Bolderwood, which were lovely, and ate lots of New Forest ice cream and cream teas We actually stayed in a caravan near Sway, I thought the tower in Sway looked fab but OH thought it was a blot on the landscape. I didn't know what to expect after our holiday in the Forest of Dean in April, as we were both a little disappointed by it, but the New Forest is stunning, I will be blogging about it shortly! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mollyripkim Posted June 17, 2013 Share Posted June 17, 2013 Glad you all enjoyed it, I live on the edge of the forest and its beautiful, especially walking the dogs and seeing all the wildlife, the baby donkeys are so cute at the moment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluekarin Posted June 17, 2013 Share Posted June 17, 2013 Really pleased you enjoyed the areas I mentioned The New Forest is a great place to revisit during the seasons. I particularly love it in the autumn. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted June 17, 2013 Share Posted June 17, 2013 So glad you enjoyed it - it is big part of me that always feels at home there because of all the time spent in the Forest right up until I was in my early 20's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
